Program and Agenda

1
Program and Agenda

• 730 -- Introduction and Welcome
• Amateur Radio EMCOM Support in the Modern Age
• R.A.C.E.S Administrative Issues
• R.A.C.E.S Procedural Issues
• 830 Open Discussion and Questions
• 900 Conclusion

2
Introduction and Welcome

• EOC
• Collaborative Organizations
• Guests
• R.A.C.E.S/A.R.E.S Membership
• Thanks to
• Douglas Jacobsen Facility and Staff
• Dave Boland, Mark Oliphant, Mac McDaniel, Ken Van
  Patten, Aldo DiSalvo and all others active in
  support

3
Amateur Radio EMCOM Support in the Modern Age

• World Radio Article
• RACOM Video Clip
• Old Versus New Paradigm
• Regulatory Environment

4
World Radio Article

• The Future of A.R.E.SJim Wades
• QRZ.COM Commentary amateur radio is rapidly
  approaching a point where it is no longer needed
  for emergencycommunication. The problem is that
  manystill live in the 1960s.
• Cell phones, 800 MHZ, FRS, Etc.

5
RACOM VIDEO

• View Video.
• Keep in mind situations where emergency
  communicators could fit in.
• (RACOM video can be seen at
• http//www.racom.com/Downloads/RACOM HP Web.wmv )

6
Old versus New --Paradigm Shift--

• Old
• 2-meters, HF
• Civil Defense Duties
• Support Fire, Police, Medics, Forestry
• New
• 2-meters, HF, FRS/GPRS, CB
• Flexible Interoperable Support as Needed
• Operate Under ICS/NIMS
• Work with Other Emergency Support Groups

7
Regulatory Environment

• ICS and NIMS
• ICS is THE standard for management
• Addresses accountability, supervisory chain,
  interaction among agencies, standards for
  communicating and directing, scalability
• NIMS is a national program using ICS
• Funding is dependant on all players within an
  organization being NIMS compliant
• EMCOM Support Requests to Utilize NIMS Certified
  Operators

8
Scenario

• You are the NCS at the EOC. A contract hauler for
  Florida Dept. Of Transportation calls you
  through Desoto EOC R.A.C.E.S. They have a
  bulldozer on a flatbed in Desoto County, but the
  tractor blew a transmission. What is your action?

9
Scenario Continued

• You would want to get as much information as
  possible. What agency is getting the bulldozer?
  Do you know what the purpose is? Do you have a
  contact name?
• You find out that the bulldozer is needed to
  clear debris of an bridge that fell onto a
  roadway. That is all they know. Who do you pass
  the message to?

10
Regulatory Environment as Applied to R.A.C.E.S

• FEMA and FCC rules
• FEMA Guidelines recommend 1 hour per week for
  training and drills
• FCC rules limit up to one hour a week

11
Cooperative Philosophy?

• Volunteer organizations have trouble attracting
  and keeping skilled volunteers
• Combining volunteer resources may be the answer
• Deploying operators to support Red Cross, DARN,
  Salvation Army with communications (theirs and
  ours)
• Being capable in dual modes, to include CERT,
  Skywarn, USCG, CAP, REACT, etc.

12
CB
EOC
MARS HF
EOC RACES NCS
MILITARY
NGO
NGO
NGO
RED CROSS
MOBILE ALTERNATE RACES NCS
STAGING AREA
SKYWARN
camp
PUBLIC AGENCY
CERT
CAP
base
WEST COUNTY NCS
NORTH COUNTY NCS
SOUTH COUNTY NCS
RELAY STANDBY
RELAY STANDBY
POOL OPERATOR
POOL OPERATOR
POOL OPERATOR
TAC STATION
TAC STATION
TAC STATION
Possible R.A.C.E.S Network
13
Frequency ManagementCommand Net
NCS
F1 440 MHz
ANCS
ANCS
ANCS
14
Frequency ManagementTactical Sites
NCS
F1
ANCS 1
F1 440 MHz Rptr
F22 Mtr Rptr 1
F2
F2
Hospital
F2
Shelter
Pool Operator
F2
15
How to Get There

• We Need to Learn the New System
• We Need to Train to the New System
• We Need to have Exercises to become proficient
  and professional

16
Administrative Concerns

• Officers and Duties
• Admin, planning, logistics, training, grants,
  technical support, etc.
• Update Call Down Roster
• Rewrite R.A.C.E.S Communications Plan (NIMS
  Compliant)

17
Tactical Locations

• Alternate EOC now is County Jail
• Need to move airport radios and establish new
  location
• Many old tactical locations no longer needed
• New tactical locations VA Nursing Home,
  Cultural Center, Others?

18
Some Proposed Changes

• Have different operators go to different tactical
  sites
• Pool Operators will be assigned to tactical
  locations as part of monthly tactical drill
• Pool Operators will be assigned to random
  locations

19
Proposed Protocols

• Pre-Storm (upon weather alert)
• Carry cell phone, handhelds
• Monitor repeaters
• Frequency Alternates
• During and after bad weather, test repeaters
  often
• Know alternate repeater and simplex frequencies

20
OPEN DISCUSSION

• Questions?
• Suggestions?