Emergency Communications By Amateur Radio In Louisiana

Emergency Communications By Amateur Radio In Louisiana

Agenda Why Amateur Radio? Amateur Radio Capabilities ARES and RACES Louisiana ARES Organization GOSHEP ARES/RACES Contact Communications and the ICS System Path Forward

Effect of Katrina On Communication System Washington Parish 9-1-1 Landlines Wireless VoIP Sat Comm 800 mhz 155 mhz 144 mhz Newspapers OPX voice, 3465 data, and T1 s go down early during storm. Tandem in New Orleans fails. No 9-1-1 for 1 week since CO s/eo s can t reroute. Calls re-routed to 10D in second week. CO s/eo s lose connection to each other and rest of the world for 1-2 weeks. All carriers go down due to loss of T1 links for 1-2 weeks. Satellite COW at EOC in week 2. Telephone circuits go down taking VoIP with it. Wireless VoIP circuits erected in 7-10 days for EOC. One in EOC Does Not Operate due to programming issues. Two additional phones acquired during first week with intermittent problems due to programming issues and satellite overload. Not in operation for approx 1 week due to T1 issues. Main Public Service Band, 6 Repeaters. All down for days due to un-accessible roads and lack of generators. Simplex operation only during this period. Poor simplex coverage due to antenna height. After generator installation - Frequent downtime due to generator fueling issues. Local repeater down for days due to un-accessible roads and lack of generators. Simplex operation with high power and directional antenna connects to Louisiana EOC on day 3. None operational for 2 weeks Broadcasters None operational for 2 weeks Courier Hand carried messages to Louisiana EOC, 100 miles away, only means to communicate for 3 days until 144 mhz link to State EOC is established.

Typical Hurricane Wind Damage

One Ham Tower That Survived Katrina (Tower Cranked Down Prior to Storm)

Amateur Radio Capabilities Digital Analog Simplex Duplex Tactical Nets Command Nets Intra Parish Intra State Inter State

ARES and RACES ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) is a part of amateur radio sponsored by the ARRL (American Radio Relay League). ARES provides communications for both civil preparedness as well as non-emergency events such as parades, foot and bicycle races, and other community events RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) is a part of amateur radio sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). RACES provides emergency communications for civil preparedness purposes only. Using the same operators and the same frequencies, an ARES group also enrolled as RACES can "switch hats" from ARES to RACES and RACES to ARES to meet the requirements of the situation as it develops. For example, during a "non declared emergency," ARES can operate under ARES, but when an emergency or disaster is officially declared by a state or federal authority, the operation can become RACES with no change in personnel or frequencies.

ARES Organization Louisiana Section Manager, Gary Stratton, k5gls@arrl.org, (318) 286-1601 Louisiana Section Emergency Coordinator, Jim Coleman, ai5b@arrl.net, (985) 516-2632 REGION 1 - DEC Robert J McBride, AE5RN, frobe438@bellsouth.net REGION 2 - DEC Roger J Farbe, N5NXLn5nxl@bellsouth.net REGION 3 - DEC Kenneth D Standard, AD5XJad5xj@arrl.net REGION 4 - DEC Jaclyn L Price, KA5LMZjelprice@atvci.net REGION 5 - DEC Ronald K Phelps, KC5FGO kc5fgo@arrl.net ADEC Dick Rogers, WB5TUG wb5tug@arrl.net ADEC Alan Levine, WA5LQZ wa5lqz@arrl.net REGION 6 - DEC James E Molan, KD5IGG, kd5igg@bellsouth.net ADEC Scott B Wren, KD5DFL, kd5dfl@cox-internet.com ADEC Jessie C Tilghman, W5JZQ, w5jzq@arrl.net REGION 7 DEC Edwin Higginbotham, KL7EMH, edwinh@bellsouth.net ADEC Robert A Turner, KG5YK, robertkg5yk@hotmail.com REGION 8 DEC William M Redmond, KA5JNL, ka5jnl2@bayou.com REGION 9 DEC James M Coleman III, AI5B, ai5b@arrl.net, ADEC Earl E Creel, N5ZD, n5zd@i-55.com

Louisiana ARES Website State Staff Regional Staff Parish Contacts ARRL Info FEMA Info FCC Info Misc Info

GOHSEP Regional Directors REGION 1 Jerry Sneed NOOEP@cityofno.com (504) 658-8700 REGION 2 - Brian Fairburn director@lpoep.org (225) 686-3066 REGION 3 - John Boudreaux johnboudreaux@assumptionoep.com (985) 369-7351 REGION 4 - Lisa Vidrine lvidrine24@charter.net (337) 948-7177 REGION 5 - Dick Gemilliion dgremillion@cppj.net (337) 721-3800 REGION 6 - Sonya Wiley syw911@suddenlinkmail.com (318) 445-5141 REGION 7 Sandy Davis sdavis@cbohsep.org (318) 425-5351 REGION 8 Butch Beckham bbeckham@ohsep.org (318) 322-4129 REGION 9 Thomas Thiebaud tthiebaud@wpgov.org (985) 839-0434

GOSHEP ARES/RACES Contact Roger Farbe Communication Specialist RACES / ARES Liaison Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness 7667 Independence Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 Phone: 225-358-5252 Cell: 225-456-0540 Fax: 225-925-7501

ALL-HAZARDS TYPE III COMMUNICATIONS UNIT LEADER (COML) COURSE Shawna Warneke Administrative Assistant - Public Safety Programs SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics 7311 Greenhaven Drive, Suite 145 Sacramento, CA 95831 (916) 392-2550, ext.219 shawna@search.org

Communications in the ICS System

Incident Radio Communications Plan ICS 205

Path Forward Acquire Knowledge of ICS System. Develop Parish ARES Emergency Communications Plan Utilizing Inputs From All Hams, Ham Organizations, and Served Agencies. Help Parish and Regional OHSEP Director, Police Chiefs, Sheriff, Fire Chiefs, Mayors, and Police Jury/Parish Council Members Understand the Capabilities and Values of Amateur Radio. Develop Operating Proficiencies by ARES Nets and SETs. Assist Communications Within Agencies Such As American Red Cross, Southern Baptists, Salvation Army, MARS or Coast Guard Flotillas. Sponsor Ham Radio Activities Within Youth Organizations Such As Boy Scouts, and High School Science Clubs. Present Ham Radio Topics to Organizations Such As Rotary, Masonic Lodges, Knights of Columbus, Church Groups, American Legion, and Ham Radio Day at the Local Library. Follow Up With Public Training Classes. Follow Up With Discussions With OHSEP and Parish Leaders. Once OHSEP and Parish Leaders Realize That You Are Part of the Solution Support Will Follow. Assist Local OHSEP Personnel in the Preparation of ICS Forms 217 and 205 to Include Amateur Radio Capabilities. Participate in emergency communications at OHSEP as COML, INCM, COMT, RADO or THSP.