ARES/RACES FAMILIARIZATION COURSE (Prepared by R. Cline N7CVW from ARRL material and other sources) 5/19/08 (Edited by F.

Transcription

1 ARES/RACES FAMILIARIZATION COURSE (Prepared by R. Cline N7CVW frm ARRL material and ther surces) 5/19/08 (Edited by F. Wlfe) 10/21/09 CONTENTS I Backgrund fr Disaster Cmmunicatin II ARES Principles f Disaster Cmmunicatin III Basic Netwrk Prcedures IV Message handling I Backgrund fr Disaster Cmmunicatin The Amateur Radi Emergency Service (ARES) cnsists f licensed amateurs wh have vluntarily registered their qualificatins and equipment fr cmmunicatins duty in the public service when disaster strikes. There are fur levels f ARES rganizatin--natinal, sectin, district and lcal At the sectin level, the Sectin Emergency Crdinatr (SEC) is appinted by the Sectin Manager (SM) (wh is elected by the ARRL members in the sectin) and wrks under his/her supervisin. In mst sectins, the SM delegates t the SEC the administratin f the sectin emergency plan and the authrity t appint District and lcal ECs. It is at the lcal level where mst f the real emergency rganizing gets accmplished, because this is the level at which mst emergencies ccur and the level at which ARES leaders make direct cntact with the ARES member-vlunteers and with fficials f the agencies t be served The Radi Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a radi cmmunicatin service, cnducted by vlunteer licensed amateurs, designed t prvide emergency cmmunicatins t lcal r state civil-preparedness agencies. It is imprtant t nte that RACES peratin is authrized by emergency management fficials nly. Traditinal ARES/RACES peratins invlve emergency message handling n Amateur Radi Service frequencies. These peratins typically invlve messages between critical lcatins such as hspitals, emergency services, emergency shelters, and any ther lcatins where cmmunicatin is needed. These cmmunicatins are handled in any mde available, with 2 meters FM being the mst prevalent. ARES/RACES persnnel als might becme invlved in nn-amateur public-safety r ther gvernment cmmunicatins, Emergency Operatins Center (EOC) staffing, and emergency equipment repair. In ur cunty, RACES cnsists f ARES members and ther licensed radi amateurs wh supprt the Pacific Cunty Emergency Management Agency. RACES activities generally have a state missin number fr either an actual emergency peratin r a training exercise. This number is issued by the Pacific Cunty Emergency Management Directr. RACES members are issued a Pacific Cunty Emergency Cmmunicatins Wrker card Pacific Cunty, WA; ARES/RACES Octber 2009 Page 1 f 11

2 (with pht) after cmpleting a backgrund check. Training is prvided t supprt Emergency Operatins Center (EOC) peratins r serve as Net Cntrl Statin (NCS). Operatin in an emergency net is little different frm peratin in any ther net, but requires preparatin and training. This includes training in handling f written messages-- that is, what is generally knwn as "traffic handling". Handling traffic is cvered in detail in the ARRL Operating Manual. This is recmmended reading fr all ARES members--in fact, fr all amateurs aspiring t participate in disaster cmmunicatins. The specificatins f an effective cmmunicatin service depend n the nature f the infrmatin that must be cmmunicated. Pre-disaster plans and arrangements fr disaster cmmunicatins include: Identificatin f clients wh will need Amateur Radi cmmunicatin services. Discussin with these clients t learn the nature f the infrmatin they will need t cmmunicate, and the peple with whm they will need t cmmunicate. Specificatin, develpment and testing f pertinent services. While much amateur-t-amateur cmmunicating in an emergency is f a prcedural r tactical nature, the real meat f cmmunicating is frmal written traffic fr the recrd. Frmal written traffic is imprtant fr: A recrd f what has happened--frequent status review, critique and evaluatin. Cmpleteness, minimizes missin f vital infrmatin. Cnciseness, which when used crrectly actually takes less time than passing infrmal traffic. Easier cpy--receiving peratrs knw the sequence f the infrmatin, resulting in fewer errrs and repeats. II ARES Principles f Disaster Cmmunicatin It is impssible t state exact rules that will cver every situatin that arises. The gd amateur faced with a disaster situatin may, hwever, benefit greatly frm certain rules f thumb. 1. Keep the QRM level dwn. In a disaster, many f the mst crucial statins will be weak in signal strength. It is mst essential that all ther statins remain silent unless they are called upn. If yu're nt sure yu shuld transmit, dn't. Our amateur bands are very cngested. If yu want t help, study the situatin by listening. Dn't transmit unless yu are sure yu can help by ding s. Dn't ever break int a disaster net just t infrm the cntrl statin yu are there if needed. 2. Mnitr established disaster frequencies. Many lcalities have established disaster frequencies where smene is always (r nearly always) mnitring fr pssible calls. When yu are nt therwise engaged, it is helpful simply t sit and listen n such Pacific Cunty, WA; ARES/RACES Octber 2009 Page 2 f 11

3 frequencies, sme f which are used fr general ragchewing as well as disaster preparedness drilling. On CW, SOS is universally recgnized, but has sme legal aspects that shuld be cnsidered where the need is nt truly crucial. On vice, ne can use "MAYDAY" (universal, the phne equivalent f SOS) r, t break int a net r cnversatin, the wrd "emergency." 3. Avid spreading rumrs. During and after a disaster situatin, especially n the phne bands, yu may hear almst anything. Unfrtunately, much misinfrmatin is transmitted. Rumrs are started by expansin, deletin, amplificatin r mdificatin f wrds, exaggeratin r interpretatin. All addressed transmissins shuld be fficially authenticated as t their surce. These transmissins shuld be repeated wrd fr wrd, if at all, and nly when specifically authrized. In a disaster emergency situatin, with everyne's nerves n edge, it is little shrt f criminal t make a statement n the air withut fundatin in authenticated fact. 4. Authenticate all messages. Every message that purprts t be f an fficial nature shuld be written and signed. Whenever pssible, amateurs shuld avid initiating disaster r emergency traffic themselves. We d the cmmunicating; the agency fficials we serve supply the cntent f the cmmunicatins. 5. Strive fr efficiency. Whatever happens in an emergency, yu will find hysteria and sme amateurs wh must be "sleepless heres." Instead f perating yur wn statin full time at the expense f yur health and efficiency, it is much better t serve a shift at ne f the best-lcated and best-equipped statins, suitable fr the wrk at hand, manned by relief shifts f the best-qualified peratrs. This reduces interference and secures well-perated statins. 6. Select the mde and band t suit the need. It is a characteristic f all amateurs t believe that their favrite mde and band is superir t all thers. Fr certain specific purpses and distances, this may be true. Hwever, the merits f a particular band r mde in a cmmunicatins emergency shuld be evaluated impartially with a view t the apprpriate use f bands and mdes. There is, f curse, n alternative t using what happens t be available, but there are ways t ptimize available cmmunicatins. Lng experience has develped the fllwing advantages: CW Mde Less QRM in mst amateur bands. Secrecy f cmmunicatins--cntents f cmmunicatins are much less likely t be intercepted by the general public t start rumrs r undue cncern. Simpler transmitting equipment. Greater accuracy in recrd cmmunicatins. Lnger range fr a given amunt f pwer. Pacific Cunty, WA; ARES/RACES Octber 2009 Page 3 f 11

4 Vice Mde Mre practical fr prtable and mbile wrk. Mre widespread availability f peratrs. Faster cmmunicatin fr tactical r "cmmand" purpses. Mre readily appreciated and understd by the public. Official-t-fficial and phne-patch cmmunicatin. Digital Mdes Advantages (1) and (2) f CW, advantage (2) f vice mde, plus greater speed in recrd cmmunicatin than sme f the ther mdes, and--in mst f these mdes--errr detectin. In additin, digital mdes ffer the ptential fr message stre-and-frward capability frm within the disaster site t the "utside wrld." Finally, packet prvides the capability f "digipeating" messages frm pint A t pint Z via numerus autmatically cntrlled middle pints. The well-balanced disaster rganizatin will have CW, phne, and digital mde capabilities available in rder t utilize all f the advantages. Of curse, ne must make the best use f whatever is available, but a great deal f efficiency is lst when there is lack f crdinatin between the different types f peratin in an emergency. Abslute impartiality and a willingness t let perfrmance speak fr itself are prime requisites if we are t realize the best pssible results. 7. Use all cmmunicatins channels intelligently. While the prime bject f emergency cmmunicatins is t save lives and prperty (anything else is incidental), Amateur Radi is a secndary cmmunicatins means; nrmal channels are primary and shuld be used if available. Emergency channels ther than amateur, which are available in the absence f amateur channels, shuld be utilized withut fear f favritism in the interest f getting the message thrugh. 8. Pause between transmissins. When participating in a net, it is very imprtant t have a pause between transmissins in case emergency traffic needs t break in. The wrd Break is nly said when it s life threatening critical. It s best t just give yur callsign and statins in their current QSO shuld recgnize yu. 9. Supprt yur Emergency Crdinatr. Within the disaster area itself, the ARES is primarily respnsible fr cmmunicatins supprt. When disaster strikes, the first pririty f thse NTS peratrs wh live in r near the disaster area is t make their expertise available t their Emergency Crdinatr where and when needed. Fr timely and effective respnse, this means that NTS peratrs need t talk t their ECs befre the time f need s that they will knw hw t best respnd. 10. Develp a backup prcedure t prvide a rtatin f relief peratrs at the EOCs and any ther critical facilities. While there currently is a mechanism fr getting ut-f-cunty ham supprt, we need t pre-arrange that supprt and have cntacts already established. Our cunty hams wuld be able t maintain ur capabilities fr several days, but in an extended situatin, ut-f-cunty supprt will be required, and shuld be requested sner rather than later. Pacific Cunty, WA; ARES/RACES Octber 2009 Page 4 f 11

5 III Basic Netwrk Prcedures Net Prcedures (General Traffic Net) The fllwing prcedures are recmmended as NTS standards. Deviatins frm these prcedures are made at the discretin f the net manager in cgnizance f either necessity r desirability arising ut f extrardinary circumstances, but always as a temprary expedient until standard prcedure can be resumed. The fllwing prcedures apply t all NTS nets: 1. The net cntrl statin (NCS) transmits a net call up prmptly at the pre-established net meeting time. 2. Statins reprting in indicate their functin r the destinatin(s) fr which they can take traffic, fllwed by the list f traffic n their hk, if any. 3. Time-cnsuming pleasantries and ther superfluus matters are nt t be a part f the prcedure while the net is in sessin. 4. Net statins fllw the directin f the NCS withut questin r cmment if such directins are understd. 5. Explanatins f any kind are nt transmitted unless they are abslutely essential t the net's cnduct. 6. Statins reprting int a net are held fr 15 minutes, after which they are excused if there is n further traffic fr them at that time. Statins in the net d nt leave the net withut being excused and d nt ask t be excused unless abslutely necessary. 7. All nets fllw the general precepts f net peratin utlined in the ARRL Operating Manual. Pacific Cunty Net Cntrl Levels There is a hierarchy f net frmality levels determined by the situatin, traffic lad and the nature f the traffic. These levels are: 1. NORMAL: Everyday nn-emergency usage with n structure r frmal cntrl. 2. PRE-ACTIVATION INFORMAL: N specific Net Cntrl Statin (NCS). Participating Amateurs cmmit t listen and ccasinally make their presence knwn subject t pwer requirements. Keep track f any traffic. Messages are handled as they cme up. 3. PRE-ACTIVATION LOCAL DIRECTED NET: NCS at a hme lcatin establishes and runs a frmal, directed net. NCS Relief is crdinated n the net. Recmmend net participant plling take place at 15 and 45 minutes past the hur t save n pwer. Any net participant event bservatins wuld be cllected and cllated by the NCS wh can prvide a summary t the Dept. f Emergency Management (DEM) peridically, if requested. Pacific Cunty, WA; ARES/RACES Octber 2009 Page 5 f 11

6 4. FORMAL ACTIVATED NET WITH MISSION NUMBER: This ccurs when the DEM makes an fficial request fr ARES/RACES supprt, typically including Amateur staffing f the EOC. The NCS fr this net may be lcated at the EOC r elsewhere depending n circumstances. Once requested by DEM, Amateur peratrs are said t be Activated. Levels 3 and 4 specify a frmal net, with all traffic directed t r thrugh NCS, and permissin f the NCS required t cntact ther parties n the net. This net is run like ur Thursday Emergency Training Net and the Simulated Emergency Test (SET). The NCS shuld always keep a lg. Each lg entry shuld cntain, at a minimum, the time, call signs and a brief descriptin f traffic invlved. In cases where NCS is receiving reprts f lcal cnditins, these data shuld be nted in the lg. Summaries f reprts can be peridically passed t the EOC, preferably by packet radi, if available. When checking int a frmal net, be sure yur call sign was recgnized and acknwledged by NCS. Once yu have checked int a frmal net, yu are expected t mnitr until either, (1) dismissed by NCS, (2) yu have checked ut and been acknwledged as checking ut, r (3) the net clses. One f the reasns fr hlding a frmal net during a disaster situatin is t keep track f the available Amateur peratrs, in case a need arises r cnditins change. They als serve wh nly sit and wait. IV Message Handling: Standard ARRL message frmat shuld be used. The recrd shuld shw, whenever pssible: 1. A message number fr reference purpses. (Items 1, 3 and 7 cmprise the msg. ID) 2. A precedence indicating the imprtance f the message. 3. A statin f rigin s any reply r handling inquiries can be referred t that statin. 4. A check (cunt f the number f wrds in the message text) s receiving statins will knw whether any wrds were missed. 5. A place f rigin, s the recipient will knw where the message came frm (nt necessarily the lcatin f the statin f rigin). 6. Filing time, rdinarily ptinal but f great imprtance in an emergency message. 7. Date f rigin. The address shuld be cmplete and include a telephne number if knwn. The text shuld be shrt and t the pint, and the signature shuld cntain nt nly the name f the persn sending the message but his title r cnnectin als, if any. Pint-t-pint services fr direct delivery f emergency and pririty traffic d nt invlve relays. The full ARRL frmat is ften nt needed t recrd written traffic. Shrtened frms shuld be used t save time and effrt. Fr example, the call sign f the riginating statin usually identifies the place f rigin. Als, the addressee is usually knwn and clse by at Pacific Cunty, WA; ARES/RACES Octber 2009 Page 6 f 11

7 the receiving statin, s full address and telephne number are ften superfluus. In many cases, message blanks can be designed s that nly key wrds, letters r numbers have t be filled in and sent. In sme cases, the message frm als serves as a lg f the peratin and assist ur custmers with mre efficient cmmunicatins. ARRL Precedence and Handling Instructins All messages handled by Amateur Radi shuld cntain a precedence --that is, an evaluatin f each message's imprtance, made by the riginating statin. A precedence is an "rder f handling." There are fur precedence levels in the ARRL message frm: EMERGENCY, Pririty (P), Welfare (W) and Rutine (R), in that rder f handling. When and as they appear n a net r any ther kind f circuit, messages will be handled in this rder. 1 Emergency Any message having life and death urgency t any persn r grup f persns, which is transmitted by Amateur Radi in the absence f regular cmmercial facilities. This includes fficial messages f welfare agencies during emergencies requesting supplies, materials r instructins vital t relief t stricken ppulace in emergency areas. During nrmal times, it will be very rare. On CW, RTTY, AMTOR and packet this designatin will always be spelled ut. When in dubt, d nt use this designatin. 2 Pririty Use abbreviatin P n CW, RTTY, AMTOR and packet. This classificatin is fr imprtant messages having a specific time limit, fficial messages nt cvered in the emergency categry, press dispatches and emergency-related traffic nt f the utmst urgency. 3 Welfare This classificatin, abbreviated as W n CW, RTTY, AMTOR and packet, refers t either an inquiry as t the health and welfare f an individual in the disaster area r an advisry frm the disaster area that indicates all is well. Welfare traffic is handled nly after all emergency and pririty traffic is cleared. The Red Crss equivalent t an incming Welfare message is DWI (Disaster Welfare Inquiry). 4 Rutine Mst traffic in nrmal times will bear this designatin. In disaster situatins, traffic labeled Rutine (R n CW, RTTY, AMTOR and packet) shuld be handled last, r nt at all when circuits are busy with higher-precedence traffic. The precedence will fllw, but is nt a part f the message number. Fr example, a message may begin with NR 207 R n CW, "Number Tw Zer Seven, Rutine" n phne. Handling Instructins Handling instructins (HX) are ptinal but can be useful in handling messages. They serve t cnvey any special instructins t handling and delivering peratrs. This "prsign," when used, is inserted in the message preamble between the precedence and the statin Pacific Cunty, WA; ARES/RACES Octber 2009 Page 7 f 11

8 f rigin. Its use is ptinal with the riginating statins, but nce inserted is mandatry with all relaying statins. The fllwing definitins apply: We use these mstly: HXC-- Reprt date and time f delivery (TOD) t riginating statin HXE-- Delivering statin get reply frm addressee, riginate message back. The fllwing are used fr general messages and welfare messages. Obslete due t cell phne calling. HXA-- (Fllwed by number) Cllect landline delivery authrized by addressee within...miles. (If n number, authrizatin is unlimited.) HXB-- (Fllwed by number) Cancel message if nt delivered within...hurs f filing time; service riginating statin. HXD-- Reprt t riginating statin the identity f statin frm which received, plus date and time. Reprt identity f statin t which relayed, plus date and time, r if delivered reprt date, time and methd f delivery. HXF-- (Fllwed by number) Hld delivery until...(date). HXG-- Delivery by mail r landline tll call nt required. If tll r ther expense invlved, cancel message and service riginating statin. Message Frms We have tw basic frms fr message handling; vice and digital. They bth emulate the ARRL (NTS) message standard. Digital Messages: Packet r Pactr either fr direct transmissin r via Winlink- , shuld have each item f the ARRL NTS frmat labeled. The labels are nt part f the message, and d nt cunt in the Check. PACIFIC COUNTY DEPT. OF EMERGENCY MANAGMENT MESSAGE FORM MSG #: PRECEDENCE: HX: STATION OF ORIGIN: CHECK: PLACE OF ORIGIN: TIME FILED: DATE: TO: ADDRESS: MESSAGE TEXT: <bdy f message> END OF MESSAGE TEXT RECEIVED: - TIME: DATE: - BY OPERATOR: Vice Messages: Use the ARRL NTS Message Frm (next page). All messages received by Vice shuld be placed int this frmat, even if riginating in anther. Many jurisdictins are adpting the ICS-213 frm. The infrmatin is the same. Pacific Cunty, WA; ARES/RACES Octber 2009 Page 8 f 11

9 Pacific Cunty ARES/RACES General Message Frm (after ARRL NTS Frmat) Number Precedence Handling Statin f Origin Check Place f Origin Time Filed Date TO: (Name/Address) : (Say: BREAK FOR TEXT ) (Say- BREAK FOR SIGNATURE ) Signature (Frm Agency) (Say- BREAK - End-Of-Message Request Time-Of-Receipt ) Received Frm Statin Time Date By Operatr Sent/Delivered T Statin Time Date By Operatr Pacific Cunty WA, ARES/RACES General Message Frm. This page may be cpied as necessary. Pacific Cunty, WA; ARES/RACES Octber 2009 Page 9 f 11

10 Message Lgs The General Lg frm (next page) is used t recrd all incming and utging messages, all transmissins f any significance, and any ther relevant items. This prvides insight int what has ccurred at the radi rm and wh perfrms each transmissin. In a busy EOC with several psitins, each psitin shuld keep a separate lg. At the end f the exercise/missin, turn all lgs int the EC/RO, Facility Ham Team Leader r DEM representative. If n frm is available, a lg may be kept n a blank sheet f paper. Entries may be carried dwn. Fr example; YOUR CALL need nt be entered n every line, but nly when the infrmatin changes (peratr relief). These Lgs are a part f the fficial statin recrds. Except fr Lgs fr exercises r drills, they shuld be retained permanently, r as advised by Pacific Cunty Emergency Management Agency, with cpies held by the EC/RO. They can be valuable, nt nly as a recrd f events, but t dcument time spent by vlunteers. Lgs d nt have t be typed, but shuld be kept in a neat and legible fashin. AMATEUR RADIO LOG FOR_Suth Bend EOC / Winter Strm Activatin 2007 DATE TIME STATION YOUR CALL NATURE OF TRANSMISSION.12/26/ N7XYZ Lg fr SBEOC VHF/UHF psitin, WA7PC,. RACES activated fr winter strm..12/26/ N7XYZ Arrived at Suth Bend EOC, Opened Statin QST Annunced Net nw perating n VHF/UHF Rptrs W7ABC In rute t SBEOC K7HAM Check-in Available in Lng Beach.12/27/ W7RDR LBAEOC, Checking in, up n 75-m, packet & 220. Vice thrugh KO repeater, W7RBB at statin with. One mre n the way..12/27/ W7ABC Taking ver VHF/UHF peratin at WA7PC N7ZZZ Check-in frm Naselle, River 3-feet abve nrmal N7AAA Je frm Oysterville, heavy wind, pwer ut W7EOC Grays Harbr EOC with Msg 001 P W7EOC fr PC. DEM re: Request fr inf Hwy 101 TOR W7CQ Mbile n Hwy 101, rad washed ut just nrth f Bay Center, ne lane barely passable K7CAT K7CAT called W7DOG t pass message: PSE Call N7GUY, t cme t net, K7CAT phne is dead in Pacific Cunty, WA; ARES/RACES Octber 2009 Page 10 f 11

11 AMATEUR RADIO LOG FOR DATE TIME STATION YOUR CALL NATURE OF TRANSMISSION Pacific Cunty WA, ARES/RACES General Lg Frm. This page may be cpied as necessary. Pacific Cunty, WA; ARES/RACES Octber 2009 Page 11 f 11