Emergency Communications Without HAM Radio March 17, 2012
The Emergency Cycle 2
Phone Cell Phone Internet Amateur Radio Communication Plan PDA /Phone Satellite Phone Wireless Phone 3 Radio Other Net Management
Internet General: The DNS/Host file is a potential weakness. Write down or use IP address or addresses when possible in case of a DNS outage. One way to get a site address in windows is to use the command mode. See the example on the right (note spaces are important when your are running in the command mode). 4
Internet 5 E-mail Family email list consider a printed copy Church lists consider a printed copy Multiple email provider? If one provider fails the other may still be operational Social Networking Social networks can provide timely information and re-connect people who have been affected by a disaster. Consider a Twitter, Facebook, and/or Flickr account. A Note on Social Networking & Emergency Response LinkedIn and Facebook have active Emergency response discussions going on now. Twitter, Facebook and Flickr have been mentioned in the press recently. The nature of social media s open communication and crowd sourced information provides a powerful tool for public safety agencies.
Internet Social Networking Note (continued) 6 Take, for instance, the Twitter user who unknowingly tweeted in real-time about the Osama Bin Laden raid, or the Florida deputy who used Facebook to negotiate a standoff, or the kidnapper who found time to update his Facebook friends. A 911 center supervisor recently talked about the role social media played during a mall shooting. While police units established a perimeter around the mall and assessed the situation, they tried to sift through conflicting reports on the shooter. A 911 dispatcher jumped on Twitter and Flickr, and was actually able to obtain photos of the shooter, posted by witnesses inside the mall. http://mashable.com/2012/02/06/social-media-public-safety-2/
Internet VOIP phone over the internet Skype - Free Vonage Paid Magic Jack Others Can be accessed by most Smart Phones 7
Internet Video Conferencing Free Services (consider security/privacy issues) Skype ivisit Church Service PVC http://pvc.lds.org/ Personal Video Conferencing (PVC) provides local Church leaders and members of the Church workforce the ability to personally interact with one another regardless of their location using just a personal computer. This product is provided by the Church to local leaders and employees worldwide for the purpose of reducing travel while still accomplishing face-to-face communications for meetings, interviews, trainings and other purposes. This can be used for one-on-one meetings and for small groups. PVC is for Church use only, and not to be used for any non-church use. Access Go to https://tech.lds.org/wiki/index.php/personal_video_conferencing for more info Home / community wired or wireless Satellite 8
Communications Plan If I Only Knew Then What I Know Now You can save yourself days or weeks of unnecessary worry and grief during an emergency with an hour or two of preparation now. Pre-planning can provide for immediate connection between families and/or organizations. A written plan is a form of communication that occurs prior to the event. 9
Communications Plan Written Plan Review and Test Regularly For your Family Family Reunion Spot Phone Contacts Out of Town Contact Coordination with other disaster plans (employer, school or day care) Learn under what circumstances your child will be held at school and/or released to go home. What kind of authorization the school requires to release your child to other adults if you cannot get there. Make sure the school your current contact information and contact information of people authorized to collect your children for you. Review Family Plan Annually, consider attaching the review to a holiday When a HSAS threat level is elevated, severe weather forecast Access Make your plan accessible, keep it up to date. www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/commplan.shtm 10
Communications Plan Written Plan Review and Test Regularly For your Ward or Stake Identify and plan for alternative communication methods that can be used in case phone lines, cellular phone service, or vehicle transportation routes are disrupted during a disaster. Such methods may include: Internet communications (including e-mail, social media, and Internet telephony). Text messaging via cellular phone (which may be available even if voice service is not). Amateur radio. Personal contact via foot, bicycle, etc. (Full-time missionaries can also help.) As needed, priesthood leaders may call members of their units to be communication specialists. Qualified specialists often own communications equipment and possess valuable experience. LDS Stake and Ward Emergency Planning Guide 2011 PD50034317 http://providentliving.org/pfw/multimedia/files/pfw/pdf/123130_wardstakeemerplanguide_july_2011web_pdf.pdf 11
PDA/Phone Internet Email from the internet on your smart phone VOIP if Wi-Fi is available and phone is out Weather Apps and Alerts imap Weather Radio Text Messaging Often works when voice phone lines are overloaded. Practice to become knowledgeable on how to send and receive texts Ward Calendar and/or phone list on mobile device Advantage: Wide range of smart phones available, with Wi-Fi and 3G plus communication. Can store contact information and reference material locally on device. Disadvantage: Requires Wi-Fi or 3G for external communication. Limited battery life may make the device unusable. Tip: Learn how to conserve power on your device. Provide an alternate phone power source or phone charging source without needing regular 110AC. 12
Satellite Phone Provides Global Coverage Iridium System uses 66 Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites Advantages: Can provide voice, fax, data and SMS services Does not depend on local communications infrastructure Disadvantages: 13 Expensive to purchase $600 - $1500 Expensive to operate (annual fee $400 & up plus $1 to $7 per minute) Does not work with dense cloud cover satphonecity.com
Wireless Phone Can be used for short range communications in pager/internal communications mode. Advantage: If they are part of a normal home phone system and are regularly cradled they will be ready in an emergency Disadvantage: May not last long if the batteries are old or the phones are used heavily. Tip: If your plan includes using these phones consider having a spare set of charged batteries available 14
Radio In General: Practice using the radio, Practice communicating, Practice installing batteries and using accessories if you have them. Store extra batteries next to radios. 15
Radio General Tips It doesn t help to talk louder on the radio in a noisy environment, even though it s may seem natural to speak louder when it is noisy around you. When you yell, the radio clips your voice, distorting voice audio so that it is less understandable. Speak ACROSS the microphone rather than into it because breath sounds also reduce intelligibility. Use a natural speaking voice. The only way to overcome loud ambient noise is to shield the microphone from the wind, point it away from the source of noise or wait until the noise passes. A hand-held microphone or boom-mike with headset may be convenient if you have limited mobility or need your hands free to use tools or equipment, and are speaking to someone nearby. 16
Radio General Tips Any portable transceiver is much less effective when worn on your belt, because the radio signal is partially absorbed by your body. This is very noticeable with low power FRS. Unless you are within 1/4 mile of the person you are talking to, hold the radio vertically, at face level, with its antenna in the clear. Range will be reduced to less than half if you use the radio inside a metal vehicle or inside a steel reinforced building. In cold weather keep the radio warm inside a coat pocket or in your purse, NOT exposed on your belt. Adapters, which enable you to power the radio from your auto cigarette lighter plug, are useful for extended operation. If the radio will work with common AA batteries, you don t need to depend on household current to recharge. 17
Radio FRS/GMRS (Family Radio Service/General Mobile Radio Service) Pros: Easy to obtain, no license required for FRS Cons: Limited Range, GMRS offers more power and range but requires a license (easy to obtain) Tips: REACT recommends the use of FRS channel 1 with no CTCSS tone for emergency communications. For more info: http://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/clearinghouse/cert.html MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service) Pros: Easy to obtain, no license required, nearly the same range as 2m HAM radio at 2 watts. Cons: Limited number frequencies (three in 151 MHz and two in 154 MHz), simplex operation only. Tips: Practice, Practice, Practice 18
Radio CB (Citizen s Band) Pros: Easy to obtain, no license required Cons: Limited Range 2 to 8 miles. Some radios offer SSB mode (increases range at significant price increase). SSB mode is not widely used, Tips: Channel 9 is reserved for emergency traffic. Channel 19 is traditionally the trucker s channel and can be as good or better than channel 9 in an emergency. Scanner Pros: You can hear a wide range of communications Cons: No transmission capability, requires some programming and some research about different active frequencies (for more information see Scanners and Secret Frequencies by Harry Eisenson) Tips: Make sure the scanner you get covers the frequencies you are interested in. A scanner can be an effective monitoring tool in support of your FRS/GMRS, MURS, or CB based communications network. 19
Radio Commercial Services ONSTAR (generates about five times more broadcast energy than a cell phone may work when your cell phone does not) Commercial Broadcasts AM/FM Radio, Shortwave Radio, TV Emergency Services Weather Radio 20
Other Communication Modes Communication Log Written communication that can help bring others up to speed in your absence To be reviewed when communications slows to follow up with any unfinished lower priority business. Tracks who is participating and their status Couriers worked for the Greeks!! Can be used to compliment other forms of communication. Mail (aka: snail mail) when it becomes available after an emergency. 21
Other Communication Modes Signaling Communication modes to consider: 22 Morse Code, Semaphore International Civil Air Organization (ICAO) Surface to Air Signals Devices (Practice using these devices) During the Day Mirror Flashes (signaling mirror, CD, or other reflective device), Smoke, Bright Colored Cloth Flag During the Night Flashlight, Flashing Strobe light, Fire, Signal flares, house lights, city lights Any time Whistle, Vehicle Horn, Air Horn, Voice ICAO Symbol Meaning V Require assistance X Need medical assistance Y Yes - affirmative N No negative I am proceeding in this direction
More Effective Communication Effective communication is important in everyday life, and it is critical during a disaster. Clear, unambiguous messages are essential FEMA,2002 Two Helps for more effective communication Nets Language 23
Net Communication What, When & Why A Net is a group of stations that provide communications for one or more agencies or the general public. Nets adhere to rules to facilitate communication between stations; net formats include: 24 Directed (formal) Net Stations work only with net control Open (informal) Net Stations may call each other directly A directed (formal) net should be considered when you are conducting traffic in any type of multi-party communication like radio. The greater the number of participants, the greater the need to establish a directed net. Having all participants adhere to a net protocol has proven to greatly improve communications.
Net Communication Basics Eliminate or keep jargon to a minimum (this is especially true for HAMs, CB users i.e. Q codes, 10 codes, or words like 73s, 88s, handle, ears, negative copy) QSL? Use ITU phonetics for communicating individual letters and numbers accurately and efficiently. For example did you hear the card is on the door or the card is on the store... you may need to spell the last word. For more information on phonetics go to the CARS website. http://www.cascadeamateurradio.net/tm_phoneticalpha.html Use normal language for communication. Consider the use of Pro-signs (common words with explicit meanings) to enhance communication skills. 25
Net Communication Basics The First person on the net becomes net control until relieved by the assigned net control operator or a backup operator. In a directed net all communication (aka: traffic) occurs as directed by net control. Net control will set the rules about the net. Unless stated otherwise all stations are to remain on the frequency until they have been dismissed by net control. Operators that need to leave and have no replacement should call net control to indicate that they will be leaving the net and should wait for an acknowledgement from net control before they leave. 26
Net Communication Basics Stations wishing to call another station call net control to make the contact. Net control will determine how to pass the traffic by: Taking the traffic from the calling station and confirming that the receiving station has received it. Assigning the two stations a separate frequency/channel to conduct their business. After the stations have conducted their business in this fashion they report back to the net control operator on the main frequency/channel. Permitting the traffic to take place (not usual in emergency conditions), with control being passed back to net control when the stations have concluded their business. 27
Net Communication Basics Stations may wish to use Tactical call signs that will help other stations understand their function or location, the term Net Control is a tactical call sign, examples of other tactical call signs are: Location: Bethany 1, Bethany 2 Function: Shelter 1, Shelter 2 Net Control Conducts the net directs traffic Make sure that a log is kept (best practice is to have a scribe to assist the net control operator) to keep track of what stations are on the net Take situation and status reports Closes the net 28
Net Communication Basics Some words you are likely to hear and encouraged to use in emergency communication because they have been found to significantly improve radio communication. THIS IS - ALWAYS use to identify "OVER" - I have finished transmitting and I am waiting for and expect your reply. GO AHEAD - Proceed with traffic "OUT" - End of Contact - I have finished and expect no reply. "ROGER" means the same as OK Received and understood NOT used for yes or affirmative "AFFIRMATIVE or "NEGATIVE" Use instead of "yes" or "no" Because it sounds distinctive and has clearer meaning under marginal voice conditions. 29
Net Communication Basics More words you are likely to hear and encouraged to use in emergency communication because they have been found to significantly improve radio communication. SAY AGAIN - Use to request a repeat of all or part of a transmission Example: SAY AGAIN ALL AFTER <known word> CORRECTION - I made an error and am transmitting again from after the last correct word CORRECT - You are correct BREAK If a net is in progress and you have emergency traffic to send, you may need to break into the net. A common way to do this is to wait for a pause between transmissions and say Break followed by an identifier, for example if you have a tactical call sign of Bethany 1 you would say Break, Bethany 1. Net control will come back with Go ahead Bethany 1 and you respond Bethany 1 with emergency traffic. Net control will work with you to handle the traffic 30
Homework Determine what communication modes will work best for you and your organization. Be sure to have at least three modes (i.e. plan, phone, radio) Write or update your communication plan for your family and if applicable your organization. Make sure that all participants in the plan have reviewed the plan. Practice with what ever technologies and methods you plan to use (i.e. signaling mirrors, radios, signs, nets etc.) Review your plans with your family and/or organization at least annually (pick a date for the annual review that is easy to remember) 31
References and Resources On Line http://www.w4ava.org/races/acssurvivalskillsuburban.ppt http://www.w4ava.org/training.htm http://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/clearinghouse/cert.html http://www.cascadeamateurradio.net/trainingmaterial.html http://www.cascadeamateurradio.net/ecs_help.html Books Organize for Disaster by Judith Kolberg ISBN 978-0966797046 Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family, 2 nd Edition by Arthur T. Bradley, PhD ISBN 978-1463531102 Emergency Communication Book by ARRL ISBN 0-87259-938-8 Mass Notification and Crisis Communications Planning, Preparedness, and Systems ISBN 978-1-4665-3978-5 32