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