Emergency Communication

1

• Emergency Communication
• For
• Saratoga
• Don Steinbach
• AE6PM
• Saratoga Amateur Radio Association

2
Topics

• ARES RACES
• MOU with City of Saratoga
• SARA CERT
• EOC Comm Capability
• Activation
• Go Kit
• Frequencies
• Operating Tips
• Training Opportunities
• MAC Program
• NIMS ICS
• Issues Concerns
• Links

3
ARES

• ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service)
• The emergency communications arm of the ARRL
  (American Radio Relay League).
• Not directly connected with any government
  entity.
• Organized on a section-by-section basis within
  the ARRL field organization and responds on a
  local or regional level.
• We are the Santa Clara Valley Section in the
  Pacific Division
• Monterey, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara and
  Santa Cruz counties.
• ARES operators provide their own insurance.
• You become an ARES amateur radio operator by
  joining ARRL, but you do not need to be a member
  of ARRL to participate in ARES.

4
RACES

• RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service)
• A civilian entity established by the federal
  government after World War II
• A radio service using amateur radio stations for
  civil defense communications during periods of
  local, regional or national civil emergencies.
• Now the communications branch of FEMA.
• When a governmental entity (City, County, State
  or Federal) requests amateur radio assistance,
  the response is through RACES.
• Defined under Part 97 of the FCC Rules (47 C.F.R.
  97.407)
• RACES operators are covered by government
  insurance.
• You become a RACES amateur radio operator by
  signing up for DSW and registering with your
  local ARES/RACES organization.

5
ARES vs. RACES

• Think of ARES as civilian and RACES as
  government ARES as no insurance and RACES as
  insured.
• During a non-declared emergency, ARES can
  operate under ARES, but when the emergency or
  disaster is officially declared by a governmental
  authority, the operation can become RACES with no
  change in personnel or frequencies.
• Each city in Santa Clara County has an ARES
  Emergency Coordinator position, and the person in
  that position is also that city's RACES Radio
  Officer.
• At the county level is the ARES District
  Emergency Coordinator who is also the RACES Chief
  Radio Operator.
• An exception is Gilroy, which has as of 1996 put
  a new aspect of radio communication, the
  Auxiliary Communications System (ACS), in place.

6
Saratoga ARES/RACES

• A current amateur radio license is required.
• Saratoga residency is not required.
• No formal training is required.
• Members should participate in the weekly net and
  the quarterly drills to maintain operating
  proficiency.
• Should be able to program/reprogram radio, or
  follow instructions to do so.
• Net Control experience is a plus.
• CERT training is a plus.
• Familiarity with ICS is desireable.
• Registration as a DSW for Saratoga is required
  for RACES participation.
• See Jim Yoke to register.

7
MOU with the City of Saratoga

• SARA agrees to
• Establish and maintain fixed, mobile and portable
  station emergency communication capabilities for
  local amateur radio coverage and point-to-point
  contact between City officials and remote
  locations.
• Assist in operating, maintaining, and programming
  the Travelers Information System (TIS) AM
  broadcast station.
• Conduct the monthly EOC radio test with County
  Communications.

8
MOU with the City of Saratoga

• The City of Saratoga agrees to
• Make space available for a ARES/RACES two-way
  radio system and placement of an antenna on the
  Citys antenna tower.
• Make reasonable accommodation to store a 8 x 24
  tower-trailer in the City Yard.

9
SARA and CERT

• SARA supports Saratoga CERT with radio
  communication resources.
• SARA ARES/RACES operates the EOC to communicate
  with CERT divisions and the County.
• Each CERT division has one or more hams to
  communicate with the EOC and between divisions.
• CERT uses FRS within the divisions.
• SARA conducts classes for Technician Class
  license exams.
• SARA provides orientation and training classes
  for new licensees.
• HT Orientation
• Two-Way Radio Basics
• HT Selection Seminar
• Radio cheat sheets

10
EOC Comm Capability

• The EOC is equipped to communicate with
• Local amateurs on 2-meter and 70 cm fm voice
• The County EOC on 2-meter fm voice
• The County EOC on 220 MHz packet
• The County EOC via the EOC radio net on 39 MHz
• Amateur radio stations and the OES on HF
• Requires installation of a temporary antenna.

11
Activation

• ARES/RACES activation will probably be coincident
  with CERT activation if the incident involves
  Saratoga.
• Monitor the SARA 2-meter repeater (K6SA) output
  frequency on 146.655 MHz if you suspect something
  is going on.
• This is your best source of local information.
• Has backup power system.
• Others with high-power base or mobile stations
  will fill in if the repeater is down.
• Instructions will be given on this frequency.
• Alert SCC might provide telephone notification.
• Performance to date has been iffy.
• Telephones may be out of service.

12
Activation Issues

• Spontaneous Untrained Volunteers
• There are about 300 licensed amateurs with a
  Saratoga zip code in the FCC database.
• Many of them will want to help this is good.
• May show up on the repeater.
• May show up at EOC.
• Ok to use for status reports from home, but must
  be DSW to be deployed in any RACES activation.
• Will be referred to volunteer registration area,
  same as any other volunteer.
• We need (and dont have) a handout for all
  communicators.
• Telephone notification tree with City and within
  ARES/RACES is TBD.

13
Go Kit (12-Hour)

• Amateur Radio license.
• Drivers license.
• DSW badge for requesting agency.
• Personal supplies/snacks/water.
• CERT graduates already have this.
• Remember prescription medication.
• Radio programmed with local frequencies
• Spare battery pack for radio
• Cheat sheet for radio
• Pad and pencil or pen
• Flashlight
• Safety vest hard hat

14
Go Kit (12-Hour)

• Nice to have
• Lapel speaker-mic or earpiece
• Improved HT antenna/rat tail
• Thomas Guide or local map
• See the SCC ARES/RACES website for more
  comprehensive go-kit recommendations.

15
Primary SARA Frequencies

• Normal operation (duplex)
• 146.655 MHz, negative offset, 114.8 Hz PL tone
• Repeater failure stay on repeater output
• 146.655 MHz, simplex, 114.8 Hz PL tone
• Contingency (simplex)
• 146.505 MHz, simplex, no PL tone
• 145.595 MHz, simplex, no PL tone

16
Alternate SARA Frequencies

• Normal operation (duplex)
• 443.150 MHz, positive offset, 100 Hz PL tone
• Repeater failure stay on repeater output
• 443.150 MHz, simplex, 100 Hz PL tone
• HF
• 28.400 MHz (Upper Sideband).

17
Other Frequencies

• County Message Net (W6TI)
• 147.360() MHz, PL 110.9 Hz
• County Command Net (WB6ZVW)
• 442.500() MHz, PL 100.0 Hz
• County Resource Net (AA6BT)
• 146.115() MHz, PL 100.0 Hz
• Santa Clara County ARA (W6UU)
• 146.985() MHz, PL 114.8 Hz
• West Valley ARA (W6PIY)
• 147.39() MHz, PL 151.4 Hz
• These assignments can change!
• See the SCC ARES/RACES website for complete
  County frequency list.

18
Operating Tips

• Keep the keypad locked when not in use.
• Prevents unintentional configuration changes.
• Disable everything except the memory channel
  selection knob (maybe that, too!).
• Know how to program/reprogram your radio.
• Make, buy or steal a cheat sheet.
• YAESU users - be sure WIRES is turned off.
• Keep your batteries charged.
• Keep the HT antenna vertical when communicating.

19
Training Opportunities

• Self Study
• Program your radio and make a cheat sheet to
  carry with you.
• Test signal strength to the repeater from various
  locations.
• Press PTT, identify yourself, press8, release
  PTT
• Make a rat tail for your HT.
• CERT
• Available through County FD (contact Jim Yoke)
• Quarterly Drills Communications Exercises
• SARA Classes
• HT Orientation, Two-Way Radio Basics
• Weekly Saratoga Net
• Sunday 2100 hrs

20
Training Opportunities

• ARRL On-Line Courses
• EC-001 Introduction to Emergency Communication
• ICS NIMS On-Line Classes
• IS-100 Introduction to the Incident Command
  System
• IS-200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial
  Action Incidents
• IS-700 National Incident Management System, An
  Introduction
• These classes may become a requirment for first
  responders.
• MAC Classes
• Available through County ARES/RACES

21
Changing Times

• It used to be that if you had a two-way radio and
  showed up at an incident, you were welcomed.
• Now youre likely to be viewed as a pest or a
  terrorist.
• So ..
• Be professional.
• Follow instructions/orders/requests.
• Resist the temptation to voice a better way.
• Stay alert.
• Avoid talking to the news media.

22
MAC Program

• Mutual Aid Communicators (MACs) are amateur radio
  operators who have volunteered their time, their
  expertise and their equipment to provide
  communications services during times of need. 
• These individuals are trained and prepared to
  provide a variety of communications services and
  are available for deployment throughout the
  county, according to the county mutual aid
  mechanisms.
•  The MAC Program defines standards of performance
  and includes several types and levels of
  qualifications.
• These qualifications are the basis for resource
  typing and effective and efficient resource
  assignment.

23
NIMS and ICS

• NIMS (National Incident Management System) was
  developed so responders from different
  jurisdictions and disciplines can work together
  better to respond to natural disasters and
  emergencies, including acts of terrorism.
• ICS (Incident Command System) is a part of NIMS.
  It is a widely applicable management system
  designed to enable effective, efficient incident
  management by integrating a combination of
  facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures and
  communications operating within a common
  organizational structure.
• Youll see ICS being used in the EOC during
  exercises and emergencies.
• Not much different than Field Day.

24
NIMS and ICS

• The following three ICS courses are web-based and
  take an hour or two each to complete.
• They are required for all MACs and recommended
  for RACES participants
• IS-100 Introduction to the Incident Command
  System
• IS-200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial
  Action Incidents
• IS-700 National Incident Management System, An
  Introduction

25
Issues and Concerns

• EOC emergency power
• Unknown if Fire Department emergency generator
  actually powers the building/EOC.
• County Command Net (WB6ZVW) signal is marginal
• MAC course availability
• Almost always on the first Saturday of a month.
• Saratoga activation procedure
• Never successfully exercised from top down?

26
Useful Links

• Santa Clara County ARES/RACES
• www.scc-ares-races.org
• Silicon Valley Emergency Communication System
• www.svecs.org
• American Radio Relay League
• www.arrl.org
• County frequency list
• www.scc-ares-races.org/freqs/freqs.html

27
Alphabet Soup

• SARA Saratoga Amateur Radio Association
• CERT Community Emergency Response Team
• MOU Memorandum of Understanding
• ARRL American Radio Relay League
• ARES Amateur Radio Emergency Service
• RACES Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
• EOC Emergency Operations Center
• DSW Disaster Service Worker
• MAC Mutual Aid Communicator
• SUV Spontaneous Untrained Volunteer
• FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
• NIMS National Incident Management System
• ICS Incident Command System
• ACS Auxiliary Communications Service
• SEMS Standardized Emergency Management System