Operators Training Class IIINet Control Course Duties in an

Emergency

Amateur Radio support of Emergency Services

Emergency Net Control, Yolo County Amateur Radio Service, Yolo Floods (circa 1970s) Andy Peoples WA6DDO NCS, and Gary Matteson, WA6TQJ Yolo EC/ RO

Instructor: Gary Matteson

• General Licensed June 1961 as WA6TQJ• Air Force MARS 1963-70• Yolo County RACES Radio Officer 1968-75• ARRL Emergency Coordinator Yolo County

1970-75• California Department of Forestry VIP 1994-96• American Red Cross RTT 2008• Yolo ARES 2001- present• Sacramento Valley Noon Net Mgr 2003-present

Net Control Station: Physical set-up -Equipment

• Double Century Bike Net Control Station• Go-Kit Net control station• Spacing of stations• Head Phones and mikes• Voice, Packet, Win Link• GPS• Scanners

Net Control Station: Personnel

• NCS

• ANCS, Onsite or remote

• Runners or radio “Shadow” link

In anticipation of your performance as a Net control: Continued

• Know the applicable Emergency Plan

• Review Call up Procedure

Know who you report to (Non Radio portion of the chain)– In the EOC– In the Field

In anticipation of your performance as a Net control: Continued

• Know who you can deliver messages to (Non Radio portion of the chain)– Anybody– Only certain people

• Know who you can accept messages from (Non radio portion of the chain)– Anybody– Only certain people

In anticipation of your performance as a Net control: Continued

• Know your Band Plan

• Contact Lists

Band PlanDRAFT: January 10, 2009 Revised: Repeaters - PrimaryChannel No. Frequency Off Set PL Organization R-1 145.450 Neg. 203.5, UC Davis EOCRepeaters - SecondaryChannel No. Frequency Off Set PL OrganizationR-1 146.970 Neg 123. Berryessa ARCR-2 146.910 Neg 100. Sacramento ARCR-3 147.195 Positive 123. Sacramento ARCROther Simplex Frequencies Frequency Organization 146.475 UCDARC Tactical 146.550 ARES 146.5200 National Calling & Wilderness Protocol 446.0000 National Calling Frequency

Contact Information (Example)

• Emcomm Contact Information (1-3-08)• 1. Federal Government: California Office of Homeland Security

State Capitol, 1st FloorSacramento, CA 95814(916) 324-8908Governor's Office of Homeland Security

California State Citizen Corps Council1110 K St., Suite 210Sacramento, CA 95814(916) 323-7646www.citizencorps.gov.

In anticipation of your performance as a Net control: Continued

Net Protocols

• Over• Out• Copy• Clear• Listen• Circuit Discipline

In anticipation of your performance as a Net control: Continued

• Net Protocols

• Use of Tactical and Call signs.

• Use plain language, no “Q” signals and no “10” calls

• Use Phonetics for clarity

Gather work supplies

– pens & pencils – forms – maps

Campus

City

County Map

Grid Maps

Net Preamble

• 15 Minute Alert

• 5 Minute Alert)

• Net Initiation: This is the ------ Emergency Net.

– Priority/Emergency Traffic?

– Directed Net

– Member Roll Call

Initiating the Net- NCS requests each operator to provide:

• Present location

• Availability

• Capability

– Enter above into AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE RESOURCE AVAILABILITY LOG SHEET, and AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE RESOURCE REQUIREMENT LOG SHEET

• Call for Visiting Stations

Assignments for individuals checking into the Net

• Designate an Alternate Net Control

• Assign one station to Net's secondary frequency

• Assign one station to make a land line or cell phone contacts.

• Make operator assignments. Log assignments into AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE RESOURCE STATION ASSIGNMENT LOG SHEET.

• .

"Emergency Traffic"

Net Control Sheela KG6ICW

Actions of the Net Control

• Request all stations to stand by

• Identify the Net and your Net Control Station.

• Request originating station to Identify, if not already done so.

Routing of "Emergency Traffic”

• You observe that the traffic is directed to the EOC Director at your location.

 • If Alternate Net Control is on-site at the UC

Davis EOC, have the Alternate Net Control take the emergency traffic and be responsible for the disposition of the message.

• If the Alternate Net Control is off-site, have the Alternate Net Control to take control of the Net and continue the Net Check-in process.

Receipt of “Emergency Traffic”

• Use UCDARC Message Form 213 if incoming message is in that format.

• If not using UCDARC Message handing format, be sure

to obtain station's name, call sign, and location.

• Make sure you know who is originating the message.

• Make sure you know how to route the emergency message, e.g.,who gets the message?

• Is a response required? If so how to contact ‘originating’ station with response.

Delivery of “Emergency Traffic”

• Make arrangements for delivery of the text of the "Emergency Traffic" to your Incident Commander.

• If response from Incident commander looks to be immediate, arrange for someone to write down the response on at the bottom of the UCDARC Message form and return the message to the Net Control position.

• Log all messages that are not tactical

• If ANCS, return to Net frequency and advise Net Control that Emergency Traffic was handled.

• If NCS Return, re-assume responsibilities for the Net.

Status Checks from operators moving to assigned locations

• Conduct status check on assignments.

• Make notation in Net Control Log when assigned operators have arrived at specified locations (use: AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICERESOURCE STATION ASSIGNMENT LOG SHEET.

• When appropriate, have assigned operators check-in with site supervisor or manager

Monitoring the conduct of duties

• Operators going ”off-line.”

• Welfare Check

• Operator in Distress?

• Repeat roll call every two hours.

Message Handling • ICS 213.

• Sending and Receiving of Health and Welfare messages

• Use of secondary frequency to pass Routine messages

• Tactical messages – make sure you know who is originating the message– make sure you know who is to receive the message

• Log all messages, including tactical

– The mantra in the EOC is to document everything.

Reassignments or Relief of duties

• If the Net control is handing off the NCS to another operator, he/she should:

– Review all active incidents and issues

– Transfer the message log.

– Transfer current member roll call list and assigned operators list.

– Show tracking of assigned operators

• Plan for relief as end of duty time approaches for each station operator.

(The above applies to the Net Control operator too.)

Closing down Net Operations • Alert the operators of the pending termination of Net

• Obtain clearance from the Incident Commander to close down the Net.

• Conduct a final roll call and release each individual from further duties.

• Make sure that all operators are accounted for.

• Turn in all Message logs, Message forms, Operator roll-calls to supervisor

• Replenish net control supplies and forms as soon as possible

Continuing Education for Net Controls

• Participate as NCS for Nets and Drills.• Update Emergency Communication Plan

Contributors to this presentation include the following amateur radio operators:

• Dwayne Evans, KG6KPW

• Rick Littlefield, N6KLB

• Greg Kruckewitt, KG6SJT

• Kyle Noderer, KB6OLL

• Larry Sutter WD6FXR

• THANK YOU!