EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

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1 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS Western Placer Amateur Radio Club Dennis Kelleher KI6HHA

2 HAM Radio s Role in Em Comm RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) Established by FCC Part Serve Governmental Agencies upon request E.G. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), US Forest Service, State EOC (Emergency Operations Center) RACES volunteer operators are: Licensed Radio Amateurs Certified by a civil defense agency Able to communicate on Amateur Radio frequencies during drills, exercises and emergencies Activated by local, county and state jurisdictions and are the only Amateur Radio operators authorized to transmit during declared emergencies when the President of the United States specifically invokes the War Powers Act. 2

3 HAM Radio s Role in Em Comm ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) Established by the ARRL Serve Primarily Non-Governmental Agencies upon request E.G. Salvation Army & Red Cross ARES groups are volunteer amateur radio operators who come together for the common purpose of providing emergency and/or auxiliary communications service for public safety and public service organizations. Most individual ARES units are autonomous and operate locally. organized by city or county and are composed of volunteers from the local area. The only requirements to join ARES are a willingness to serve and a valid amateur radio license. 3

4 NIMS (NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM) The National Incident Management System is a system created by the Federal Government that identifies concepts and principles that answer how to manage emergencies from preparedness to recovery regardless of their cause, size, location or complexity. NIMS provides a consistent, nationwide approach and vocabulary for multiple agencies or jurisdictions to work together to build, sustain and deliver the core capabilities needed to achieve a secure and resilient nation. 4

5 TYPE 5 Under one operational period, minimum resources, the only ICS position staffed is the Incident Commander (i.e., single vehicle crash) ICS-100, ICS-200, and IS-700 apply TYPE 4 Limited to one operational period, command and general staff positions activated as needed (i.e., house fire, protest rally) ICS-100, ICS-200, and IS-700 apply, ICS-300 will apply when any command and general staff positions are activated. TYPE 3 May extend into multiple operational periods, some/all command and general staff positions activated (i.e., large industrial fire, tornado, hostage stand-off). ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-300, ICS-400, IS-800 and IS-700 apply Operational Period is: The period of time scheduled for execution of a given set of tactical actions as specified in the Incident Action Plan. Operational periods can be of various lengths, although usually not more than 24 hours. 5

TYPE 2 Multiple operational periods, many command and general staff positions filled, regional and/or national resources brought in (i.e., devastating flood or earthquake).

6 TYPE 2 Multiple operational periods, many command and general staff positions filled, regional and/or national resources brought in (i.e., devastating flood or earthquake). ICS-100, ICS- 200, ICS-300, ICS-400, IS-800 and IS-700 apply Type 1 Expected to go into multiple operational periods, event of national significance (i.e., major terrorist attack like 9/11 or Hurricane Sandy or Katrina level disaster). ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-300, ICS-400, IS-800 and IS-700 apply Operational Period is: The period of time scheduled for execution of a given set of tactical actions as specified in the Incident Action Plan. Operational periods can be of various lengths, although usually not more than 24 hours. 6

7 Incident Commander, Safety Officer, Liaison Officer and Information Officer CHAIN OF COMMAND TABLE LEVEL TITLE SUPPORT POSITION Incident Commander Incident Commander Deputy Section Chief Deputy Branch Director Deputy Division/Group Supervisor Not Applicable Unit Leader Manager Strike Team/Task Force Leader Single Resource Boss 7

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9 OPERATION SECTION Staging area, Task Forces, Strike Teams, Investigations Group Rescue Group,. First to be organized. Expands from bottom up. Has most incident resources because it carries out the action plan. PLANNING SECTION UNITS: Resource, Situation, Documentation, Demobilization, Technical, Specialists: Develops Action Plan based on Data Collected ADMINISTRATION-FINANCE SECTION UNITS: Time, Procurement, Compensation, Claims and Costs LOGISTICS SECTION UNITS: Medical, Food, Supply, Facilities, Group Support and Communications (amateur radio operators assigned this unit) 9

10 Preparing ICS Communication Plan (form 205) Distribute and Maintain Communication Equipment Supervise Incident Communications Center Ensure Adequate Communications over Incident including: Establish Nets as Appropriate Ensure adequate staffing Set up Radio Communication Center & check out equipment Request Service on any inoperable equipment Set up Message Center as required Receive and transmit messages inside & outside incident Provide briefing to relief personnel Maintain & Turn in appropriate documentation such as log sheets Demobilize the Communications Center per IC Plan 10

11 ICS 205 Radio Communications Plan ICS 210 Status Change Card ICS 211 Incident Check in List ICS 213 General Message Form ICS 214 Unit Log ICS 216 Radio requirements Worksheet ICS 217 Radio Frequency Assignment Worksheet ICS FORMS CENTER s.htm 11

12 The Net Control Station The Net Control Station (NCS) coordinates all net activity and shapes the net operation One of the most essential parts of an any net is the competence and skill of the Net Control Station 12

13 The Basic Duties of the NCS CONTROL THE NET: Responsible for controlling who uses the frequency while the net is in session; Delegate tasks like sending stations to other frequencies to handle an issue and then report back on main channel HAVE A COMMANDING SIGNAL clear, full quieting into the repeater so everyone can understand the NCS IDENTIFY A BACK UP NCS find an alternate NCS in case it is needed BE BREIF clear, concise instructions in as few words as possible MAINTAIN AN EVEN PACE provide time to write down messages and give time for those with emergency or priority traffic to break in KEEP A LOG maintain a written record of incident and a list of traffic KNOW YOUR NET MEMBERS learn voices and call signs so they can be recognized despite static to save time LISTEN CAREFULLY to ensure accuracy in acquiring information and ask for confirmation or relays if you don t understand RESOURCE MANAGEMENT keep track of who is on the net and who has departed and know types of nets that are operating during incident USE TACTICAL CALL SIGNS and plain English to avoid use of jargon and codes to facilitate understanding and save time 13

14 Becoming an Effective NCS To become an effective Net Control involves practice, practice, practice. That is why it is important to participate in weekly nets with your club. Know your radio well so you can quickly change frequencies or from duplex to simplex if necessary. Have back up power i.e. extra batteries, radios, a scanner, lists of emergency frequencies, phone numbers, printed call lists and other resources readily available in case they are needed. Have paper & pencil handy. Having another person to record traffic for you while you operate the radio is very helpful.. 14

15 2 TYPES OF NETS OPEN or UNSTRUCTURED NETS are used when there is little traffic volume or there is little need to direct individual stations with a Net Control DIRECTED or CONTROLLED NETS are used when traffic is directed through the NCS to discourage doubling between stations on the repeater and preserve open air time for emergency & priority messages. Most emergency nets (RACES or ARES) use one of the 3 forms of a directed net. 15

16 3 FORMS OF CONTROLLED NETS COMMAND NET used in large incidents when it becomes necessary for the leadership to solve jurisdiction issues. TACTICAL OR TRAFFIC NET is the front line net during an incident that may include interagency communications traffic handling RESOURCE NET used to recruit & organize equipment & operators to support the incident operations 16

17 Incident Communication Log Used by NCS to Document Contacts 17

18 NATIONAL TRAFFIC HANDLING SYSTEM BASICS What is NTS? The NTS is a relay messaging system developed for content accuracy. Whatever message is sent by way of the NTS, is received exactly as it was originated. There is no margin for error. The National Traffic System consists of ARRL affiliated and independent amateur radio networks ('nets') which pass non-commercial messages on behalf of third parties as a public service. Licensed Amateur Radio Operators perform this service at no charge. NTS has been in operation since It was established by the ARRL in response to membership demand. It carries on a tradition of message relaying, established by Hiram Percy Maxim when he founded the ARRL for the purpose of handling message traffic in What is Traffic? Traffic is NTS formalized messages utilizing the ARRL "RADIOGRAM standardized format. NTS messages may be sent to, or by, anyone. You do not have to be a ham to initiate or receive a message. A licensed ham must, of course, handle the transmission, relay and delivery of the traffic. 18

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20 ARRL RADIO GRAM FORMAT continued 20

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23 QUICK DEPLOYMENT LIST Dennis Kelleher Ki6HHA 1. HT Radio : Dual Band HT VHF-UHF radio & Extra Battery Packs for Radio 2. Mobile Radio: Mobile 50 watt 2 meter radio with Anderson Pole Power Cords 3. Portable Power Supply Deep Cycle Marine Battery or Portable Battery Booster 4. Power Cords & Adapters: Cigarette Lighter Anderson Power Pole Cords & Adapters 5. Operating Manuals HT Radio & Mobile Radio summary programming sheet 6. Antennas & Coax: Magnetic mount Dual Band Antenna & Portable HT Antenna & Coax 7. Scanner& GPS: Portable Hand Held Scanner with extra batteries & GPS & paper maps 8. AM/FM Portable Radio with crank or extra batteries & LED Flashlights or Light Sticks 9. Cell Phone with resident HAM operator contact information 10. Emergency Forms & Supplies: ARRL Radiograms, Clip Board, Pens, Pencils, Paper, Marking Pens 11. Furniture: Folding Table & Chair, Tent/Canopy, Sleeping Bag, Survival Blanket 12. Tools Nylon Rope, Duct tape, Matches, Chain Saw, Ax, shovel, Road Flares, Swiss Army Knife 13. Clothing:: Safety Vest, Rain Gear, Boots, Work Gloves, Coat, Hat, Dust Mask & Whistle, Binoculars 14. Toiletries TP, Hand Sanitizer, Soap, Chlorine Bleach, Large Plastic Trash Bags, Paper Towels 15. Food, Water & Utensils :Water, Food, MRE s, Nutrition Bars, Plates, Utensils, Medication, $50 cash 16. First Aid Kit & Supplies:: NIMS Field Guides & Reading Eyeglasses, NIMS & NTS Summary Docs 17. License : Copy of FCC HAM License and Club or RACES, ARES ID Badges EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS 11/7/

24 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCES AND LINKS Emergency Communications Website (comprehensive information here) ARRL Amateur Radio Public Service Handbook Radio-Public-Service-Handbook ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) SACRAMENTO VALLEY SECTION ARES WEB SITE NATIONAL INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM INFO FOR AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS NATIONAL TRAFFIC SYSTEM BASICS FOR RADIO MESSAGES COMMONLY USED EMERGENCY FORMS ANDERSON POWER POLE INSTALLATION INFO GUIDES 11/7/2013 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS 24

LOUDON COUNTY ARES EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN

LOUDON COUNTY ARES EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN MARCH 2008 I. INTRODUCTION A. Amateur Radio Service LOUDON COUNTY, TENNESSEE AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN The Amateur Radio Service