THE ROLE OF THE AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE IN MODERN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS Lawrence W.....
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Transcript of THE ROLE OF THE AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE IN MODERN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS Lawrence W.....
THE ROLE OF THEAMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE
INMODERN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Lawrence W.. Carr, KE6AGJSection Emergency Coordinator, ARES
Santa Clara Valley Section, ARRL
PRESENTED AT THE FCARES MEETING, FOSTER CITY, APRIL 8, 2013
SANTA CLARA VALLEY SECTIONAMATEUR RADIO RELAY LEAGUE
MY BACKGROUND
ARESEmergency Coordinator, NASA Ames Research Center, (1995-1999)District Emergency Coordinator, Santa Clara County (1999-2012)
Section Emergency Coordinator, Santa Clara Valley Section (2005- )
RACESRadio Officer, RACES, NASA Ames Research Center (1995-1999)
Chief Radio Officer, RACES, Santa Clara County (1999-2012)
ACSAuxiliary Communications Service Officer, Santa Clara County (2002-2012)
OUTLINE OF TALK
OVERVIEW OF ARES, RACES, AND ACS
REVIEW OF ARES/RACES IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY
HOW TO BECOME AN EFFECTIVE AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNICATOR
HOW TO ORGANIZE AS AN ARES GROUP
ARES/RACES IN OTHER COUNTIES OF SECTION
WHERE DOES SANTA CLARA VALLEY SECTION ARES FIT? WHAT DOES IT OFFER?
CONCLUSIONS
Established by the American Radio Relay League
Created in 1914, ARES is the oldest radio–based emergency communications service in existence
ARES provides training and organizational structure for volunteers who provide ham radio communications during emergencies
Focus is on public service communications
AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE
Provides ham radio communications for local government during emergencies
RACES responders serve as unpaid government employees RACES responders must be activated by local government
RACES responders must be registered as Disaster Service Workers by the agency that sponsors them
RACES responders are supervised and directed by the agency that activates them
There are over 700 amateur radio operators presently available in Santa Clara County RACES
RADIO AMATEUR CIVIL EMERGENCY SERVICE
Created by State of CA after watching RACES at work
Coordinates ALL volunteer communications groups including RACES
Is responsible for volunteer communications mutual aid between counties during emergencies
Facilitates utilization of telephone, television, other telecommunications experts during times of emergency
AUXILLIARY COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE
ARES/RACES IN SCCo
The term “ARES/RACES” is used to describe the primary amateur radio communications service in Santa Clara County
There are ARES teams in each city; these become the RACES responders for each city during emergencies
About 700 Amateur Radio licensees registered by SCCo OES as Disaster Service Workers
When activated, they serve as unpaid government workers
Organization in Santa Clara County:Small County staffCity Radio Officers and members in each city in countyPlus NASA-Ames, and Stanford University
ARES/RACES CAPABILITIES
Distributed communications system – each operator is stand-alone radio station
Local communications using handheld and mobile radios
County-wide communications using Linked repeaters
Voice, data and video capabilities
(Capabilities alone are not valuable)
Each city has a Radio Officer; this Radio OfficerIs also the Emergency Coordinator for ARES in that city
Each city has a training program for city responders
County has a training program for mutual aid communicators
Close cooperation with city and county OES
Participation in training exercises
Weekly radio nets to maintain readiness
Quarterly county-wide drills
INTEGRATION AND TRAINING
HTTP://WWW.SCC-ARES-RACES.ORG
Welcome to the Santa Clara County ARES/RACES (Amateur Radio Emergency Services/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services) homepage. Add this page to your bookmarks to stay up-to-speed on amateur radio emergency service and disaster service issues throughout Santa Clara County, California.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY ARES/RACES EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT SPACEIn case of an emergency, this space will display emergency instructions.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY ARES/RACES WEB SITE
SCCO ARES/RACES Training Plan – 2009
DATE TOPIC
1/10/09 NET CONTROL1/17/09 QUARTERLY DRILL2/1/09 FIELD OPERATIONS3/14/09 MAC DRILL4/4/09 QUARTERLY DRILL5/09 FORMS6/2/09 PACKET FOR BEGINNERS6/8/09 ADVANCED PACKET, HANDS-ON7/18/08 QUARTERLY DRILL8/3/09 WINDSHIELD SURVEY10/3/09 CROSS BAND REPEATING10/17/09 QUARTERLY DRILL11/7/09 EVERYTHING ELSE12/09 NO CLASS
RACES COMMUNICATIONS NETS
IN THE EVENT OF AN ACTIVATION OF RACES, AS MANY AS SIX AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS FREQUENCIES MAY BE INVOLVED AT SCCO EOC
MESSAGE NET: TACTICAL COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN CITY EOCS AND THE COUNTY EOC
COMMAND NET: MANAGEMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN CITIES, COUNTY, AND DISTRICT
PACKET NET: DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN CITIES AND COUNTY
RESOURCE NET: COORDINATES IDENTIFICATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS RESPONDERS
HOSPITAL NET: CONNECTS ALL MAJOR HOSPITALS IN COUNTY WITH THE
COUNTY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COORDINATOR
HF: AMATEUR RADIO LINK TO REGIONAL OES AND STATE OES
OVERALL VIEW OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY EOC
COMMUNICATIONS TOOL TO PERMIT TRANSFER OF DETAILEDDOCUMENTS USING AMATEUR RADIO FOR COMMUNICATIONS
BASED ON SEPARATING MESSAGES INTO “PACKETS”, SENDING THESE PACKETS OVER AMATEUR RADIO, AND RECONSTRUCTINGTHE MESSAGE AT THE RECEIVING RADIO
PERMITS COMMUNICATIONS “KEYBOARD-TO-KEYBOARD” OR TRANSMISSION OF COMPLETE MESSAGES
PACKET HAS BEEN GREATLY FACILITATED BY THE DEVELOPMENTOF “OUTPOST”, A COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT MAKES SENDING PACKET MESSAGES AS EASY AS SENDING EMAIL
PACKET RADIO COMMUNICATIONSSANTA CLARA COUNTY RACES
SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICESRACES COMMUNICATIONS TRAILER
SCCO RACES TRAILER – INTERIOR VIEW
MUTUAL AID COMMUNICATOR PROGRAM SANTA CLARA COUNTY OES MACS
IDENTIFY HAMS WILLING TO HELP CITIES OTHER THAN THEIR OWN
ESTABLISH ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR NOMINATED MACS(REFERRAL BY EC AND EM REGARDING EXPERIENCE, MATURITY, AND TRAINING)
ESTABLISH COUNTY ACTIVATION PROCEDURE SO THAT CITIES DONOT NEED TO INDIVIDUALLY ACTIVATE RACES TO RESPOND TO MAJOREMERGENCIES
ESTABLISH TRAINING PROGRAM SO THAT ALL MAC RESPONDERS AREPREPARED TO WORK TOGETHER USING A COMMON KNOWLEDGE BASE
WOW!
THAT’S IMPRESSIVE!
BUT HOW DO I GET STARTED?
“To Be, or Not To Be…” A
DURING AN EMERGENCY
SUV“SPONTANEOUS UNAFFILIATED VOLUNTEER”A PERSON WHO WANTS TO HELP BUT ONLY OFFERS HIS/HER HELP AFTER AN EVENT HAS OCCURRED
A PERSON WHO HAS A SKILL BUT HAS NO EXPERIENCE IN USING THAT SKILL DURING EMERGENCIES
A PERSON WHO ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS BUT KNOWS LITTLE OR NOTHING ABOUT THE PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS IN USE BY THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS
E.G. A PERSON WHO IS A “SPONTANEOUS UNTRAINED VOLUNTEER”!
Levels of activity
I what to help in the State I want to help in the Bay Area I want to help in my county I want to help in my city I want to help in my neighborhood I want to help from my home I just got my license, now what do I doI am interested, but do not have my license
Levels of activity
I what to help in the State I want to help in the Bay Area I want to help in my county I want to help in my city I want to help in my neighborhood I want to help from my home I just got my license, now what do I doI am interested, but do not have my license
ARES
RACES
ACS
SUV
I am interested, but do not have my license
STUDY HAM RADIO RULES AND REGULATIONS(ARRL book on Amazon or from Ham Radio Outlet store in Santa Clara)
PRACTICE TAKING EXAM USING WEB SITE(Google “Ham Exam Questions”)I recommend www.hamtesting.com“practice tests” link leads to test that tells you immediately when your answer is wrong, AND TELLS YOU THE RIGHT ANSWER!
TAKE HAM EXAMExams are gfven 1st and 3rd Saturdays each monthSee scc-ares-races.org for details
OR – ATTEND A “HAM CRAM” CLASSNEXT CLASS, LOS ALTOS HILLS, 4/20/13
I just got my license, now what do I do
DOWNLOAD THE ARES “FIELD RESOURCES MANUAL” FROM THEARRL WEBSITE WWW.ARRL.ORG
ATTEND CLASSES OFFERED BY THE SANTA CLARA ARES/RACES GROUP “INTRODUCTION TO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS” AND“FUNDAMENTALS OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS”
SELECT AND PURCHASE A HAND-HELD AMATEUR BAND RADIO(A 2-METER/70-CM HAND-HELD RADIO CAN BE PURCHASED FROM AMAZON.COM FOR $44.00)
BECOME VERY FAMILIAR WITH YOUR RADIO
ARES/RACES Training Courses –Santa Clara County ARES/RACES
Introductory Courses
Introduction to Emergency Communications6/26/13 – 6 pm – Mountain View7/17/13 – 6 pm - Milpitas10/23/13 - 6 pm –Mountain View
Fundamentals of Emergency Communications3/20/13 – 6 pm – Milpitas8/21/13 – 6 pm – Milpitas11/13/13 – 6 pm – Mountain View
BE PREPARED TO REPORT EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE THAT OCCURS IN YOUR HOME (YOU DO NOT NEED TO LEAVE YOURHOME – YOUR REPORT IS OF CRITICAL VALUE DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE)
POSSIBLY ACT AS RELAY OF INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY LOCAL CERT TEAM MEMBERS OR OTHER NEIGHBORS WHO NEED EMERGENCY AID
RECOGNIZE THAT AS AN UNTRAINED NOVICE YOU WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE DURING EMERGNECIES
LEARN HOW ARES/RACES NETS OPERATE -LISTEN TO THE SPECS NET, MONDAYS, 2000HR, 145.27(R)SVECS NET, TUESDAYS, 2000 HR, 146.115(R)
PATTERN YOUR COMMUNICATIONS ON PROCEDURES YOU HEAR
I want to help from my home
SAMPLE COMMUNICATIONS AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE IN SANTA CLARA COUNTYBEFORE STANDARD REPORTING PROTOCOL WAS ESTABLISHED
“DEFINITE EARTHQUAKE”
“YEAH, WE REALLY FELT IT HERE”
“WE KNEW THAT AN EARTHQUAKE HAD OCCURRED”
TYPICAL RESPONSE TO CALL FOR DAMAGES BY NET CONTROL OF THE SCCO RESOURCE NET: after protocol was established:
“This is KE6AGJ, Los Altos, Mike-Mike 4 ”
ADAPTATION OF MODIFIED MERCALLI SCALE FOR ARES/RACES EARTHQUAKE REPORTING
Prepared by Larry Carr, District Emergency Coordinator, Santa Clara CountyUpdated April 14, 2009
• MODIFIED MERCALLI SCALE USES DETAILED SUBJECTIVE OBSERVATIONS• “SNAP-SHOT” EARTHQUAKE REPORTING REQUIRES MORE ABBREVIATED RESPONSE
• SCCO ARES/RACES “MIKE-MIKE” SCALE
• Mike-Mike 1 – Not felt at all• Mike-Mike 2 – Barely noticed• Mike-Mike 3 –Know it was an earthquake somewhere• Mike-Mike 4 – Windows, dishes rattle• Mike-Mike 5 – Pictures move, doors swing, small items on floor• Mike-Mike 6 – Glassware broken, books off shelf, floor lamps topple• Mike-Mike 7 – Furniture broken, cannot stand, chimneys fall• Mike-Mike 8 – Buildings collapse
• TYPICAL RESPONSE TO CALL FOR DAMAGES BY NET CONTROL OF THE SCCO RESOURCE NET: “This is KE6AGJ, Los Altos, Mike-Mike 4 ”
Training Related Documentation
Santa Clara County ARES/RACES Web Site
Emergency Responder Manual, Rev. 2.1 - Edited by Jerry Haag Acrobat file, 266 kb, 36 pages Mutual Aid Communicator (MAC) Program InformationPrinciples of Net Control by Jerry Haag, KF6GAC, EC Mtn. ViewStandardized Emergency Management System (SEMS)Drill Scenarios used in Quarterly Drills
I want to help in my neighborhood
• ESTABLISH A SAFETY PROTOCOL FOR YOUR FAMILY• ENSURE YOUR FAMILY’S SAFETY• CREATE A “GO-KIT” FOR YOU AND YOUR RADIO• CONTACT LOCAL CERT TEAM OR CONSIDER CREATING A LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM• ESTABLISH HAM COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOUR CITY
I want to help in my city
CONTACT YOUR CITY’S RACES TEAM LEADER TO JOIN TEAM
BECOME REGISTERED AS A CITY DISASTER SERVICE WORKER
ATTEND TRAINING SESSIONS OFFERED BY CITY
PARTICIPATE IN WEEKLY COMMUNICATIONS NETS
BECOME ACTIVE IN DRILLS PUT ON BY CITY
BUT I DO NOT LIVE IN A CITY! OR
MY CITY DOES NOT HAVE A RACES PROGRAM!OR
I AM ONLY A MEMBER OF MY LOCAL CERT TEAM!
ESTABLISH A LOCAL ARES GROUP IDENTIFY HAMS WHO WANT TO HELP IN EMERGENCIES
STUDY THE TRAINING MATERIAL CAREFULLY (ARRL AND SANTA CLARA COUNTY)
PRACTICE THE COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS FOUND IN THE TRAINING
TAKE THE ON-LINE FEMA 100,200, AND 700 CLASSES
SELECT A MEMBER TO ACT AS THE LOCAL GROUP EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
CONTACT YOUR COUNTY AND/OR SECTION EMERGENCY COORDINATOR FOR GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE
TRAINING MANUAL FOUND ON ARRL WEBSITE
TRAINING MANUAL FOUND ON ARRL WEBSITE
ARES/RACES Training CoursesCourse descriptions and materials (please print materials and bring to class)Introductory Courses
Introduction to Emergency CommunicationsFundamentals of Emergency Communications
Core Courses Field Operations
Field Operations - Level 1, Part AField Operations - Level 1, Part B and Level 2
Net Control Net Control in Disaster Communications - Level 1, Part ANet Control in Disaster Communications - Level 1, Part B Net Control in Disaster Communications - Level 2
Packet Operations Packet Operations - Level 1, Part APacket Operations - Level 1, Part BPacket Operations - Level 2
Shadow Communicator Shadowing - Level 1
Other Core Courses Message PassingCross-band RepeatingDirection Finding BasicsAntenna Fundamentals and Safety
Year End Reviews 2012 Year End Summary2011 Year End Summary2010 Year End Summary
COURSE MATERIAL FOUND ON SANTA CLARA COUNTY ARES/RACES WEBSITE
SUGGESTIONS FOR PREPARATION AS AN ARES GROUP
FOCUS YOUR TRAINING SO THAT WHEN AN EMERGENCY OCCURS, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PRESENT YOURSELVES AS TRAINED, EXPERIENCED EMERGENCYCOMMUNICATORS WHO KNOW HOW TO FIT INTO THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICAITONS SYSTEM USED IN YOUR AREA
PERFORM “TABLE-TOP” EXERCISES TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE NET CONTROL OPERATIONS, INCLUDING ALL YOUR RESPONDERS IN ORDER TO DEVELOPCONSISTENT AND EFFECTIVE INFORMATION EXCHANGE
ADAPT OR CREATE APPROPRIATE FORMS FOR TRACKING OF MESSAGES, SITUATION REPORTS, AND OTHER INFORMATION, SO THAT YOU ARE READY TOCAPTURE THIS INFORMATION DURING EMERGENCIES
USE YOUR HAM RADIOS DURING ANY NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVITIES (CERT DRILLS, NEIGHBORHOOD PICNICS, PARTIES, ETC) TO PRACTICE INCIDENT COMMANDPROCEDURES – THIS WILL GIVE YOU EXPERIENCE THAT WILL BE OF MAJORVALUE IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY
ARES/RACES IN OTHER COUNTIES OF SECTION
SAN BENITO –TEAM BASED ON SANTA CLARA COUNTY ARES/RACES PLAN
SAN MATEO – RACES TEAM INTEGRATED INTO SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
SANTA CRUZ – ARES/RACES/ACS TEAM CONNECTED TO COUNTY OES
MONTEREY - SMALL TEAM UNDER COUNTY OES
ARES/RACES ELSEWHERE IN THE BAY AREA
SAN FRANCISCO – ARES TEAM
ALAMEDA – RACES TEAM INTEGRATED INTO SHERIFF’S OFFICE
CONTRA COSTA – ARES/RACES TEAM
ARES vs RACES vs ACS?EACH SERVICE IS PRIMARY IN SOME AREAS OF CALIFORNIA
THESE SERVICES ARE IN DIRECT CONFLICT IN SOME AREAS
NOT IN OUR SECTION!SANTA CLARA VALLEY SECTION ARES WILL OFFER SUPPORT ATTHE GRASS-ROOTS LEVEL TO BRING ADDITIONAL HAMS INTO THEEMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
SANTA CLARA VALLEY SECTION ARES WILL ACT AS FACILITATORFOR INTERFACING OF ARES TEAMS WITH RACES OPERATIONSWHERE RELEVANT
WHAT DOES ARES OFFER?
MENTORING OF HAMS WHO WANT TO DEVELOP EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY
ASSISTANCE FOR HAMS IN ESTABLISHING LOCAL TEAMS WHENEVER THERE IS NOT A STRUCTURE PRESENTLY IN PLACE
GUIDANCE OF HAMS TO ACCESS RELEVANT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
CONCLUSIONS
ARES PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN SUPPORT OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
SECTION-LEVEL ARES EFFORTS WILL FOCUS ON GRASS ROOTS LEVEL
ASSIST NEW HAMS IN BECOMING EXPERIENCED EMERGENCY COMMUNICATORS
ASSIST HAMS IN ESTABLISHING LOCAL COMMUNICATIONS TEAMS WHERE THERE IS NOT A COMMUNICATIONS STRUCTURE ALREADY IN PLACE
FACILITATE INTERACTION BETWEEN ARES AND RACES TEAM OPERATIONS
QUESTIONS?
DUPLICATE SLIDES
OPERATIONS Activation Info, Contact Info, Forms & Signs, Frequency Lists, Go Kit, Mutual Aid & DSW, Mutual Aid Communicator (MAC) Program, Nets, Standards & Procedures, Monthly EC report, More...
PACKET RADIO Frequencies & Network Info, Presentations, Set-up & Usage Info, Outpost & PacFORMS, Nets, User Group
TRAINING & EVENTS Training & Events Database, Drills, Nets, ARES/RACES Courses, ICS Courses, License Classes & Exams, More ...
REFERENCE INFORMATION ARRL, Band Plans, Call Signs, EmComm, Preparedness, Repeaters, Rules & Regs, Weather, General Info
SAMPLE LINKS FOUND ON SCCO ARES/RACES WEBSITE
ARES/RACES Training Courses – Santa Clara County ARES/RACESIntroductory Courses
Introduction to Emergency CommunicationsFundamentals of Emergency Communications
Core Courses Field Operations
Field Operations - Level 1, Part AField Operations - Level 1, Part B and Level 2
Net Control Net Control in Disaster Communications - Level 1, Part ANet Control in Disaster Communications - Level 1, Part B Net Control in Disaster Communications - Level 2
Packet Operations Packet Operations - Level 1, Part APacket Operations - Level 1, Part BPacket Operations - Level 2
Shadow Communicator Shadowing - Level 1
Other Core Courses Message PassingCross-band RepeatingDirection Finding BasicsAntenna Fundamentals and Safety
INTEGRATION AND TRAINING
(Capabilities alone are not valuable)
• Each city has a Radio Officer; each Radio Officer• Is also the Emergency Coordinator for ARES in that city• Each city has a training program for city responders• County has a training program for mutual aid communicators• Close cooperation with city and county OES• Participation in training exercises• Weekly radio nets to maintain readiness• Quarterly county-wide drills
ARES/RACES/ACSAmateur Radio Emergency Service
Part of the American Radio Relay LeagueFounded in 1914Provides training and organizational structure
for volunteers who provide ham radio communicationsFocus is on public service communications
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency ServiceProvides ham radio communications for local governmentResponders serve as unpaid government employees
Must be activated by local government Must be registered as Disaster Service Workers by agency that sponsors them
Responders are supervised and directed by the agency that activates them
Over 700 amateur radio operators presently available in SCCo
Auxiliary Communications ServiceCreated by State of CA after watching RACES at workCoordinates ALL volunteer communications groupsFacilitates utilization of telephone, television, other
telecommunications experts during times of emergency
POSSIBLE MAC ASSIGNMENTSFIELD RESPONDER:F-1: fixed observer - logistics link. examples: rest stop comm at walkathon, traffic monitor at eventF-2: Roaming observer – Independent travel to observe events e.g. stream heightF-3: Evaluating observer - Able to perform damage surveys, fire extension, active flood development (must
have demonstrated ability to maintain safety at all times)
SHADOW:S-1 Local – accompany low intensity personnel, e.g. city council memberS-2 Roaming – travel with OES staff, Red Cross Emergency VehiclesS-3 Shadow critical personnel - Accompany event manager, OES director, Incident Commander
NET CONTROL:N-1 Low intensity Nets – Local nets; county nets during periods of low traffic intensityN-2 Medium Intensity Nets - County nets during drills; public service eventsN-3 High intensity Nets - Resource net after earthquake; high-level traffic net during emergency
PACKET:P-1 Use Existing Systems - Able to use Outpost packet program on existing system; can perform packet
keyboard –to-keyboard communicationsP-2 Set Up New Systems – Can set up Outpost based packet station when supplied with relevant equipmentP-3 Diagnose Packet Problems
ARES/RACES IN SCCo• The term used for the primary auxiliary communications
service in Santa Clara County• Chief RACES Radio Officer is mutual aid coordinator for
auxiliary communications including CAP, REACT, and others• About 700 Amateur Radio licensees registered by SCCo OES
as Disaster Service Workers• When activated, they serve as unpaid government workers• Organization in Santa Clara County:
– Small County staff, NASA-Ames, and Stanford University– City Radio Officers and bulk of members
ARES/RACES Training Courses –Santa Clara County ARES/RACES
Field Operations Field Operations - Level 1, Part AField Operations - Level 1, Part B and Level 2
ARES/RACES ASSIGNMENTSFIELD OBSERVERS – Rapid assessment of emergency situations from hams throughout the cities and county
SHADOWS - to supply communications support for personnel in the field
NET CONTROL OPERATORS: Provide management of communications netswhen high levels of traffic are expected
OES COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT - to supplement overloaded radio systems and to free OES personnel for other duties
BACKUP COMMUNICATIONS – When telephones are out of serviceor overloaded
INTERCONNECTION OF AGENCIES – connect agencies to field stations and to OES
DATA COMMUNICATIONS - Transmission of sensitive information from computer to computer via data radio communications
Capabilities
• Unlimited flexibility
• Long distance via short-wave;
• local via handheld and mobile radios
• Thousands of frequencies
• Linked repeaters
• Voice, data and video
• Distributed communications system – each operator is stand-alone radio station
ARES/RACES/ACSAmateur Radio Emergency Service
Part of the American Radio Relay LeagueFounded in 1914Provides training and organizational structureFocus is on public service communications
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency ServiceProvides communications for local governmentMust be activated by local governmentMust be registered as Disaster Service Workers by
agency that sponsors themResponders serve as unpaid government employeesResponders are supervised and directed by the
agency that activates ahemOver 700 amateur radio operators available in SCCo
Auxiliary Communications ServiceCreated by State of CA after watching RACES at workCoordinates ALL volunteer communications groupsFacilitates utilization of telephone, television, other
telecommunications experts during times of emergency