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ARES Activation Procedures and Protocols

ARES Activation Procedures and Protocols. San Benito County Amateur Radio Emergency Services From the Monterey County Version Presented by Dan, W6FDO, Monterey County District Emergency Coordinator. Emergency Communications in Amateur Radio.

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ARES Activation Procedures and Protocols

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  1. ARES ActivationProcedures and Protocols San Benito County Amateur Radio Emergency Services From the Monterey County Version Presented by Dan, W6FDO, Monterey County District Emergency Coordinator

  2. Emergency Communications in Amateur Radio • Amateur Radio Emergency Communicators are involved in several different types of emergency communications organizations… ARES, RACES, SKYWARN, SATERN, REACT, etc. • ARRL’s ARES has longest history of public service of any of the above providers and is also the largest • Most San Benito County Amateur Radio emergency communications volunteers are part of ARES

  3. RACES • Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service • RACES is limited to providing government-to-government communications for local or state civil defense or government emergency preparedness agencies • Supported by FEMA

  4. ARES versus RACES ARES • ARRL Field Organization • Centered around served agencies, both government and non-government • Few restrictions, very flexible, can talk to just about anybody • Activated based upon served agency’s needs at the EC’s discretion • ARES EC in charge of ARES communicators RACES • Official government radio communication service • Centered around local & state government and government emergency management • Limited to government-to-government communications, drill time limits, message content restrictions, etc. • Requires official government activation • Directed by the government, under strict government supervision

  5. More onARES versus RACES • Both ARES & RACES have their strengths and weaknesses • RACES can operate when all other communication is prohibited • ARES is considered a more flexible service • Dual membership may be encouraged later, but there is no RACES group in San Benito County at this time.

  6. Our ARES Service to OES:“Emergency Management Support” • OES is one of our ARES served agencies • ARES operators are a County Emergency Services communications resource • A part of the County’s Incident Command System • OES Emergency Manager advises the EC where communication support is most needed, therefore allocating the ARES unit’s communication abilities just like any other important EM resource

  7. ClarifyingEmergency Management Support “When you look closely at ARES and RACES, the major difference in any emergency operation is direction and control. In an ARES operation, amateurs work with the local emergency management coordinator under the direction and control of the local ARES EC. In a RACES operation, amateurs work for the local emergency management coordinator under his RACES Radio Officer’s direction and control.” ARECC Course III, Learning unit 5

  8. Who ARES Serves During an Activation… • The agencies we have or will have relationships with: • OES • San Benito EOC • Red Cross • Salvation Army • Hazel Hawkins Hospital • CDF • etc… • Relationships based upon MOUs (Memorandas of Understanding) and more importantly… • Agency membership & involvement (face time)

  9. The EC • Field Operations are centered around the EC The key team leader at the local level • Each EC coordinates emergency communications for their jurisdiction • EC is the one in charge of all ARES communication resources

  10. San Benito County ARESOrganizational Chart (draft) OES Jim Clark DEC Kathy Hill – KB6INO Hollister EC Unfilled Aromas/SJB EC Unfilled South County EC Unfilled Red Cross Brad Klemek – KJ6ATF

  11. Because we are a small groupin a large county… • Unlike Silicon Valley (where each city has dozens of hams), the pool of operators in San Benito County work wherever necessary, especially in a small scenario

  12. San Benito County ARES Recon LevelsARES Emergency Readiness Conditions (RECON) ARES maintains a given Ready Condition (RECON) at all times. As a situation develops the current RECON level may change. All ARES members should be responsible for knowing the present RECON. Ready Condition (RECON) Imminent Danger. Severe weather warnings or actual conditions (i.e. high winds, tornado, or flooding). ARES is activated with all available resources. Assignments issued via radio. Alert. Severe weather warnings (i.e. high winds, high water, or tornado, flash flood, or storm warning). Members that are available to respond are instructed to have all portable gear ready and be monitoring the coordinated frequencies. Caution. Situation that presents a potential threat. Members should monitor the coordinated frequencies or advise how they may be reached. Awareness. Higher level of readiness. Could be triggered by the onset of a particular hazard vulnerability season, such as hurricane, tornado, or flash flood seasons, or increased fire threat due to severe drought. Notification of ARES members not yet necessary. Situation normal. This is the RECON level ARES is in most of the time. Notes: In the event of a wide spread power failure and/or phone service failure for any reason, ARES is automatically placed on RECON 3 and members should be monitoring COORFREQS without notification. Although all of the COORFREQS have emergency power, should the repeaters be down, use the repeaters output frequency and TX/RX simplex. The current RECON is announced periodically on the primary repeaters.

  13. When situation is developing… • Monitor primary ARES frequency for announcements • Recon 3: Resources will be polled for availability: • Telephone tree • Members notifying EC of their availability • Repeater announcements • Recon 2: Resources will be talliedfor deployment • Ongoing Resource Net • Standby and be ready • ECs/AECs will be in contact with served agencies • You won’t always know something has happened

  14. When an Activation Occurs:Served Agency Assignments • Served Agency needs will be continuously evaluated by the EC • Shift assignments are coordinated through the supervising EC or the Agency EC (AEC) of the served agency • Unless you are the EC/AEC or appointed member coordinating with your served agency: Do NOT self-deploy –Wait to be assigned! • Non-ARES served-agency deployments will usually be OES “Emergency Management Support” directed

  15. GROUPs

  16. NETs

  17. NETs – Levels 1-4 & 4R

  18. After the BIG ONE(i.e., an instantaneous mess) • Available ARES operators gather on first available ARES repeater (or output simplex) • No net control? You’re it! • Gather as much information as you can about what has happened • Start tallying resources • Determine served agency needs as much as possible • Wait for served agency requests or official OES EM (or RACES) activation and deployments • ARES leaders won’t necessarily be available! • Share the load and ask for help

  19. Dealing With Served Agencies • They are our “Customers” • Without them, we are communicators with nothing to do • Do your best to be courteous and professional • “The attitude among a few hams is that Volunteers don’t have to take orders. That’s absolutely correct. We don’t have to take orders. But if you are not ready to follow instructions explicitly, you may want to do something outside the scope of ARES.” • Expect disorganization and possibly some chaos • Let your EC know as soon as possible if there are problems in the relationship • Our served agencies do appreciate our work – it’s true!

  20. DOs & DON’Ts during an activation • DON’T make any statements to the media or the public about the emergency • The public Information Officer (PIO) for the agency being served will make all statements. • DON’T leave your post without informing the EC • Be accountable! The situation depends on it. • Roaming often equates to unavailability • Pass served agency & 3rd party traffic exactly as it is written. • If you are not the author of the message, DO NOT CHANGE IT. • Remember to use formal traffic formats and forms • Listen!!! • Take care of your own personal needs (food) • Stay as “Professional” as possible • On the air, there is never a proper time or place for emotional outbursts or criticism of any kind. • Be patient with the net control operator, they may be under high stress.

  21. VERY IMPORTANT… • ALWAYS take care of your family, yourself and your own personal property before making yourself available for communications duty • Remember, we are NOT first responders • If you should hear on your scanner or by other means, that there is an emergency in progress somewhere, DO NOT rush in and volunteer your services or demand that you be used for communications. Nothing is more unwelcome and distasteful to the authorities than an uninvited or demanding ham. There is no room for ambulance and fire truck chasing in the Amateur Radio Service. • Follow authority instructions • Remember: We are communicators. We do not normally make decisions about anything for the authorities • Don’t try to save the world

  22. Much of this information may be found with more specifics on our Emergency Operations Guide on our website at http://www.sbcares.org under “Essential Documents”

  23. We are a team that works extremely well together The only thing we are asked is to do the best that we can.

  24. San Benito CountyAmateur Radio Emergency Service N6SBC

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