ares and races emergency communications procedures training lincoln county ares / races program

ARES and RACESARES and RACESEmergency Emergency

CommunicationsCommunicationsProcedures TrainingProcedures Training

LINCOLN COUNTY LINCOLN COUNTY

ARES / RACES ARES / RACES

PROGRAMPROGRAM

RACESRACES

RADIO AMEMATEUR CIVIL EMERGENCY SERVICE

Managed by Local or State Government

ARESARES

Amateur Radio Emergency Service

Managed by American Radio Relay League

ARESARES

• ARES stands for Amateur Radio Emergency Service

• This is a program of Ham Radio Operators that provide Public Service and Emergency / Disaster Radio Communications

• This program is managed by the ARRL, American Radio Relay League

RACESRACES

• RACES stands for Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service and is a special part of the Amateur Radio Service developed by FEMA and is a program managed by Local or State Governments.

• In a time of War, The Amateur Service may be suspended, but RACES may still operate.

ARES / RACESARES / RACES

• We are Volunteers, but in our actions as Emergency Communicators we must act

as Professionals.

• We are only providing Communications between Point A, B and C.

• That is our purpose.


• RACES Operators will have a background check done prior to membership approval.

• Under normal conditions only RACES cleared Operators may work in any EOC.


• If the operation is not under RACES but under ARES, this still may hold true.

• Do not report for EOC duty unless requested by the EOC staff.


Incident Manager

Logistics Leader Finance Leader Administration Leader

Communications Unit Leader

Public Safety Communications

ARES / RACES Communications

Operations Leader


• If you are Performing a Dual Role, You must decide on a Priority for your duty.

• Even when working under Dual Role, your Communications Messaging Requires you to send and receive EVERY Message with Total Accuracy.


• When you first arrive at an assignment you should check in with the Faculty Manager,

• Then you should check into your assigned radio network, with a status report.

• Do not leave your Duty Assignment, without clearing your departure with both the Facility Manager and the Net Control Station.


• If your duty is for an extended period, you should insure that the NCS knows that you expect to be relieved by a Replacement Operator.

• Make sure you have all your own needs provided for during your tour of duty, this includes any medications or special meals that you may need.

• Tours of duty can get extended, so plan for that as well.


• You should be able to operate without any extra gear. Even if you are told gear will be provided, bring your own.

• This will cover any failure or equipment that may not be readily operated by

unfamiliar Operators.


• Your are supporting an Emergency / Disaster Event as an Asset.

• Do not become part of the problems they must solve.

• Be as self sufficient as possible.


• If your are traveling to a remote area and some facilities are to be provided,

• Bring your own supplies as sometimes other events may cause a loss of facilities that were planned for your use.

• This is true of everything you may use or need. BRING what you NEED with you.


• Bring AA Batteries and Battery Holders for each portable item you need power for.

• There may or may not be Power to Charge your Re-Chargeable Batteries at the Event.

• As you leave make sure you have a supply of AA Batteries for ALL your needs.


• An older Hand Held Radio can be a great asset after its rechargeable batteries failed if you have one or two Alkaline Battery Holders for it.

• Any Hand Held Units you use at an event, should have such a battery holder with it.


• Don’t forget to have some extra cash on hand, as the ATM’s may not work.

• Don’t forget some paper or log sheets and pens for keeping records of your actions.


• A White LED Lamp is very useful for seeing what your doing and writing and uses very little power.

• Your duty may include time when things get very slow, so bring a book or some playing cards to help with any slow time.


• Training. One of the best training programs is the ARRL Emergency Communications Class Level I, II, or III.

• These are online and you can work at your own pace.

• You will be asked to plan for an event including your grab and go kit.


• If you bring fixed or mobile radios, bring a power source, portable antennas, operation book, coax, support poles, extra fuses, some tools and simple parts.

• Do not plan on using your car battery as a power source except for short emergency use. Using your car to recharge is poor planning.


• Field Day and any other time you want, is a great time to actually test and use your gear, before an actual event.

• This allows you to make sure everything works as you planned. NO SURPRISES.


• Make a Check List for deployment and use it before you leave.

• Set up Two Grab and Go Kits, One for short term use and,

• The second one for a deployment of at least 72 Hours under Tactical Conditions.


• Make sure your kits have your ID cards, telephone call lists and any other data you may need.

• Alerting. As soon as you become aware of a need, you should proceed with Alerting the Team,


• The first Alert Step should be to make a call on the Primary Repeater, announcing the situation fully.

• This alerts as many hams as are monitoring the repeater and getting them moving first, while you,

• Proceed with the normal call up procedures.


• Self Activation or Alert. This is a procedure where some event in the area alerts you to the fact an event is ongoing or about to become ongoing.

• This is a good time to Alert the rest of the team that an event is ongoing or is possible soon.

• A RACES team may not activate but may use an event for an early standby alert.


• An ARES team may Self Alert or Activate by just knowing an event is possible, but

• RACES must be activated by a Government Official with Authority to do so.


• One last very important item: YOU REQUIRE A SET OF HEADPHONES

• YOU REQUIRE A SET OF HEADPHONES

• YOU REQUIRE A SET OF HEADPHONES!


• If you do not have a SET OF HEADPHONES for each radio you plan to use, you are NOT fully READY.

• In an EOC or ICP Environment, there will be many radios operating at the same time and HEADPHONES are REQUIRED.


• If you are deployed else where, they may be needed for many reasons.

• Don’t be a noise polluter at an event, not to mention that some radio traffic should not be heard by everyone around you.


• In the US today there is only Three Ham Radio License Classes.

• Technician No Morse Code 35 Questions on the Written Exam

• General 5 Word Per Minute Morse Code, another 35 Question Exam

• Amateur Extra Class 50 Question Exam


• You must hold or pass each lower level Exam prior to holding a higher class License.

• There is only one Morse Code Exam today.

• Each Written Exam covers more extensive material than the lower Exam level.


• This Presentation is NOT funded by any Public Funds from any Tax Source.

• For details on the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) or the Emergency Communications Classes noted herein, please go to www.arrl.org


• I hope that this presentation has been helpful to you.

• For more information please contact:

• J. Rick Sohl, K5RIC • 505.354.9103 or• [email protected]


• Handouts are available with the information provided in this presentation.

• Copyright 2004 and 2005 by J. Rick Sohl K5RIC.

• 73 from Rick

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