TDEM Homeland Security Conference February 2010
Amateur Radio support is provided by a consortium of volunteer radio organizations, including the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS), the Amateur Radio Emergency System (ARES) and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES). Each service has a different structure, capabilities, and limitations. We will discuss these differences, Rapid Response Task Force operations; which organization is most appropriate for various missions; and what kind of support the organization will need. ARES
In 1912, Congress passed the first laws regulating radio transmissions in the U.S. By 1913, the first Amateur experimenters were communicating nationwide. In 1927 the FCC created the Amateur Radio Service to fill the need for a pool of experts that could provide backup emergency communications. And the rest, as they say, is History.. ARES
Is ARES recognized as an Emcom Partner? At National and Local levels we have MOU s with: Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency National Communications System American Red Cross Salvation Army National Weather Service Association of Public Safety Communications Officials ARES
What are some examples of disasters Amateur Radio has responded to? Hurricanes Katrina and Rita August 2005* Hurricane Isabel -- September 2003 Northeast blackout -- August 2003 Midwest tornadoes -- May 2003 Shuttle Columbia recovery effort -- February 2003 (300 hams!) Wildfires in Colorado -- June 2002 World Trade Center and Pentagon terrorist attacks -- September 2001 Flooding in Texas -- October 1998 Jarrell, Texas May 1997 * Recognized in Federal reports as a What went right ARES
Amateur Radio operators set up and operate organized communication networks locally for governmental and emergency officials, as well as non-commercial communication for private citizens affected by the disaster. Amateur Radio operators are most likely to be active after disasters that damage regular lines of communications due to power outages and destruction of telephone lines. ARES
We are trained in communications procedures so that we can work effectively within disaster organizations and in communicating between them. There are over 51,000 amateur operators in Texas, forming a huge resource of people and equipment that can respond to a wide variety of needs. They are trained and equipped in many radio technologies and can select the technology that will work for a particular need. ARES
Amateur Radio Emergency Services
What is the structure of the ARES? How are we organized at the national, regional and local levels? ARES
Nationwide 650,000 hams (51,000 in Texas) Field Organization consists of: 15 Divisions 71 Sections Texas has 3 sections (North, South, West) Over 4000 registered and trained ARES members in state ARES
There are four levels of an ARES organization ARES
South Texas Section 97 Counties 15 Districts ARES
ARES
County Emergency Coordinator (EC) or District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) www.arrlstx.org for contact list ARES
HF Voice /Data Local UHF /VHF Radio Linked repeaters Internet Linked repeaters High Speed Multimedia (HSMM) APRS - GPS location /Tracking Image capture and transfer via radio (SSTV) Digital Mode linked repeaters (D-STAR) ARES
What are the anticipated missions of ARES? Where does it align with MARS and RACES? ARES
ARES Texas Military Forces Mobile Task Forces (HF Winlink to TDEM SOC)
ARES DDC to SOC Communication Starship
ARES
Mobile Task Forces to DDC/SOC County /Local to DDC (EOC to DDC) Shelters PODs Hospitals Other as needed * HF and Linked nets may be run as cross organizationorg nets ARES
ARES *Also provide comms to CCG via SOC or Austin EOC
ARES
What support and coordination is needed for volunteer group from the supported organizations? Operating space /locations (especially tower space) Integrated training with agency Inclusion @ table with ongoing planning efforts Inclusion in Agency Emergency Response plans Consideration of use of grant monies to purchase High Dollar items. Consider all areas such as inclusion in JIC for PIO s. Regular meetings /reviews to identify opportunities ARES
ARES Services / Capabilities
ARES
Uses e-mail, the World s standard for written communications. Provides last Mile local radio digital messaging directly for served agencies, using existing e-mail programs or Airmail clients. Provides wide area coverage from inside a disaster area without the Internet. Has a proven record of reliability, and continues to be responsive to the needs of its user communities ARES
E-MAIL VIA VHF or HF RADIO Airmail /Winlink can provide e-mail to any served agency without the internet within the Last Mile, across the Nation, or around the World. You can send radio e- mail directly to internet e-mail users. Radio Data Interface Radio Data Interface Comput er PMBO The Internet
South Texas ARES Winlink South Texas Winlink Remote Mail Server Packet stations 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 18 40 54 62 64 ARES
South Texas ARES Winlink Telpac Coverage Jan 2008
South Texas ARES Winlink http://n5tw.ecpi.com/rmsstatus
South Texas ARES Winlink Texas EMCOMM Winlink PMBO now RMS HF stations 2006: Harris County (W0MAC) Williamson County (N5TW) 2007: Cameron County (AE5R) Harris County (W0MAC) Harris County (KB5HCD) Williamson County (N5TW) 2008: Cameron County (AE5R) Guadaloupe (W5SEG) Harris County (W0MAC) Harris County (KB5HCD) Williamson County (N5TW)
South Texas ARES Winlink Texas Winlink VHF PMBO now RMS Relay stations 2006: Harris County * Williamson County * 2007: Above plus: Cameron County * Travis County * (1) 2008: Above Plus: Bexar County Calhoun County Guadalupe * Sabine County 2009: Above Plus: Angelina Nueces * (1) * Indicates HF Forwarding 1 Planned for near term Note: Task force stations with SCS PACTOR III TNCs can be run as portable RMS Relay Stations!
South Texas ARES Winlink Distant RMS PACTOR Server Router RMS Pactor Pactor TNC HF Radio Internet ARES Texas Reentry Task Force VHF server with HF forwarding Pactor TNC HF Radio CMS 1 X Router RMS Relay RMS Packet Packet TNC VHF Radio CMS 2 CMS 3 CMS 4 X Router Local VHF / HF Client Pactor TNC HF Radio Client Packet TNC VHF Radio
ARES Services / Capabilities
ARES Base, Mobile and Handheld communications capability. Linked Systems throughout state FULL Interoperability between all 254 counties within Texas, US and Worldwide. ARES
ARES Linked Repeater System
Repeater to repeater (linking w/o hardware) EOC to National WX Service WX service to WX service offices EOC to National Hurricane Center Potential communications anywhere in world. ARES
ARES Services / Capabilities
Program started in Travis County in 2000. It was born out of a need by EM to track patient status and location during large scale MCI s. Consists of a network of Voice and Data stations permanently installed at all local area hospitals, EOC s and Red Cross. The concept has grown throughout many areas of Texas. Although coordinated with local EOC s it is becoming commonly sponsored by the Regional Advisory Councils such as CATRAC in Central Texas. ARES
Patient arrives to hospital Patient is Admitted, Triage tag info given to ham Ham Operator transmits data to EOC ARES
With permanently installed stations we are able to deploy to medical facilities and be up and running in minutes versus hours. Standardized equipment simplifies training and expands stations without Hams having to own / bring own equipment. Assist with event mitigation Increased situational awareness ARES
ARES
The National Weather Service conducts spotter training classes across the United States, and your local National Weather Service office should be consulted as to when the next class will be held. Severe Weather Nets These are Amateur Radio nets that are held by NWS trained spotters to report a severe weather condition in progress. These reports are then relayed to the NWS. ARES
ARES Services / Capabilities
ARES Services / Capabilities
Digital Smart Technology for Amateur Radio Digitally modulated voice /data communications Simultaneous voice & data capability Internet linked gateways for world-wide comms High speed (128K) and Low Speed data Multiple applications for sending data, location and Instant messaging type data ARES
RPT2 = KF6BQK G VK8RAD G RPT1 = KF6BQK B /VK8RADC OR VK8HF = UrCall D-STAR Radio Entries VK8HF San Antonio WD6FZA= MyCall TALKING TO VK8RF Miami Hurricane Center ARES
ARES
ARES
Alabama DEM has invested over 100K in DSTAR State of Washington recently announced 250K investment Club repeaters growing in Texas ARES
ARES Services / Capabilities
Services / Capabilities Amateur Radio developed technology Network Speeds (10 megabit or better) Mesh connectivity modes Uses low cost, easy to obtain equipment ARES
ARES Mesh node visual
Services / Capabilities Ability to take digital photos and send them via AR ARES
Disaster Intelligence and Situational Awareness Amateur Radio as a force multiplier
Weather Reporting Damage Assessment Monitoring Critical Resources Monitoring Critical Infrastructures Communications Resource Augmentation Communications Infrastructure Support ARES
How Emergency Management and other governmental entities can utilize ARES beyond the normal message handling to increase their disaster intelligence. How Amateur Radio EMCOMM programs that support the activity of gathering disaster intelligence will be better situated for When All Else Fails and communication outages occur. How an active SKYWARN program with coordination with Emergency Management and other EMCOMM programs gathers critical disaster intelligence and how that applies to hurricanes. How Amateur Radio EMCOMM related services can support the mission of gathering disaster intelligence, support government officials.
Data can be shared with various agencies with Amateur Radio Operators providing this data via Amateur Radio or other means (Internet, Email, Phone etc.) Agencies that can benefit from this data sharing: FEMA National, Regional and local NWS Offices State Emergency Management Local Emergency Management Non-Governmental Organizations
Amateur Radio Operators can monitor various sources of information for data, including; Deployment of Hams to critical infrastructures and sites that need monitoring prior to the disaster. Internet web sites, Twitter, instant messenger/chat, blogs, radio and TV stations Public Safety personnel via radio scanners and Internet scanner feeds
Information from Hams deployed to critical infrastructure or simply seeing critical public safety issues developing results in critical data that can be shared and validated as first hand data. Data from web bloggers, twitter, people on instant messenger and media can be confirmed through pictures and written confirmation of what s occurred. Data from public safety personnel via radio scanners can be validated by confirmation that the mobile unit has confirmed the damage or dispatch has confirmed the damage from the caller.
Amateur Radio supports NGOs with shelter communications and mass care activities. In many cases disaster damage assessment is also a critical role. Information on issues that are discovered in the course of this work, particularly structural damage issues or other similar problems are essential pieces of information and create critical disaster intelligence to Emergency Management, the National Weather Service, the National Hurricane Center and NGOs.
Dissemination of this information across multiple Amateur Radio Nets at the local, state and national level can provide access to many agencies supporting disaster relief and to allow for better updated surface conditions for meteorologists. EOC Amateur Radio Operators can perform similar acts from city/town, county and State Emergency Operation Center locations.
Hurricane Ike 2008 Amateur Operators were active on IRLP Reflector 9455 with a SKYWARN Net, National Weather Service and local EOC s active. Information was relayed from that net to the VoIP Hurricane Net. ARES/RACES net forwarded constant Intel on open gas stations & grocery stores, road conditions, Power outages, etc to State Operations Center Continual updates were provided from Galveston during storm via Amateur Radio. AR provided POD situational awareness and needs to FEMA in Houston area.
Fargo ND Flooding: Amateurs were used to monitor makeshift flood walls to watch for leaks and potential breaches thus freeing up Fire and Police to handle life threatening situations Skywarn reports allow for verification of data being received from multiple sources. Helps confirm accuracy of reports.
Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Levee breach What if the levee breaches were detected sooner before they completely let go? Could additional safety actions been taken before the flood occurred? The lack of knowing the significance of those breaches ahead of time and potentially being able to take action hurt any mitigation before the levee breach occurred. This is an area where Amateur Operators working with Emergency Management providing information /disaster intelligence could be vital in mitigating a disaster.
Amateur Radio can integrate with agencies as follows: Classes and training within CERT (Citizen Emergency Response Team) teams for interested team members to become Amateur Radio Operators. Include Amateur Radio wherever possible in training, exercises and actual events understanding how to properly manage volunteers.
Recognition of Amateur Radio voluntary resources in the roles of not just passing messages but gathering critical disaster intelligence data and the ability to share data across agencies. Inherent interoperability of the system allows for many agencies to tie together in a disaster if many agencies utilize the Amateur Radio resources
Disaster Intelligence gathering by Amateur Radio Operators is an underutilized and critical resource that can contribute to disaster responses and is critical for when communications systems fail. Creates a new motto of Before it fails, Amateur Radio Gives Situational Awareness and also better prepares Amateur Operators when and if normal communications channels fail.
Conclusions We strongly recommend that Emergency Management does the following: Include Amateur Radio to be a part of your emergency management ESF #2 function or NGO communications structure. Integrate Amateur Radio Operators into CERT and other citizen based volunteer programs to allow for well trained emergency communication volunteers.
Conclusions Emergency Management should be active in the local SKYWARN program for severe weather events for all seasons and provide pertinent information per the NWS SKYWARN reporting criteria. Utilize Amateur Radio Operators to monitor critical infrastructure to give reports first-hand. Utilize and train Amateur Radio Operators to monitor all Internet resources and public safety frequencies and properly document and validate information from these sources to create critical disaster intelligence.
Conclusions If Hams are actively performing all these functions, are well trained, and properly connected with your agency, you will have the situational awareness to know if something will fail so you can react proactively. This is where Hams become a vital resource in the emergency management structure in a new and vital way.
The ONLY reliable communications source when disaster strikes! Not tied to any specific systems Flexible Portable Cost effective Solution oriented Did you know? Other than NASA and Military, only Amateurs allowed to communicate with International Space Station. ARES
QUESTIONS? Lee Cooper, W5LHC South Texas Section Manager Assistant Director Emergency Communications Communication Coordination Group (CCG) Amateur Radio Rep. State Races County Liaison Officer (Alt) w5lhc@arrl.org ARES