AmateurRadioEmergencyServices

&DisasterServicesTechnology

A.R.E.S. & RED CROSS DST

COMBINING FORCES

Especially prepared forARES State Conference

October 18, 2014

Amateur Radio Operator – KA9MNB/N9EAL/WI9ARC

Disaster Action Team volunteer – Waukesha County

ARES member - Waukesha County

Red Cross Disaster Services Technology Lead◦ Eastern Wisconsin Region/state of WI◦ Deploy nationally in DST

Red Cross Disaster Assessment Lead◦ Eastern Wisconsin Region/state of WI◦ Deploy nationally in DA

Who am I

Helping to bringOrder out ofChaos throughthe use ofCommunications,computers, andinternet connectivity to:“to best meet the needs of the survivors

in the community “

What isDisaster Services Technology

ProvideINTRAOPERABLE Communications

ProvideINTEROPERABLE Communications

Using multiple tools

What isDisaster Services Technology

Role within Red Cross has morphed

◦From “Communications”

◦To Disaster Services Technology Communications Computers Networking Customer Service

Role has Changed

Communication◦ Install Communication equipment (radios, repeaters, cell phones, satellite phones, antennas)◦ Repair and maintain communication equipment◦ Serve as a radio operator and liaison to the Amateur Radio groups supporting affected area◦ Install and maintain IP phones

Computer Operations◦ Install and support computer workstations and network applications in both fixed and mobile

environments◦ Manage deployed servers, e-mail and user accounts◦ Provide system administration support

Networking◦ Design and install wired and wireless infrastructure◦ Install and maintain IP Fax◦ Provide network operations troubleshooting◦ Monitor network traffic◦ Maintain network security

Customer Service◦ Receive and inventory all DST equipment◦ Check out to and receive equipment from DRO staff◦ Provide single point of contact ◦ Provide user orientations

Disaster Services Technology

Four Roles◦ Amateur Radio Liaison

◦ Communication Equipment Operator

◦ Communications Equipment installer/repair

◦ Disaster Assessment

What we have agreed

“Each organization will encourage interested volunteers to become members and participate in the activities of the other organization. Such volunteers shall meet the standards, have the responsibilities and be entitled to the privileges of each organization.”

Shared members:

Person◦Familiar with amateur radio, ARES, Red

Cross

◦Single point of contact

◦Linked to person in other organization

Amateur Radio Liaison

Stationary or mobile Equipment – yours and/or ours Shadow Amateur frequencies or Red Cross / National disaster frequencies

◦SHARES (HF)

Communication Equipment Operator

Communication Equipment Operator

Shelters◦ Within shelters◦ Shelters to

Headquarters EOC Other shelters

◦ Message content Supplies!! Census Client

requests/information (careful!)

Communication Equipment Operator

Outreach Teams◦Casework◦Mental Health◦Health Service◦Coordinate teams◦IMPORTANT instant communications

The “When All Else Fails” situation◦ ARES & amateur radio are at their best◦ Multiple served agencies◦ Short term

The “Best Option” situation◦ ARES & amateur radio constitute the most

effective communications◦ Fewer served agencies◦ Longer term

Important Role Distinction

Cellular Communications

TransmittedMessage

ReceivedMessage

ReceivedMessage

ReceivedMessage

ReceivedMessage

POORSituationalAwareness

Radio Communications

TransmittedMessage

ReceivedMessage

ReceivedMessage

ReceivedMessage

ReceivedMessage

GOODSituationalAwareness

Radio Communications

TransmittedMessage

ReceivedMessage

ReceivedMessage

ReceivedMessage

ReceivedMessage

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATES

A.R.E.S.◦ CAN communicate

with any other amateur radio operator

R.A.C.E.S.◦ CANNOT

communicate with any other amateur radio operator (?) Only other RACES

operators §97.407

Communication Equipment Operator

Emphasizes importance of “crossover”

Stationary or mobile Equipment – yours and/or ours Locations

◦Headquarters◦Kitchens◦Shelters◦Temporary Locations

PODs MARCs Service Centers

Communications Equipment installer/repair

Communications Equipment installer/repair

Feeding◦ Kitchens to ERVs◦ ERV’s to ERVs◦ Red Cross radio system

47.42 MHz National system

Headquarters◦ Prepare Equipment

For distribution◦ Centralize

communication efforts

◦ Care & Control of equipment

Communications Equipment installer/repair

Help Establish ◦Antennas◦Radios◦Paths ???

Utilize – teach people Maintain Break down

◦and all FAST

Communications Equipment installer/repair

Disaster Assessment

◦ Skywarn As the need is created Situational awareness

◦ Teams in the field Collecting damage

information Team coordination Result reporting

◦ Special DA Class You schedule

ARES Trained comm Personnel Committed to serve Operators have

equipment Rapid response

RED CROSS Resources Purpose & Direction Starts response NOW Multi-faceted response

◦ Needing coordination

Combining Forces

BOTHTrained teams

Leverage local resources

As a member of Disaster Services Technology

What would your role be

Communications◦ Install Communication equipment (radios, repeaters, cell phones, satellite

phones, antennas)◦ Repair and maintain communication equipment◦ Serve as a radio operator and liaison to the Amateur Radio groups

supporting affected area◦ Install and maintain IP phones◦ Truly the ARES role

Computers

Networking

Customer Service

The Four Areas

Install and support computer workstations and network applications in both fixed and mobile environments

Manage deployed servers, e-mail and user accounts

Provide system administration support

Computers

Design and install wired and wireless infrastructure

Install and maintain IP Fax

Provide network operations troubleshooting

Monitor network trafficMaintain network

security

Networking

Receive and inventory all DST equipment

Check out to and receive equipment from DRO staff

Provide single point of contact

Provide user orientations

Customer Service

So, to sum up….Quick recap

Liaison

Communications equipment operator

Communications equipment installer/repair

Damage assessment

Four Roles

ARRL EmComm TrainingARES participationFEMA training

◦ICS especiallyARC damage assessment trainingRed Cross DST training

◦DST101 coursesRed Cross disaster training

◦Better understand what/why of messages

Upgrade “Role”

Questions?

Anything Red Cross

THANK YOU For inviting me to tell the story of a served

agency For all that you have done For all that you will be doing

Volunteer service is the rent one pays for the space they occupy on earth

Consider yourselves paid up!