CUMBERLAND COUNTYAMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE/RADIO AMATEUR CIVIL EMERGENCY SERVICE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN 06-10-01 Prepared by Bryce Rumery, K1GAX Cumberland County ARES Emergency Coordinator/RACES Radio Officer
INDEX APPENDICES 1. PLAN AVAILABILITY 2. INTRODUCTION 3. PURPOSE 4. ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES 5. MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS 6. ACTIVATION PROCEDURES 7. MOBILIZATION PROCEDURES 8. DUTIES OF THE NCS 9. OPERATIONS 10. DRILLS, TESTS AND ALERTS A. FORMS AND PUBLICATIONS B. MEMOS OF UNDERSTANDING C. SUGGESTED DUTY ROSTER D. SUGGESTED RADIO LOG E. EMERGENCY REFERENCE INFORMATION (FSD-258)
1. PLAN AVAILABILITY 1.1 This plan will be kept current, reviewed and updated annually (or as necessary) and maintained by a committee composed of: Cumberland County Emergency Coordinator/RACES Radio Officer All Cumberland County Assistant Emergency Coordinators Copies of this plan will be provided to each Cumberland County ARES/RACES member and all agencies served by Cumberland County ARES/RACES. 2. INTRODUCTION 2.1 The Cumberland County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) was formed to provide Amateur Radio emergency and public service communications in support of local public service organizations in the event a disaster, emergency or any public service related event. 2.2 Membership in Cumberland County ARES/RACES is open to any licensed Amateur Radio operator with a sincere desire to serve his/her community during a time of need. 3. PURPOSE 3.1 The purpose of this plan is to provide a written guide containing the minimum information that would be needed in an emergency. Each emergency is different and flexibility to provide an adequate response to each is a necessity. 3.2 Cumberland County ARES/RACES has made commitments to provide Amateur Radio disaster/emergency communications for the following agencies: The American Red Cross The Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA) Cumberland County Hospitals (via the Maine Hospital Association) Cumberland County ARES/RACES will also provide Amateur Radio communications to any public service agency within Cumberland County in times of emergency, disaster or for public service events. 4. ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES 4.1 Cumberland County ARES/RACES is organized under the auspices of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules (47CFR97). Cumberland County ARES/RACES follows the following structure: Emergency Coordinator (EC)/RACES Radio Officer (RO) Assistant Emergency Coordinators (AEC)/Assistant RACES Radio Officers (ARO) General Membership 4.2 The duties and responsibilities of the Emergency Coordinator (EC) are outlined in the ARRL EMERGENCY COORDINATOR'S MANUAL and the FCC and FEMA rules and regulations. 4.3 The duties and responsibilities of the Assistant Emergency Coordinator(s) (AEC(s)) are outlined in the ARRL EMERGENCY COORDINATOR'S MANUAL. 4.4 The duties and responsibilities of the General Membership are outlined in the ARRL PUBLIC SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS MANUAL.
5. MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS 5.1 In accordance with ARRL guidelines and the FCC rules, the only two membership requirements for Cumberland County ARES/RACES are: a. Possession of a valid FCC Amateur Radio license and b. A sincere desire to serve the community in times of emergency. 5.2 Individuals volunteering their services and/or their equipment should also meet the following: a. Complete and submit an ARES/RACES registration form and b. Participate in as many training sessions, nets, simulated emergency tests, public service events, and emergencies/disasters as time and availability permit. 6. ACTIVATION PROCEDURES 6.1 Any member of Cumberland County ARES/RACES who, for any reason, suspects a communications emergency exists should monitor the 147.09 (+) (100.0 Hz) (W1QUI/R) repeater for net activity and/or announcements (in case of repeater failure, monitor 146.42 simplex). 6.2 If local telephone service is available, the EC/RO and/or AEC(s)/ARO should be notified by telephone. 6.3 In an emergency in which Amateur Radio might serve the community, Amateur Radio operators may be alerted by any County, Municipality, Red Cross, Salvation Army, County Emergency Management or similar official notifying the EC/RO or AEC(s)/ARO. 7. MOBILIZATION PROCEDURES 7.1 If telephone service is available, a telephone recall/alert will be initiated by the EC/RO, and/or AEC(s)/ARO. 7.2 Upon awareness or notification that a communications emergency exists, available members of Cumberland County ARES/RACES will call into the Cumberland County or Southern Maine Emergency Net on the 147.09 (+) (100.0 Hz) (W1QUI/R) repeater. If, for any reason, the repeater is not in operation, the net will be called on simplex on 146.42 MHz. 7.3 If telephone service is available, members not having 2 meter capability will call the EC/RO and/or AEC(s)/ARO notifying him/her of their availability. 7.4 Mobile units will be activated and dispatched as necessary. 7.5 The EC/RO, or AEC(s)/ARO will assume net control or designate another station as net control station (NCS). 7.6 This station (NCS) is designated as a "Key Station" and will be extensively utilized during a communications emergency. Key Stations should have full emergency power capability with relief operators assigned to ensure continuous operation. 8. DUTIES OF THE NCS 8.1 The Cumberland County Emergency Net will be called to order by the NCS. 8.2 Available members of Cumberland County ARES/RACES are checked into the net from their mobile or home stations to await further instructions.
8.3 A liaison station will be to the assigned to the National Traffic System and/or Statewide Emergency net (as required): Maine Emergency Communications Net (3940 khz) Maine Emergency Communications Net (VHF) (146.88 (-) (100.0 Hz)) Other liaison stations will be assigned to other nets, repeaters, and/or frequencies and modes as required. 8.4 Mobile stations will be dispatched to the requesting agency(s) as required. 8.5 Operators of home stations not on emergency power are coordinated to effectively operate the "Key Stations" as required. 9. OPERATIONS 9.1 All written messages will be in either the standard ARRL format or other form as required by our served agencies. 9.2 All written messages must be signed by the official who originates them, with his/her title, taking responsibility for their contents. 9.3 Message precedences of Emergency, Priority, Welfare, and Routine, as defined on ARRL Form FSD-3 shall be used on all messages. 9.4 Cumberland County ARES/RACES members are not authorized to give official statements to the media or make official statements regarding the extent of the disaster/emergency over the air. Such official statements are to be made and/or released by the agency controlling the emergency activity. Questions regarding the emergency/disaster should be directed to the public information officer of the agency controlling the emergency activity. 9.5 Stations do not transmit unless invited to do so by the net control station. The only exception is for a station having emergency traffic. 9.6 After Action Reports and Traffic reports will be submitted to the EC/RO and Net Manager as soon as possible after the termination of the emergency, exercise or drill. 10. DRILLS, TESTS AND ALERTS 10.1 An annual test will be conducted (usually in October or November) in conjunction with the nationwide or statewide ARRL Simulated Emergency Test. 10.2 Cumberland County ARES/RACES will regularly supply public service communications in conjunction with local events, to test the effectiveness of the operation. 10.3 At the discretion of the EC/RO, Cumberland County ARES/RACES will be activated unannounced via a telephone recall at least once per year.
APPENDIX A FORMS AND PUBLICATIONS The following forms and publications should be maintained by all Cumberland County ARES/RACES members. Most forms may be obtained from the EC/RO. 1. Radio Log (may be made up by member) It should, at a minimum contain the following information: a. Date of transmission b. Time of transmission c. Station called d. Frequency of transmission e. Nature of call (brief description) 2. ARRL Numbered Radiograms list 3. ARRL Radiogram (pad) (purchased through the ARRL or made up from the form in this document) 4. Duty Roster 5. ARRL Public Service Communications Manual 6. ARES Registration Forms 7. Cumberland County Emergency Communications Plan 8. Cumberland County ARES/RACES Field Resources Manual 9. Cumberland County ARES/RACES Training Manual 10. Other Cumberland County ARES/RACES Manuals (as required)
APPENDIX B MEMOS OF UNDERSTANDING Memos of Understanding (MOUs) have been made between Cumberland County ARES/RACES and the following agencies: National Traffic System Cumberland County American Red Cross The Salvation Army The Associated Public Safety Communications Officers, Inc. (APCO) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA) National Communications System (NCS) Copies of these Memos of Understanding are kept by the Cumberland County ARES/RACES Emergency Coordinator (EC)/RACES Radio Officer (RO).
APPENDIX C SUGGESTED DUTY ROSTER CUMBERLAND COUNTY ARES - DUTY ROSTER LOCATION: DATE: PAGE: TIME TIME OPERATOR (NAME/CALL) ON OFF REMARKS
APPENDIX D SUGGESTED RADIO LOG CUMBERLAND COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE (ARES) RADIO LOG CALLSIGN: DATE: PAGE: STATION CONTACTED TIME FREQ. NATURE OF CALL L- LOCAL/U-UTC
EMERGENCY REFERENCE INFORMATION FOR AMATEUR RADIO STATION Telephone Numbers (List name and/or number) STATE POLICE LOCAL POLICE ARES Net RACES Net SKYWARN Net NTS Section/ Local Net Packet BBS SHERIFF FIRE DEPARTMENT AMBULANCE/EMS EMA SM SEC NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RED CROSS SALVATION ARMY WHAT TO REPORT CALLER S NAME LOCATION SITUATION Injuries: number, extent Fire? Traffic Blocked? Need Assistance? Weather Conditions NET MANAGER DEC EC Report your activity to your Section Manager (page 8, QST) or to ARRL Hq., 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 The radio amateur best justifies his existence by the service rendered to the community in times of disaster and distress when normal communications media are mot available, have failed or are badly overburdened. In the event of a communications emergency all amateurs are dedicated to serve in the public interest, within their ability, to provide temporary communications for a stricken area until normal facilities are restored. The ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service is composed of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communication duty in the public interest when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, whether or not a member of the ARRL, is eligible for membership in the Emergency Service. The only other qualification is a sincere desire to serve. The possession of emergencypowered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement. Further information on the Service may be obtained from your Section Manager or ARRL Hq. BEFORE AN EMERGENCY PREPARE yourself by providing a transmitter-receiver setup together with an emergency power source upon which you can depend. TEST both the dependability of your emergency equipment and your own operating ability in the annual ARRL Simulated Emergency Test and the several annual on-the-air contests, especially Field Day. FSD-255(287 (Computer Generated --------------------------------------------------fold here----------------------------------------- --------------------------------- ---------- fold here ------------------------------------------------- REGISTER your facilities and your availability with your local ARRL Emergency Coordinator. If your community has no EC, contact your local civic and relief THE AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE agencies and explain to them what the Amateur Service offers the community in time of disaster. IN EMERGENCY LISTEN before you transmit. Never violate this principle. REPORT at once to your Emergency Coordinator so that the EC will have up-to-date data on the facilities available. Work with the local civic and relief agencies as the EC suggests, offer these agencies your services directly in the absence of an EC. RESTRICT all on-the-air work, in accordance with FCC regulations, Section 97.107, whenever FCC declares a state of communications emergency. SOS and Mayday are the international distress calls for emergency only. They are for use only by stations seeking emergency assistance. RESPECT the fact that the success of the amateur effort in emergency depends largely on circuit discipline. The established Net Control Station should be the supreme authority for traffic routing. COOPERATE with those we serve. Be ready to help, but stay off the air unless there is a specific job to be done, that you can handle more efficiently than any other station. COPY all bulletins from W1AW. During time of emergency, bulletins will keep you posted on the latest developments. AFTER EMERGENCY REPORT TO ARRL Headquarters as soon as possible and as fully as possible so that the Amateur Service can receive full credit. Amateur Radio has won glowing public tribute in emergencies for over 60 years. Maintain this record. Freq. Time Days