Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Course
Level 1
Version 4 – February 2009
Visual LEVEL1.1
Acknowledgements

The presenters would like to thank the American Radio Relay League for permission to use
copyrighted ARECC Level 1 course material that is included in this classroom presentation
material

In addition, supplemental material has been obtained through various sources including the
Citizen Corps CERT website, Seattle Emergency Management, King County Emergency
Management, Washington Military Department Emergency Management Division,
Washington State ARES/RACES, King County ARES/RACES, Seattle ACS, Western
Washington Medical Services Team

Slides for this presentation were developed by Brian Daly, WB7OML, EC - King County (WA)
District M - Western Washington Medical Services Team and leadership team of the Seattle
ACS. Permission is granted to any amateur radio team to use provided credit is given to the
developer.

Presenters:
 Brian Daly WB7OML
 DeWayne Sennett KE7DXW
 Alan Jones KD7KUS
Visual LEVEL1.2
Logistics
 Activity Sheet
 Course Evaluation Sheet
 3 lessons, followed by a short break
Visual LEVEL1.3
Overview
 Welcome! And Thank You!!
 We are here to improve professionalism and effectiveness
of our public service efforts
 Share a common base of knowledge, skills and
procedures
 Learn new skills, new ways of thinking about existing
skills
 Make note of any ideas you may have, and submit on the
course evaluation sheet
 Share stories of how this applies to your local teams
Visual LEVEL1.4
Introduction
 Objectives of the course
 To
provide a baseline level of knowledge
and skill in Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications for anyone wishing to assist
their local emergency communications
organizations
Visual LEVEL1.5
First, let’s start out with a scenario ….
Visual LEVEL1.6
Scenario







1,660 dead
24,200 injured
9,700 buildings destroyed
29,000 buildings severely
damages and unsafe
154,000 buildings
moderately damaged with
use restricted
130 fires burn
All major highways
experience partial
closures lasting months
 Utilities cut in areas with



poor soils
Port facilities badly
damaged
Businesses disrupted due
to collapsed supply
houses, transportation
closures, communication
outages
Property Damage $33B
Visual LEVEL1.7
Scenario – Where?
 Katrina?
 Tsunami?
Visual LEVEL1.8
Scenario
 Scenario for a Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake on
the Seattle Fault
 Seattle Fault M6.7
 Shallow Quake
 Fault Rupture at surface in Bellevue
 Losses similar to the M6.7 Northridge earthquake
 U.S.
most costly to date
Visual LEVEL1.9
Lesson 1: Introduction to Emergency
Communications
Visual LEVEL1.10
What is a Communication Emergency?
 A Communication Emergency exists when:
A
critical communication failure puts the public
at risk
 Variety of circumstances leads to a
communication emergency
 Overload or damage to critical day-to-day
systems
What are some potential causes of a
Communications Emergency locally?
Visual LEVEL1.11
Western Washington Communications Emergency
Visual LEVEL1.12
Arizona Communication Emergencies
Visual LEVEL1.13
Other Communication Emergencies
Grid Failure
Terrorism
PSAP Failure
Hospital/EMS Comm Failure
Visual LEVEL1.14
Which of these may result in a communication emergency?










Pacific Northwest windstorm
Western Washington snowfall of December 2008
Nisqually earthquake
9-1-1 center telephone outage
Widespread power outage
Cascadia subduction zone earthquake
Internal hospital PBX outage
Cable television system outage
Avalanche at Snoqualmie Pass
Western Washington floods of 2007 or 2009
Visual LEVEL1.15
Visual LEVEL1.16
Disaster
 Disaster  “ill-starred”
 “dis”
– Latin for “away”
 “astrum” – Latin for “stars”
 Conversations about disaster 
 Typically
surrounded by fear and superstition
“Why don’t we tell people what to do when the nation
is on Orange Alert against a terrorist attack – instead of just telling
them to be afraid?”
- Amanda Ripley, “The Unthinkable”
Visual LEVEL1.17
Exercise
 Rank order the
following disaster
risks for Seattle/King
County from highest
risk to lowest risk
 Consider both:


Frequency &
Effects of the
disaster














Tornadoes
Floods
Landslides
Terrorism
Hazmat Incidents
Volcanic Eruptions
Conflagrations
Earthquake
Windstorm
Tsunami/Seiches
Air Crashes
Civil Disorders
Snowstorm
Droughts/Water Shortages
Visual LEVEL1.18
Seattle Risks
Visual LEVEL1.19
Useful Reading
http://www.seattle.gov/emergency/
Visual LEVEL1.20
King County Disasters
 King County is at risk for a wide-range of natural,


technological, and human-caused disasters
Between 1964 and 2005, King County has had 20
presidential declared disasters
 most of which were severe weather events
Have the potential for:
 severe weather events
• floods, ice, wind, and snowstorms
 landslide risks
 transportation and fixed-site hazardous material issues
 could be vulnerable to terrorist activities
Visual LEVEL1.21
Earthquakes
Visual LEVEL1.22
Pacific Northwest Earthquakes
Source: earthquake.usgs.gov
Visual LEVEL1.23
Pacific Northwest Earthquakes
Source: http://www.pnsn.org
Visual LEVEL1.24
Seattle Earthquakes
Source: earthquake.usgs.gov
Visual LEVEL1.25
A Few Earthquake Resources
 The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network

http://www.pnsn.org/
 KING5 Earthquake

http://www.king5.com/quake/
 Washington State Emergency Management

http://emd.wa.gov/hazards/haz_earthquakes.shtml
Visual LEVEL1.26
Pacific Northwest Volcanoes
Visual LEVEL1.27
Major King County River Systems
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/flooding/documents/flood-hazard-management-plan.aspx
Visual LEVEL1.28
King County Flooding
Visual LEVEL1.29
2006 Flooding
Visual LEVEL1.30
Winter Weather
 King County Snow & Ice Plan

http://www.govlink.org/storm/roads.asp
 City of Seattle Snow & Ice Plan

http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/snowandice.htm
Visual LEVEL1.31
Emergency Coordination Zones
 Emergency Coordination
Zone 1 - East King County

was created from former
Fire Zones 1 and 2
 Emergency Coordination
Zone 3 – South King
County

was created from a merger
of Fire Zones 3 and 4 in
July 2002
 Emergency Coordination
Zone 5 - the City of
Seattle
Visual LEVEL1.32
King County Disaster Plan
http://www.metrokc.gov/prepare/programs/regionalplan.aspx
 The population density,
complex system of
governance, and significant
risks we face (for both
natural and technological
disasters) created the need
to plan for a coordinated
response among public,
private, tribal and nonprofit
entities in King County
Visual LEVEL1.33
Arizona Earthquakes
Source: http://www4.nau.edu/geology/aeic/aeic.html
Visual LEVEL1.34
What Makes a Good Emcomm Volunteer?
 Common Attributes:
 Desire
to help others without personal gain of
any kind
 Ability to work as a member of a team
 Ability to take direction from others
 Think and act quickly
• Under stress and pressure of an emergency
Visual LEVEL1.35
Where Do You Fit In?
 Amateurs bring:



Equipment
Skills
Frequencies
 Create expedient emergency communications network
under poor conditions
 Flexible, expandable
 We are licensed & preauthorized for national and
international communications
However….
Visual LEVEL1.36
Where Do You Fit In?
 Radios, Frequencies and Basic Radio Skills are
not enough!
 Without specific emergency communication
skills, you can easily become part of the problem
 Technical and Operating Skills are critical…
 And
so is your ability to function as a team
player within your organization as well as the
organization you are serving
Visual LEVEL1.37
What You Are Not
 Important to know your limits of responsibility as an
emergency communicator
 Specifically:

You are not a first responder
 You have no authority
• Cannot make decisions for others
• Cannot make demands on the served agency
 You can & should make decisions affecting your own
health & safety
Visual LEVEL1.38
What You Are Not
 You cannot “do it all”
 If
the served agency runs short of specialized
help, it is not your job to fill it
• especially if you are not trained for the job!
 But you can fill in an urgent need or perform
jobs where communication is an integral part,
if you are qualified
 You are not in charge!
Leave your ego at the door!
Visual LEVEL1.39
Day-to-Day vs. Emergency Communications
 “Day-to Day” Amateur Radio

No pressure to get a message through
 Do things at your leisure
 No one’s life depends on it
 Public Service Events

Scheduled and Planned
 Field Day

Plan for 2-day operation
Visual LEVEL1.40
Day-to-Day vs. Emergency Communications
 Emergency Communications

May involve both Amateurs and non-Amateurs

Happen in real-time
• Unplanned, little or no warning
• May go on for several days

May have several nets simultaneously
• Pass critical messages in a limited timeframe

Portable stations, quickly set up and operational
anywhere
Visual LEVEL1.41
The Missions
 Varies with specific agency served
 Example:
American Red Cross
• Provide communications needed to maintain
shelters and other relief efforts
 Example:
State/Local Emergency Management
• Interagency communications
• “eyes and ears” of the emergency managers
What are some of the missions you might see?
Visual LEVEL1.42
Communicating – Job #1
 Important to remember your job is:

“communicating”
 Communicating does not automatically imply
amateur radios
 Be prepared to use any means required
Visual LEVEL1.43
Communicating – Job #1
 Our job – GET THE MESSAGE THROUGH
 Don’t
think about how to use the ham radio to
send the message ---
 Just
think about the best and fastest way to
send it
• If the best way is a FAX, cell phone, CB or FRS –
use it
• If an agency asks you to use their radio system, use it
Your Operating Skills are just as important
as your Ham Radio Resources
Visual LEVEL1.44
Anatomy of a Communications Emergency
 Early phase of a disaster

Severe storm “watch” or “warning” period

In many cases, no immediate need for emergency
communications
• Earthquake may be an exception

Monitor developments and prepare to deploy

Some nets may be activated
• Hurricane, Skywarn
Visual LEVEL1.45
Anatomy of a Communications Emergency
 Once need for more communication resources is identified

Served agency puts out call to volunteers
• Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
• Field locations
 “Rapid Response Team” (RRT)

Minimal, quick response in a very short time
 Backed up by a more robust response after 1-2 hours
Visual LEVEL1.46
Anatomy of a Communications Emergency
 “Resource” or “Logistics” net may be established
 Handle
incoming emcomm volunteers
 Direct resources where needed most
 Unassigned volunteers check in and monitor
Once Operations Begin…
Visual LEVEL1.47
Anatomy of a Communications Emergency
Message Volume Grows Quickly
Confusion
Batteries
Relief Operators
Fuel
Replacement Operators
Radio Failures
Food and Water
Antenna Failures
Sleeping Accommodations
Visual LEVEL1.48
Communication Assignments
 Staffing a Shelter

 Collecting/Transmitting
Handle calls for
information, supplies,
personnel
Damage Reports
 Pass health/welfare
inquires
 “Shadowing”

Communication link for
an official
 Gathering Weather
Information
 Pass messages outside of
the disaster area
 Handle logistical needs for
served agency
Visual LEVEL1.49
Need for Flexibility
 Nets will be set up, re-arranged, and dismantled
as needs change
 Remain flexible to meet needs of served
agency
 Over time, communication needs diminish
 Nets
closed
 Operators released
Not long after the operation has ended…
Visual LEVEL1.50
After-Action Review
 Review the effectiveness of response
 Within
the emergency communications group,
and/or with the served agency
• Format can be a formal net, email, or face-toface meeting
 Should occur as soon as possible
Critiques done properly can greatly improve your
organization’s – and your own - effectiveness
Visual LEVEL1.51
Visual LEVEL1.52
Lesson 1 Activities
 1a. List three ways in which Emergency
Communications are similar to Non-emergency
Communications.
 1b. List six ways in which Emergency
Communications differ from Non-emergency
Communications.
Visual LEVEL1.53
Lesson 1 Questions
1. When does a communication emergency exist?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Whenever the public is at risk.
When there is an earthquake in your area
and the public is inconvenienced.
When a critical communication system fails
and the public is inconvenienced.
When a critical communication system fails
and the public is put at risk.
Visual LEVEL1.54
Lesson 1 Questions
2. Which of the following is it most important for an
emcomm group to do at the end of an
emergency communication operation?
A. Review the effectiveness of its response.
B. Take photos of the activity.
C. Call the local newspaper to schedule
interviews.
D. Review the activities of the first responders.
Visual LEVEL1.55
Lesson 1 Questions
3. Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of
emergency communicators?
A. Making demands on the agency being
served.
B. Having radios, frequencies and basic radio
skills.
C. Being licensed and preauthorized for national
and international communications.
D. Possessing emergency communication skills.
Visual LEVEL1.56
Lesson 1 Questions
4. Which of the following describes the function of a
Rapid Response Team (RRT)?
A. To handle large-scale emergencies over an
extended period.
B. To deploy a quick response in a very short time.
C. To establish and operate a storm watch prior to
any emergency.
D. To review the effectiveness of an emergency
communication group.
Visual LEVEL1.57
Lesson 1 Questions
5. In an emergency situation -- when a served
agency asks you to forward an urgent message - which one of the following methods would you
NOT employ?
A. CB radio
B. Family radio
C. Informal, conversational grapevine
D. The served agency's own radio system.
Visual LEVEL1.58
Supplemental Exercise
Match the information to an appropriate communication method
Information to Send
 List of requested hospital supplies
Communication Method
 Amateur Radio
 CERT Team report from
neighborhood search
 SITREP to full team membership
 Tactical communications from local
shelter
 Specific patient information for
transfer from one facility to another
 FAX Machine
 Internet email
 FRS Radio
 Landline phone
Visual LEVEL1.59
Lesson 1 References
 ARRL Public Service Communications Manual
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/sec1ch1.html
Visual LEVEL1.60
Lesson 2 – The Served Agency
Relationship
Visual LEVEL1.61
Visual LEVEL1.62
Attitude is Everything
 “Working with ham radio operators is like herding cats..
Get them the heck out of here!”
 Words of one emergency management official
 Attitude is everything!


This has been a weak point for amateurs historically
Will most affect your relationship with the served
agency
 Amateur means we are not paid for our efforts
 Professionalism means getting the job done efficiently –
with a minimum of fuss!
Think of Yourself as an Unpaid Employee
Visual LEVEL1.63
Who Works for Whom?
 You work for them!

“Them” being the served agency
 Your job?

Meet the communication needs of the served agency
 How to end a relationship with an agency:
Be a “Know it all”
 “I will show you how good I am and how inadequate
you are”
 “I can do this better than you!”

But I thought “volunteers” do not have to take orders…
Visual LEVEL1.64
Taking Orders
 You do not have to “take orders” as a volunteer
 However…as a volunteer…
 You
implicitly agree to accept and comply with
reasonable orders and requests from your
“employer”
 If you are not comfortable with this, then don’t
volunteer
But what if there is a situation where you can’t comply…
Visual LEVEL1.65
Handling Situations Where You Can’t Comply
 Situations where you may not be
able to comply include:
 Personal,
 Related to safety and health,
 You do not consider yourself
qualified or capable of
meeting the demand,
 Or perhaps the request is
something that is not
permitted under FCC rules
 How to Handle:



Respectfully explain the
situation
Work with the served
agency or your superiors in
the communications group
Come up with an alternate
solution
 If discussion becomes difficult or
uncomfortable
 Pass the discussion to your
emcomm superiors to
handle
Visual LEVEL1.66
Scenario
 What would you do in these circumstances?
1.
Your agency has asked you to relay a message on
their 800MHz system. You have not been trained on
this system.
2.
Your agency has asked you to pass a patient’s name
and specific health details to another hospital.
3.
Your agency representative (non-licensed) tells you to
run an errand and while you are gone, he will operate
the amateur radio station and pass several messages
that he has written.
Visual LEVEL1.67
How are Volunteers Viewed?
 “Less than useful” or “Part timers”
Professionals view when they don’t work regularly with
competent volunteers
 Some agencies have learned volunteers cannot be
depended upon when needed most
 Need a positive, and long established relationship

 Professionals


Great amount of time and effort into skills and training
“able to handle all possible situations without outside
assistance”
Middle of Incident is not the time to change
“we don’t need you” attitude
Visual LEVEL1.68
Non-Communicating Roles
 I thought you said our job should be limited to
“communicating”?
 Yes and no…
 Events happen quickly, agency’s communications must move
fast too
 Job description is more like….
“any function that also includes communication”
 Defined by the served agency

Visual LEVEL1.69
Non-communicating Roles
 Because the job description may be broad…
 Pre-planning
to clearly define jobs is essential
 Obtain job-specific training in advance
 Take part in exercises and drills
Flexibility is becoming increasingly important
to continue our contribution to public safety
as Amateur Radio Operators
Visual LEVEL1.70
Example Job Descriptions
 Radio operator, using Amateur or served agency’s radio
systems
 Dispatcher, organizing the flow of personnel, vehicles, and
supplies
 Resource coordinator, organizing assignments of disaster relief
volunteers
 Damage assessor, evaluating and reporting damage conditions
 Van driver, moving people and supplies from location to location
 Searcher, also providing communication for a search and rescue
team
What are some other examples?
Visual LEVEL1.71
Served Agency Relationships
 Define general relationships
 Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU)
 Statement of Understanding (SOU)
 Statement of Affiliation (SOA)
 Actual working relationships are more precisely
defined at the local level
Visual LEVEL1.72
Example Relationships
 Department of Homeland
Security (DHS)
 Statement of Affiliation,
making ARES an affiliate
member of DHS's
Citizen's Corp community
readiness program
 Federal Emergency
 American Red Cross

Chapters may have their
own communication
teams, or they may have
a SOU with a local ARES
group
 The Salvation Army
Management Agency
(FEMA)
 Military Affiliate Radio
System (MARS) and at
the national level with
ARRL
Visual LEVEL1.73

Salvation Army Team
Emergency Radio
Network (SATERN)
Example Relationships
 State and Local
 SKYWARN
Emergency Management
 Radio Amateur Civil
Emergency Service
(RACES)
Visual LEVEL1.74

Sponsored by the
National Weather
Service
 SKYWARN volunteers
collect on the spot
weather observations
Talking to the Press
 Press will be hunting for any tidbit of
information
 They should never get information
regarding a served agency or its
efforts from you
 Don’t try to put yourself in the
spotlight
 Refer all requests to the served
agency’s public spokesperson or
“Public Information Officer”
Consequences for unauthorized comments
could include being asked to leave – or worse
Visual LEVEL1.75
FCC Rules on Supporting News Gathering
 §97.113(b) Prohibited transmissions

An amateur station shall not engage in any form of
broadcasting, nor may an amateur station transmit oneway communications except as specifically provided in
these rules; nor shall an amateur station engage in
any activity related to program production or news
gathering for broadcasting purposes, except that
communications directly related to the immediate safety
of human life or the protection of property may be
provided by amateur stations to broadcasters for
dissemination to the public where no other means of
communication is reasonably available before or at the
time of the event.
Visual LEVEL1.76
What if the Press is Bugging You?
 Explain that they are impeding you from doing your job
 Refer the reporter to the PIO or another emcomm
management person
 If your organization permits, you may discuss your part
of the emergency communication effort
 But only if separate from the served agency (i.e. ARES)
 “Press policy” should be defined in advance by emcomm
group and served agency
 All team members should know the policy
Visual LEVEL1.77
Scenario
 There has been a major disaster. You are
located at a field location where patients have just
been transported to your Hospital. A TV reporter
at your location asks you to ask the Hospital how
many patients have admitted to the Hospital so
that he can report it on the next newscast.
 What do you do?
Visual LEVEL1.78
Volunteering Where You are Not Known
 Emergency occurs in a neighboring area


Where you are not a member of the responding
communication group
Or perhaps your own group and you have not been active
 It is best to make your offer before making any significant
preparations, or leaving home
 It is possible that your offer might be welcomed, but it is equally
possible that it will be refused
 Served agency has specific requirements, such as
specialized training, official IDs, and time consuming
background checks
 Most emcomm managers prefer to work only with operators
whose abilities and limitations they know
If you are turned away, accept the situation gracefully
Visual LEVEL1.79
Volunteering Where You are Not Known
 If your offer of assistance is accepted, the situation you
find may vary quite a bit
 Well-organized effort
• Your role will be clear
• Someone to help orient you to the response effort, provide
any required information, and answer your questions

Not so well-organized effort
• You might be given an assignment, but with little
additional information or support
• Should be prepared to improvise and fend for yourself
Best time to offer your services to an emcomm
group is well before any emergency occurs
Visual LEVEL1.80
Mutual Assistance
 An emcomm group should define in advance
procedures for supporting the mission
 With team members you are familiar with
 With “spontaneous volunteers” which includes:
• Your team members you may not be familiar
with
• Amateurs from the local community whom you
are not familiar with
• Amateurs from neighboring communities (or
perhaps even across the country)
Visual LEVEL1.81
Mutual Assistance Resources
 First Resource

Locally registered, trained, and equipped team
members
 Second Resource
 Registered and trained members/team from a
nearby jurisdiction
 Third Resource
 Spontaneous volunteers, those that just “show up”
 Can cause more problems
 Each individual evaluated and judged on their own
merits
Visual LEVEL1.82
Worker’s Compensation
 Worker’s Compensation Law is Complex



Regulated by individual state’s laws
Some states, Worker’s Compensation insurance coverage
may be extended to volunteers
• Working on behalf of a government or non-profit agency
In many cases, volunteers are not paid employees of the
served agency, and are not covered
 Emcomm managers should investigate own state laws


See 118-04 Washington Administrative Code
• http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=118-04
See 38.52 Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
• http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=38.52
Visual LEVEL1.83
Scenario
Are these scenarios covered or not covered under the
Emergency Worker Program (118-04)?
1.
An earthquake occurs and you respond to your local
hospital.
2.
You and your significant other have just finished an
evening of celebration which included wine. You get
a call to deploy to your assigned location.
3.
You are deploying to your EOC assignment and in
trying to get to the EOC as quickly as possible, you
run a red light.
Visual LEVEL1.84
Scope of WAC 118-04
 Emergencies, disasters, and related incidents that are
determined by appropriate state or local authorities to
require the use of emergency workers and that are
authorized by the issuance of an emergency management
division mission number.
 Search and rescue missions, including urban search and
rescue and evidence search missions, that are conducted
under the authority of local law enforcement officers and
that are authorized by issuance of an emergency
management division mission number.
 Training events authorized by issuance of an emergency
management division training event number.
Visual LEVEL1.85
Registration
 Emergency workers shall register in their jurisdiction of residence or in the
jurisdiction where their volunteer organization is headquartered by
completing and filing an emergency worker registration card, Form EMD-024
or equivalent, with the local emergency management agency
 The information provided during registration may be used by local
authorized officials to conduct criminal history and driving record
background checks
 Failure to truthfully respond to statements set forth on the registration
form may result in the denial of registration, revocation of registration as
an emergency worker, or denial of compensation for claims or damage.
 Each emergency worker shall be assigned to an emergency worker class as
listed in WAC 118-04-100 in accordance with their skills, abilities, licenses,
and qualifications.
 Communications includes, but is not limited to, any emergency
communications activities carried out in accordance with approved state
or local emergency operations and communications plans.
Visual LEVEL1.86
Highlights of WAC 118-04
 Personal Responsibilities




Be aware of and comply with all applicable responsibilities &
requirements
Notify on-scene official if they have been using any medical prescription
or other drug that may render them impaired, unfit or unable to carry
their assignment.
Comply with all other requirements as determined by the authorized
official using their services
Inform the on-scene authorized official whether they are mentally and
physically fit for their assigned duties.
• If not fit for currently assigned duties may request a less demanding
assignment that is appropriate to their current capabilities
 Prohibited


Use of narcotics or any illegal controlled substance
Alcohol
Visual LEVEL1.87
When Are You On-Duty?
 Emergency workers are considered to be on duty when they are
performing their duties during a mission, evidence search
mission, or training event authorized by the emergency
management division and they are under the direction and
control of an authorized official.
 Upon notification by an authorized official to report to duty at a
specific time and place, emergency workers are entitled to the
benefits and provisions under chapter 38.52 RCW when acting in
compliance with such notification and these rules.
 Eligibility for compensation shall be limited to the time and
distance necessary to travel to the duty station, performance
of services, and reasonable time and reasonable time to
return to the point of origin.
Visual LEVEL1.88
Vehicles, Vessels, or Aircraft
 Must possess valid operator’s license
 All emergency workers driving vehicles to or from a mission must
possess a valid driver's license and required insurance.
 Use of private vehicles, vessels, boats, or aircraft by
emergency workers in any mission, training event, or other
authorized activity without liability insurance required by
chapter 46.29 RCW is prohibited
• Washington  25/50/10 for autos
 Unless specifically directed otherwise by an authorized
official in accordance with RCW 38.52.180
 Must adhere to all applicable traffic regulations during any
mission, training event, or other authorized activity
Visual LEVEL1.89
What If I Get Injured?
 Eligibility Requirements

The injured person shall have been a registered emergency worker, activated by
an authorized official for an authorized activity under the provisions of chapter
38.52 RCW, and shall have reported to or been in the process of reporting to the
authorized on-scene official.
 In the event of injury to an emergency worker, the responsible agency's on-scene
authorized official shall be notified as soon as possible.
 Documentation shall include any reports, mission logs, ambulance and hospital
bills, receipts, medical reports, or other information helpful in describing the extent
of the injury, the circumstances under which the injury occurred, and the costs
that were incurred as a result of the injury.
 The injury, disability, or death shall not have been caused by the willful misconduct,
gross negligence, or bad faith of the claimant.
 Only property that is deemed necessary and reasonable for the mission activity shall
be considered for compensation, if lost or damaged.
 Compensation for the loss or theft of property left unsecured or for damage which
could have been prevented through reasonable care may be denied.
Visual LEVEL1.90
WAC 118-04 After Action Reporting
 After action reports shall be filed for:

All missions
• The required information includes location and other data
on the incident, response, weather conditions, results, and
resources used.

Training events.
• The required information includes data on the training
activities conducted, resources used, problems noted,
corrective actions assigned, and other information of a
training nature.
Visual LEVEL1.91
WAC 118-04 After Action Reporting
 WAC 118-04 After Action Reports Shall Include






Information from the participating emergency workers,
including individual daily activity reports, other reports,
rosters, mission event and communications logs,
Lost person information forms
Training event logs
Plans of instruction
Instructor lists
Any other information that may be helpful in a
descriptive reconstruction of the mission or training
event
Visual LEVEL1.92
 Does an ARES team
automatically fall
under WAC 118-04
for all activities?
Visual LEVEL1.93
Other Legal Protections
 Federal Volunteer Protection Act of 1997

Services to government agencies or Section 501c(3)
organizations are provided immunity from liability
• If acting within scope of official duties

Provides broad liability protection for Amateurs in most
contexts, especially under ARES

Exceptions:
• Cause harm while operating a motor vehicle
• Grossly negligent
• Engages in criminal acts

http://www.races.net/voluntr.html
Visual LEVEL1.94
Good Samaritan Law
 RCW 4.24.300 Immunity from liability for certain types of medical
care
 Any person, including but not limited to a volunteer provider
of emergency or medical services, who without
compensation or the expectation of compensation renders
emergency care at the scene of an emergency or who
participates in transporting, not for compensation,
therefrom an injured person or persons for emergency
medical treatment shall not be liable for civil damages
resulting from any act or omission in the rendering of such
emergency care or in transporting such persons, other than
acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful or
wanton misconduct
• Any person rendering emergency care during the course of
regular employment and receiving compensation or expecting
to receive compensation for rendering such care is excluded
Visual LEVEL1.95
Lesson 2 Activities
1. Locate the ARRL website. Conduct a search for the
Statement of Understanding (SOU) between The
American Red Cross and ARRL. List three forms of
assistance the Red Cross may request of ARRL ARES
and NTS. (Hint: when searching the ARRL website,
search on the term MOU rather than SOU).
2. If you were asked to develop a Statement of
Understanding (SOU) between your local emcomm group
and a local served agency, what general topics would
you include?
Visual LEVEL1.96
Lesson 2 Questions
1. Which of the following best describes your main
job as an emergency communicator?
A. Dispatcher, organizing the flow of vehicles,
personnel, and supplies.
B. Weather spotter.
C. Radio operator, using Amateur or served
agency radio systems.
D. Resource coordinator, organizing the
assignments of disaster relief volunteers.
Visual LEVEL1.97
Lesson 2 Questions
2. Which of the following best describes the role of
a modern emergency communicator?
A. You are strictly limited to communication
tasks.
B. You may be asked to serve any function that
includes communication.
C. You do anything a served agency asks.
D. Discuss the situation with the served agency,
and develop an alternative solution.
Visual LEVEL1.98
Lesson 2 Questions
3. If you are asked by a served agency to perform
a task that falls outside FCC rules, which of the
following is a proper response?
A. Document the request, and then do what is
asked.
B. Document the request, but refuse to do it.
C. Leave immediately.
D. Discuss the situation with the served agency,
and develop an alternative solution.
Visual LEVEL1.99
Lesson 2 Questions
4. In an emergency situation, which of the following
is the most appropriate response that you as an
emcomm group member can make to an inquiry
from the press?
A. Answer any question that you are asked.
B. Volunteer information and make yourself
helpful to them.
C. Refer all inquiries to the served agency's
public information officer (PIO).
D. Ignore them and hope they will go away.
Visual LEVEL1.100
Lesson 2 Questions
5. Which of the following will most affect your
relationship with a served agency?
A. Your radio and electronic equipment.
B. Your knowledge of FCC regulations.
C. Your attitude.
D. Your radio skills.
Visual LEVEL1.101
Lesson 2 Reference Links
 Reference links:







American Red Cross - www.redcross.org
The Salvation Army - www.salvationarmy.org
SKYWARN - www.SKYWARN.org
Military Affiliate Radio Service (Army) www.asc.army.mil/mars/default.htm
Federal Emergency Management Agency - www.fema.gov
ARRL MOUs (SOUs) with various agencies www.arrl.org/Fand ES/field/mou/index.html
ARRL -- Served Agencies www.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/sec1-ch7.html
Visual LEVEL1.102
Lesson 3 - Network Theory and the
Design of Emergency Communication
Systems
Visual LEVEL1.103
Network Theory
 Study of information transfer between multiple points
 During an emergency

Messages vary greatly in terms of length, content,
complexity, and other characteristics
 Available communication pathways vary in how well
they handle messages having different characteristics
Network theory is the process of matching
a particular message to the
best communication pathway
Visual LEVEL1.104
Single versus Multiple Destinations
 Broadcasting and one-to-one (exclusive)
communication channels
 Some messages are for one single addressee
while others need to be received by multiple
locations simultaneously
Visual LEVEL1.105
Simplex Radio System
Visual LEVEL1.106
Remote Base System
 This is the same as Simplex, except the
transmitter is on a hilltop or other high object
Visual LEVEL1.107
Repeater System
 Transmit and Receive on different frequencies
Visual LEVEL1.108
Simulcast Radio System
Visual LEVEL1.109
Simulcast with Voting Receivers
 Remote or satellite receivers are used in addition to regular





repeater receivers to pick up relatively weak portable and mobile
signals
Audio from these receivers is routed to a central voting
comparator or voter where the best received audio is selected
The strongest signal is not always selected; that with the highest
signal-to-noise ratio is typically best
Selected audio may come from multiple receivers during a single
transmission
Some systems are configured to lock on to a single receiver,
once chosen, for a transmission
Selected audio is routed to the ultimate receiving locations, such
as consoles or repeaters for retransmission
Visual LEVEL1.110
Simulcast with Voting Receivers
Visual LEVEL1.111
High Precision versus Low Precision
 Precision is not the same as accuracy

All messages must be received accurately
• Sending a list of names or numbers requires precision at the
"character" level
• A report that "the lost hiker has been found" does not require
precision at the character level

Over low-precision communications channels (such as voice
modes) even letters of the alphabet can be misinterpreted
• Unless a phonetic system, feedback, or error-correcting
mechanism is used
• Typing out a low precision message that "the delivery van
containing the coffee has arrived at this location" on a highprecision packet link = more time consuming (and inefficient)
than a simple voice report
Visual LEVEL1.112
Precision and Message Handling
 Precision is a point of confusion in message handling

Not all messages need high precision
 Sending a message that needs low precision using
formal high precision methods will waste time and tie up
the communications channel
 Tactical messages generally do not need high precision
 Formal message traffic generally needs high precision
 ICS-213 forms

May be high or low precision depending upon content
If you are not sure – ask the originator
Visual LEVEL1.113
Complexity
 Which of these is a more complex message?

A doctor at a hospital may use a radio to instruct an
untrained field volunteer how to splint a fractured leg
 A shelter manager may report that he is out of water
 Long and complicated messages

Recipient cannot remember or comprehend the entire
message upon its arrival
 Detailed maps, long lists, complicated directions, and
diagrams
• Hard copy or electronic storage for later reference
• Fax, email, and packet radio provide this
Visual LEVEL1.114
Timeliness
 Some messages are extremely time-critical

Others can tolerate delays without adverse effect
 Relief workers/communicators are very busy people

Handling non-time-critical messages may prevent them
from handling a more pressing emergency
 Highly time-critical messages must get through without
delay
 Timeliness includes the establishment of a
communications link
Total elapsed time from the time the message
originates to the time it is delivered to its final party
Visual LEVEL1.115
Priority
 QSK

Ability to "break in" on a communication in progress
 Example: communication pathway is in use with a lengthy,
but low-priority, message. A need suddenly arises for a
high-priority message
 Can the high-priority message take precedence and
interrupt the low priority one to gain access to the
channel?
 Some communications modes allow for this; others do
not
Visual LEVEL1.116
Characteristics of Communication Channels
 Consider the communication channels that might
be used in an emergency
Visual LEVEL1.117
The Telecom Network
http://www.artesyncp.com/resources/teledata/
Visual LEVEL1.118
Telephone
 Surprisingly reliable one-to-one communication pathway

Ideal for messages containing sensitive or confidential
information, such as casualty lists
 No specialized communication training required
 Localized and small-scale emergencies

Operational with plenty of unused capacity
 Large-scale disasters


Complex central switching and control system can quickly
become overloaded
Power
 Very good for transferring simple information requiring low
precision
Visual LEVEL1.119
Cellular Phone
 Simple to operate - do not require a licensed
communication volunteer
 Ideally suited to one-to-one communications
 Lightweight and can be carried in a pocket
 Reliant on a complex central switching and control system
that is subject to failure or overloading
 Designed for busy hour capacity, limited battery life
both on handset and at cell site
 There is no "go to simplex" contingency option with cellular
phones
 Unlike landline, cellular phones have RF issues…
Visual LEVEL1.120
Cellular RF Issues
Multipath
Fading
Visual LEVEL1.121
Visual LEVEL1.122
FAX
 Fax machines are widely available

Computers modems can send and receive fax
 High-precision, lengthy, and complex information

Four-page list of first-aid supplies can be faxed much
faster than it can be read over a voice channel and
transcribed
 Permanent record of the message as part of the
transfer process
 Rely on the phone system, and add one more piece of
technology and opportunity for failure
 Require 120Vac
• Is an inverter part of your emcomm equipment?
Visual LEVEL1.123
Two-Way Voice Radio
 Simple and easy to operate

Public service bands or ham frequencies, whether SSB or FM, via
repeater or simplex
 Operate on multiple frequencies
 Generally self-contained, enhancing portability and increasing reliability of
the system in adverse environmental conditions
 Ideal for broadcasting
 However, while a message is being transferred between two stations, the
entire channel is occupied, preventing other stations from communicating
 Using radio for one-to-one communication can be very distracting to
stations not involved in the exchange
 Low precision inherent in voice modes of communication
Visual LEVEL1.124
Trunked Radio
 Conventional system,
frequencies are allocated
for channel use by
function
 Dispatch, car-to-car,
tactical, mutual aid,
etc.
 In a trunk radio system, all
users share a pool of
frequencies
Visual LEVEL1.125
Trunked Radio Systems
 Highly popular with public service agencies
 Fundamental purpose behind trunking …

Allow increased message density on fewer circuits
 But when an emergency strikes and communication needs
skyrocket, the channels quickly become saturated
 Priority queue results, and messages are delayed
 Medium and low priority messages, and even some
high-priority messages, might not get through unless
important stations are assigned a higher priority in the
system's programming
Visual LEVEL1.126
Trunked Radio Systems
 Trunked systems rely on a
complex central signaling
system to dynamically
handle the mobile
frequency assignments

If the central control unit
goes down, the entire
system — base and mobile
units — must revert to a
pre-determined simplex or
repeater-based
arrangement
 Risky in emergency
situations because of the
small number of
frequencies available to
the system
Visual LEVEL1.127
Trunked Radio System
Conventional System
Message on Channel 1 same frequency
Reply on Channel 1 same frequency
If the system uses a repeater, then Tx and Rx are
different frequencies but do not change
Trunked System
Message on Talkgroup 1, uses frequency 1
Reply on Talkgroup 1, uses frequency 6
Next message on Talkgroup 1, uses frequency 3
Next reply on Talkgroup 1, uses frequency 8
The frequencies are entirely random within the system and dependent
upon which frequencies are available at that exact moment
Visual LEVEL1.128
Talkgroup
 On conventional radio systems, frequencies are
allocated according to channel use, i.e., one
frequency for dispatch, one for car-to-car use, one for
mutual aid use, etc.
 On trunked radio systems, a different method for
identification is used since any frequency can be used
by any agency on that system
 “Talkgroup” is analogous to “channel”
 This method involves the use of various numbers
called "trunking IDs" or "talkgroups IDs" used to
identify different agencies and their uses
Visual LEVEL1.129
Trunked Radio Types
 Most Common in U.S.:



 Other Systems:
Motorola - Type I, II, IIi
Hybrid, Smartnet,
Smartzone, & Privacy
Plus systems.
EDACS (Enhanced
Digital Access
Communication System owned by M/A-COM)
LTR (Logic Trunked
Radio - mainly used in
the private business
sector)
Visual LEVEL1.130





iDEN Harmony
MPT-1327
OpenSky
SmarTrunk
Tetra
Digital Trunked Radio System
 APCO Project 25, or “P-25”

Public safety industry standard developed by the Association
of Public Safety Communications Officials
 Interoperability according to a public safety industry standard and
not by system manufacturer
 Coordinate communications with other agencies and
jurisdictions
 Purchase radios and other equipment from more than one
vendor
 Upgrade or migrate systems without replacing all your
equipment
 Share resources with other organizations to control costs
Visual LEVEL1.131
Example Trunked System
http://www.macom-wireless.com/news/EDACS_VIDA.pdf
Visual LEVEL1.132
Packet Radio
 Facilitate high-precision message transfer



Near-perfect accuracy in transmission and reception
Permanent record of the message for later reference
No need for a conversion step before transmission
 Generally self-contained
 Perfect for the distribution of high-precision information to a large number of
destinations simultaneously
 Real-time packet messages require the operator to use a keyboard

Common packet protocols are inefficient when transferring precision
graphics, drawings, and all but the most rudimentary maps
 May not be reliable along marginal RF paths
Visual LEVEL1.133
Store-and-Forward Systems
 Bulletin boards, messaging gateways, electronic
mailboxes, etc
 Subset of packet radio
 Non-time-critical messages and reference material

Good for when sender and receiver cannot be available
simultaneously
 Not limited to digital modes

Voice-answering machines,
 NTS-like arrangement of liaison stations can function as
voice-based store-and-forward systems
Visual LEVEL1.134
Other Modes
 Slow-scan television
 Fast-scan television
 Satellite communications
 Human couriers
 Internet
 Email
 WinLink
 IRLP, Echolink
Visual LEVEL1.135
Planning and Preparation
 Give advance thought to the kinds of information that might
need to be passed during each kind of emergency they
wish to consider
 Will maps need to be transferred?
 What about long lists of names, addresses, supplies, or
other detailed identification?
 Will the communications consist mostly of short status
reports?
 Will the situation likely require transfer of detailed
instructions, directions, or descriptions?
 Will they originally be in verbal, written, or electronic
form?
Visual LEVEL1.136
Planning and Preparation
 Consider the origins and destinations of the
messages
 Will one station be disseminating information to
multiple remote sites?
 Will there be a lot of one-to-one messages?
 Will one station be overloaded while others sit
idle?
 Will a store-and-forward system, even via
voice, be useful or necessary?
Visual LEVEL1.137
Planning and Preparation
 Content of the messages should also be considered

Will a lot of confidential or sensitive information be
passed?
 Will there be a need for break-in or interruption for
pressing traffic or can one station utilize (tie up) the
communications link for a while with no adverse
consequences?
 Frequency of occurrence (count of messages) of each type
should also be estimated
Visual LEVEL1.138
Planning and Preparation
 Most important step:

The characteristics of the high-volume
messages should be matched to one or more
appropriate communication pathways
 Take action to increase the likelihood that the
needed modes will be available during the
emergency …
Visual LEVEL1.139
Planning and Preparation
 “Jump kit" emergency packs contain 2-meter radios, extra
batteries and roll-up antennas
 How about doing the same thing for some additional
communication modes, too?
 Put a list of critical phone numbers (including fax numbers,
pager numbers, cellular numbers) in your kit.
 Make sure your local packet digipeater has battery backup.
 If you are likely to be assigned to a school, church, or office
building, see if you can get a copy of the instructions for
using the fax machine to keep in your kit.
 If the phones are out, know how to interface the fax machine
to your radio.
Visual LEVEL1.140
Planning and Preparation
 Advance scouting





It is a good idea to see if fax machines are in place and
whether they will be accessible in an emergency.
• Is there a supply of paper available?
Are the packet digipeaters within range of every likely
communication post?
Can computers be made available or will hams have to
provide their own?
How will backup power be provided to the computers?
Can a frequency list be developed, along with
guidelines of when and how to use each frequency?
Visual LEVEL1.141
Planning and Preparation
 Contingency planning = critical importance
 How
many times has a repeater gone down,
and only then did the communicators wish they
had agreed in advance on an alternate simplex
frequency?
 What will you do if you need to send a map
and the fax machine power fails?
 Suppose you are relying on cellular phones
and the cellular network fails?
Remember, if you plan for problems, they cease to be
problems and become merely a part of the plan.
Visual LEVEL1.142
Planning and Preparation
 Training

Manning roster, assignment lists, and contingency
plans
• Tied in to the training and proficiency

Questions you might want to ask are:
• Who knows how to use a cellular phone?
• Who knows how to use fax software?
• Who knows how to upload or download a file from a
packet BBS?
• Who knows how to touch-type?
A little advance planning and effort can go a long way to
turning a volunteer mobilization into a versatile, effective,
professional-quality communication system
Visual LEVEL1.143
Planning and Preparation
Visual LEVEL1.144
Planning and Preparation
Visual LEVEL1.145
Lesson 3 Activities
1. Make a list of the kinds of messages that might
need to be handled during a communication
emergency likely in your area. Match the kind of
message (tactical messages, served agency
manpower requests, welfare inquiries, medical
information, casualty lists, requests for supplies,
shelter resident lists, etc) with the appropriate
communication mode(s) (packet or other digital
modes, FM phone, CW, HF SSB, etc.)
Visual LEVEL1.146
Lesson 3 Questions
1. What mode should be used to send a list of
casualties?
A. VHF repeater system.
B. A secure mode.
C. Packet radio.
D. An HF net.
Visual LEVEL1.147
Lesson 3 Questions
2. What types of messages are good to send by
fax?
A. High precision, lengthy and complex
messages.
B. Simple low-precision, and short messages.
C. Messages to many destinations
simultaneously.
D. High detail color photographs.
Visual LEVEL1.148
Lesson 3 Questions
3. What types of messages should be handled by a
packet bulletin board system?
A. Time sensitive messages of immediate
priority.
B. Low precision messages.
C. Non-time-critical messages and reference
material, when the sender and receiver
cannot be available simultaneously.
D. Messages to be "broadcast" to numerous
stations.
Visual LEVEL1.149
Lesson 3 Questions
4. What is the pitfall that is common to telephone,
cellular phone and trunked radio systems?
A. They do not take advantage of the benefits of
Amateur Radio.
B. They are all difficult to use.
C. They are seldom available at shelters and
public safety agencies.
D. They all require the use of a complex central
switching system that is subject to failure in a
disaster situation.
Visual LEVEL1.150
Lesson 3 Questions
5. Which of the following is an example of an efficient
communication?
A. A ham communicating a lengthy list of needed
medical supplies over a voice net.
B. A lengthy exchange between two stations on a
primary voice net channel being shared by a large
number of users.
C. Typing out a digital message that "the delivery van
containing the coffee has arrived at this location" on a
high-precision packet link.
D. Sending a shelter list on the office fax machine.
Visual LEVEL1.151
Lesson 3 References
 For more information on this topic, see "Network Theory
and the Design of Emergency Communication Systems"
Part 1, October 1997 QST, Public Service column. Part 2
appears in November 1997 QST, Public Service. See also
a discussion of communications theory in The ARRL
Emergency Coordinator's Manual.
 For more information on any of the elements presented,
please consult the following links:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/index.html
Visual LEVEL1.152
Lesson 3 References
 For additional general information, please see The ARRL
Operating Manual, chapter on emergency
communications. See also the ARRL ARES Field
Resources Manual. For local information, or to learn more
about ARES and NTS net operation in your area, contact
your Section Manager (SM)
(http://www.arrl.org/field/org/smlist.html.), your Section
Emergency Coordinator (SEC) or District Emergency
Coordinator (DEC). See also The ARRL Net Directory for a
list of ARES and NTS nets operating in your area.
Visual LEVEL1.153
Visual LEVEL1.154
Lesson 4 – Emergency Communication
Organizations and Systems
Visual LEVEL1.155
Why is organization important to emcomm?
 Imagine a random group
of volunteers trying to
tackle a full-scale disaster
communication
emergency, working
together for the first time
 They do not know each
other well, have very
different approaches to
solving the same problem,
and half of them want to
be in charge
Get the picture?
Visual LEVEL1.156
Why is organization important to emcomm?
 Emcomm organizations:

Provide training
 Provide a forum to share ideas and develop workable
solutions to problems in advance of a real disaster
 When the time comes to assist the served agency, you will
be as prepared as you can be.
 Response will occur more smoothly
 Challenges will be dealt with productively
 The served agency's needs met
Visual LEVEL1.157
ARES
Visual LEVEL1.158
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
 Program sponsored by the ARRL since 1935

Part of the League's field organization, which is
composed of "Sections“
• Most Sections are entire states, but some larger states
have two or more Sections
• Washington – 2 Sections
 Elected Section Manager (SM) appoints the ARES
leadership
 Some larger Sections are further divided into two or more
Districts
Visual LEVEL1.159
ARRL Sections
Western Washington Section (WWA)
http://www.arrl.org/sections/WWA.html
Eastern Washington Section (EWA)
http://www.arrl.org/sections/EWA.html
Visual LEVEL1.160
ARES Organization Structure
Assistant Section
Emergency Coordinator
Visual LEVEL1.161
Washington ARES Regions
http://www.wastateares.org/
Visual LEVEL1.162
WWA ARES Leadership
 Western WA ARRL Section Manager


Jim Pace, K7CEX
 Western WA ARES Section
Emergency Coordination (SEC)
 Ken Dahl, K7TAG
 Assistant SEC – MST (District M)

Owen Mulkey, NØWO
 District 3 Emergency Coordinator

Duane Braford, WB7ROZ
 District 4 Emergency Coordinator

Marc Lacy, KD7RYY
Marina Zuetell, N7LSL
 District 5 Emergency Coordinator
 Assistant SEC - Training

 District 2 Emergency Coordinator

Steve Mc Keen, W7QLO
Monte Simpson, K2MLS
 District 1 Emergency Coordinator
 District 6 Emergency Coordinator
(DEC)
 Bill Frazier, W7ARC
Visual LEVEL1.163

Kirk Bellar, N7UK
WWA Emergency Coordinators
 Region 6 King County:
 Brian
K Daly, WB7OML (District M)
 Michael A Matteson, N7SIC
 Richard K Olsen, N6NR
 Robert R Phelps, K7UW
 H Ward Silver, N0AX
Visual LEVEL1.164
ARES MOUs
 ARES MOUs at the national level:




Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
American Red Cross
Salvation Army
National Weather Service
 Local groups often have MOUs or other written or verbal
agreements with:
 State and city emergency management departments
 Hospitals
 Schools
 Police and fire departments
 Public works agencies
Visual LEVEL1.165
RACES
Visual LEVEL1.166
Why RACES?
 Recall, the FCC or President can suspend amateur radio
operations due to a national emergency
 But in the event that the President invokes his War
Emergency Powers, amateurs involved with RACES
might be limited to certain specific frequencies (while all
other amateur operation could be silenced)
 RACES, administered by local, county and state
emergency management agencies, and supported by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the
United States government, is a part of the Amateur Radio
Service that provides radio communications for civilpreparedness purposes only, during periods of local,
regional or national civil emergencies
Visual LEVEL1.167
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)
 Federal government created RACES after WWII

Need for Amateur Radio operators as an integral part of
a state, county, or local Civil Defense (CD) agency in
time of national emergency or war
 RACES authorization provides the means to continue to
serve the public even if the President or the FCC suspends
regular Amateur operations
 RACES rules provide for use of almost all regular
Amateur frequencies, but place strict limits on the types
of communications made, and with whom
Visual LEVEL1.168
RACES
 RACES is a radio communication service conducted by
volunteer licensed amateurs, and is designed to provide
emergency communications to local or state civil-preparedness
agencies
 Amateurs operating in a local RACES organization must be
officially enrolled in that local civil-preparedness group
 Sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA)
 Emergencies are not limited to war-related activities, but can
include natural disasters such as fires, floods and earthquakes
Visual LEVEL1.169
RACES
 "Civil Defense" (now known as “Emergency Management" in
most states) utilization of Amateur radio operators has changed
dramatically.
 Fewer "pure" RACES operators today

Increasingly, RACES-registered operators also belong to
ARES, and can "switch hats“
• The RACES regulations make it simple and possible for an
ARES group whose members are all enrolled in and certified by
RACES to operate in an emergency with great flexibility

Emergency management officials like this arrangement since
it provides more flexibility, and gives them more direct control
over their ham radio volunteers.
Visual LEVEL1.170
RACES Rules
 A station operating under RACES may only communicate with:
1) A RACES station licensed to the local civil defense organization;
2) Other RACES licensees;
3) Certain amateur stations registered with civil defense organizations;
4) Certain US government stations authorized by the responsible agency to
communicate with RACES stations and;
5) Stations in a service regulated by the FCC when authorized by the FCC
[97.407(d)].
 A station operating in ARES may communicate with any amateur station.
Visual LEVEL1.171
RACES Rules

RACES members may transmit only messages related to:
1) Impending danger to the public or affecting national defense during emergencies;
2) The immediate safety of individuals, the immediate protection of property, maintenance
of law and order, alleviation of human suffering and need, and combating armed attack
and sabotage;
3) The dissemination of information to the public from a local civil defense organization or
other government or relief organization and;
4) Communications during RACES drills [97.407(e)].

RACES drills and tests can’t exceed a total time of one hour per week
 With proper authorization, such drills and tests may be conducted for a period not to
exceed 72 hours and such drills can occur no more than twice in a calendar year
[97.407(e)].
 There are no specific limits on ARES drills and tests.
Visual LEVEL1.172
Dedicated RACES Operating Frequencies












1800-1825 kHz
1975-2000 kHz
3.50-3.55 MHz
3.93-3.98 MHz
3.984-4.000 MHz
7.079-7.125 MHz
7.245-7.255 MHz
10.10-10.15 MHz
14.047-14.053 MHz
14.22-14.23 MHz
14.331-14.350 MHz
21.047-21.053 MHz












21.228-21.267 MHz
28.55-28.75 MHz
29.237-29.273 MHz
29.45-29.65 MHz
50.35-50.75 MHz
52-54 MHz
144.50-145.71 MHz
146-148 MHz
222-225 MHz
420-450 MHz
1240-1300 MHz
2390-2450 MHz
Visual LEVEL1.173
Washington RACES
 Certified RACES operators carry State Emergency Worker
cards with them while participating in RACES functions
 Issued and controlled by local Emergency Management
Departments
 Other special qualifications may also required such as First
Aid and CPR training, basic SAR techniques and map
reading along with special training in operation of amateur
radio equipment and message handling
http://www.wastateares.org/
Visual LEVEL1.174
RACES Officials
 State RACES Officer
 Bob
Purdom, AD7LJ
 Assistant State RACES Officers
 Ken
Dahl, K7TAG
 Gordon Grove, WA7LNC
Visual LEVEL1.175
 Is your group ARES, RACES, or both?
 If
you think you are RACES, remember you
need to follow FCC rules for RACES
 Who is your RACES officer?
 What is your group’s plan in the event the
President or FCC suspends regular Amateur
operations?
Visual LEVEL1.176
Switching Hats
 Although RACES and ARES are separate entities, the


ARRL advocates dual membership and cooperative efforts
between both groups whenever possible for an ARES
group whose members are all enrolled in and certified by
RACES to operate in an emergency with great flexibility
Using the same operators and the same frequencies, an
ARES group also enrolled as RACES can "switch hats"
from ARES to RACES and RACES to ARES to meet the
requirements of the situation as it develops
For example, during a "non-declared emergency," ARES
can operate under ARES, but when an emergency or
disaster is officially declared by a state or federal authority,
the operation can become RACES with no change in
personnel or frequencies
Visual LEVEL1.177
ARES vs. RACES FAQ
 Q. During an emergency, when is ARES activated?
How about RACES?
 A. ARES is activated before, during and after an
emergency. Generally, ARES handles all
emergency messages, including those between
government emergency management officials.
RACES, on the other hand, almost never starts
before an emergency and is active only during the
emergency and during the immediate aftermath if
government emergency management offices need
communications support. RACES is normally shut
down shortly after the emergency has cleared.
Visual LEVEL1.178
ARES vs. RACES FAQ

Q. Which stations may a RACES station communicate with? How about ARES stations?

A. A station operating under RACES may only communicate with:

1) A RACES station licensed to the local civil defense organization;

2) Other RACES licensees;

3) Certain amateur stations registered with civil defense organizations;

4) Certain US government stations authorized by the responsible agency to
communicate with RACES stations and;

5) Stations in a service regulated by the FCC when authorized by the FCC [97.407(d)].

A station operating in ARES may communicate with any amateur station.
Visual LEVEL1.179
ARES vs. RACES FAQ
 Q. What type of communications may be transmitted by stations operating under
RACES?
 A. RACES members may transmit only messages related to:

1) Impending danger to the public or affecting national defense during
emergencies;

2) The immediate safety of individuals, the immediate protection of property,
maintenance of law and order, alleviation of human suffering and need, and
combating armed attack and sabotage;

3) The dissemination of information to the public from a local civil defense
organization or other government or relief organization and;

4) Communications during RACES drills [97.407(e)].
Visual LEVEL1.180
ARES vs. RACES FAQ
 Q. How long may RACES drills and tests be held?
What about ARES?

A. RACES drills and tests can’t exceed a total time
of one hour per week. With proper authorization,
such drills and tests may be conducted for a period
not to exceed 72 hours and such drills can occur
no more than twice in a calendar year [97.407(e)].

There are no specific limits on ARES drills and
tests.
Visual LEVEL1.181
ARES vs. RACES FAQ
 Q. How can I register for
RACES? How about ARES?

A. RACES and ARES are both
vital organizations and need your
participation to make them
effective. To register for RACES,
contact your local civil defense
office or Emergency Operations
Center.

To register with ARES, complete
an ARRL Form FSD-98 and send
it to your local EC. You can obtain
this ARRL form and others from
ARRL HQ and, if you have access
to the World Wide Web, from:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/fo
rms/ - fsd-98.
Visual LEVEL1.182
SATERN
Visual LEVEL1.183
Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN)
 Salvation Army volunteers
 Partner
with FEMA, participate in NVOAD
• National Voluntary Organizations Active in
Disaster, and with volunteer organizations
(VOADS) on state and local levels
 HF networks
 Logistical
communication between various
Salvation Army offices
 Health and welfare messages
146.820- (103.5)
Visual LEVEL1.184
Civil Air Patrol
Visual LEVEL1.185
Civil Air Patrol

Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is the civilian auxiliary of the
United States Air Force

Volunteer, non-profit, benevolent organization made
up of aviation-minded adult and cadet members
committed to serving the nation

The system operates in support of all CAP missions,
including Emergency Services, Aerospace Education
and the CAP Cadet Program.

The focus of the CAP system is tactical
communications, including air to ground, ground team
to ground team, and communication with mission
base

Using volunteer operators trained to professional
standards, the CAP communications network is a
ready force for homeland security and the protection
of life and property

The nation-wide CAP communication system has 840
high-frequency radio stations, 5,000 fixed-land radio
stations and 10,000 mobile radios, deployed in CAP
units in every state, the District of Columbia and
Puerto Rico
Visual LEVEL1.186
CAP Frequencies
NATIONWIDE C.A.P. CHANNELS ABOVE 30 MHz























HF Frequencies:
AM 119.3500 Search and Rescue (Aircraft) (Rural Areas Only)
AM 120.8500 Search and Rescue (Aircraft)
AM 121.5000 AIRCRAFT EMERGENCY CHANNEL (Civilian and
Military)
AM 121.6000 Practice Emergency Beacon (ELT-2)
AM 121.7750 Practice Emergency Beacon (ELT-1)
AM 122.0000 Flight Watch Nationwide Channel (Above 5,000
feet)
AM 122.7000 Glider Operations (Shared with
UNICOM/MULTICOM)
AM 122.8000 Glider Operations (Shared with
UNICOM/MULTICOM)
AM 122.9000 Search and Rescue (Aircraft)
AM 123.1000 Search and Rescue (Aircraft)
FM 143.7750 Search and Rescue (CAP Channel 6)
FM 143.9500 Search and Rescue (CAP Channel 7)
FM 148.1250 Repeater OUTPUT (CAP Channel 2) (Also used for
simplex)
FM 148.1375 Simplex (CAP channel 3)
FM 148.1500 Repeater OUTPUT (CAP Channel 1) (Also used for
simplex)
FM 148.7375 Search and Rescue (CAP Channel 5)
FM 148.9750 Search and Rescue (CAP Channel 8)
FM 149.4000 Old CAP Primary Channel (Now used for simplex
only)
FM 149.5375 Search and Rescue (CAP Channel 4) (Aircraft-toGround Primary)
FM 149.8950 Packet Digipeater (Primary Packet Channel)
FM 149.9100 Aircraft Repeaters
FM 149.9250 Packet Digipeater (Secondary Packet Channel)
FM 149.9400 Aircraft Repeaters

















2371
2374
4466
4469
4506
4509
4582
4585
4601
4604
4627
4630
7635
14902
26617
26620
Visual LEVEL1.187
HF Network Nationwide USB
HF Network Nationwide USB
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Northeast/Southeast Regions
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Northeast/Southeast Regions
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) North Central Region
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) North Central Region
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Middle East/Pacific Regions
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Middle East/Pacific Regions
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Great Lakes/Rocky Mountain Regions
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Great Lakes/Rocky Mountain Regions
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Southwest Region
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Southwest Region
HF Network Nationwide USB
HF Network Nationwide USB
HF Network Nationwide USB
HF Network Nationwide USB
Search and Rescue
NDMS & DMAT
Visual LEVEL1.188
National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
 Federally coordinated system that



augments the Nation's medical
response capability
Purpose of the NDMS is to supplement
an integrated National medical
response capability for assisting State
and local authorities in dealing with the
medical impacts of major peacetime
disasters
Provide support to the military and the
Department of Veterans Affairs
medical systems in caring for
casualties evacuated back to the U.S.
from overseas armed conventional
conflicts
National Response Framework utilizes
the National Disaster Medical System
(NDMS), as part of the Department of
Health and Human Services, Office of
Preparedness and Response, under
Emergency Support Function #8
 National Disaster Medical System
(NDMS) Response Teams
Visual LEVEL1.189





Disaster Medical Assistance Team
(DMAT)
Disaster Mortuary Operational
Response Teams (DMORT)
National Veterinary Response Team
(NVRT)
National Nurse Response Team
(NNRT)
National Pharmacy Response Teams
(NPRTs)
Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMAT)
 DMAT is a group of professional and


para-professional medical personnel
(supported by a cadre of logistical and
administrative staff) designed to
provide medical care during a disaster
or other event
Responsibilities may include triaging
patients, providing high-quality medical
care despite the adverse and austere
environment often found at a disaster
site, patient reception at staging
facilities and preparing patients for
evacuation
NDMS/DMAT personnel are required
to maintain appropriate certifications
and licensure within their discipline

 Washington-1 Disaster Medical
Assistance Team (WA-1 DMAT) is
located in Seattle
When personnel are activated as
Federal employees, licensure and
certification is recognized by all States
Visual LEVEL1.190
King County Search & Rescue
Visual LEVEL1.191
KCSARA
 Promote a unified organization





of field teams
Enable an interchange of
knowledge and field techniques
Deploy qualified personnel as
required by the mission needs
Promote education of the public
in wilderness safety and
recreation
Promote training and maintain
the highest proficiency in search
and rescue techniques and
operations of the member units
Promote the education and
deployment techniques needed
for responses to search and
rescue and natural disasters
 Respond to numerous incidents

involving lost or injured hikers,
hunters and children. SAR
volunteers also assist in times of
natural disasters like flooding,
wind storms and earthquakes
Member Units









4X4 Search & Rescue
Explorer Search And Rescue
King County SAR Operations
King County Search Dogs
Northwest Horseback SAR
Pacific Northwest Trackers
Rescue One
Seattle Mountain Rescue
Ski Patrol Rescue Team
145.110- pl 103.5
Visual LEVEL1.192
Requirements from WAC 118.04

Washington State Requirements

These requirements are codified in Washington Administrative Code 118.04

The exact content, length, and refresher cycle has been interpreted through an agreement of
King County Sheriff's Office, and the unit leaders of King County Search and Rescue
Association; last reviewed on February 20, 2007

King County Sheriff’s Office requires the Introduction to Emergency Worker course for all
SAR members who joined after January 1st, 2004, and WAC118.04 requires:








First Aid
Pathogen Awareness
Cardiopulmonary Resusitation (CPR)
Crime Scene Awareness
Basic & Intermediate Helicopter Safety
Map & Compass
SAR Survival
SAR Techniques
Visual LEVEL1.193
Rapid Response Teams
Visual LEVEL1.194
The "Rapid Response Team" (RRT)
 First minutes of an emergency …

Sometimes important to get the basic essentials of a
network on the air quickly
 RRT is small team within a larger emcomm group
 Put a few strategically placed stations on the air within the
first half-hour to an hour
 Usually the emergency operations center (EOC), a
resource net NCS, and often a few field teams where
needed most
 This is commonly known as a "Level 1 RRT response"
Visual LEVEL1.195
RRT
 Level 2 RRT response follows within a few hours, bringing
additional resources and operators.
 Level 1 teams have:


Pre-assigned jobs
Short-term (12-24 hour) "jump kits", ready to go
whenever the call comes
 Level 2 teams have:


Longer term (72 hour) jump kits, and
A variety of other equipment, possibly including tents,
portable repeaters, extended food and water supplies,
sleeping gear, spare radios, and generators
Visual LEVEL1.196
ARESMAT
Visual LEVEL1.197
ARES Mutual Assistance Team (ARESMAT)
 Communication emergency which lasts longer than a day or two,
or when the scale of the emergency is beyond the ability of a
local ARES group to handle
 Help can be requested from neighboring areas
 ARESMAT teams consist of hams who are willing and able to
travel to another area for a period to assist ARES groups based
in the disaster area
 May also bring additional resources in the form of radios,
antennas, and other critical equipment
 If you travel to another area as part of an ARESMAT, remember
that the local group you are supporting is still in charge
 You are there to do what they need done
 The host ARES group becomes a "served agency"
Visual LEVEL1.198
ARESMAT Basic Action Elements
 Pre-Departure Functions




Notification of activation/assignment
Credentials should be provided for recognition by
local authorities
Provide a general and technical briefing on
information from the requesting authority
Invitation, transportation (including routes in
disaster area) and accommodations
considerations, and expected length of deployment
should all also be reviewed with the team members
Visual LEVEL1.199
ARESMAT Basic Action Elements
 In-Travel Functions  Team leaders should review situation's
status:
 Job assignments
 Checklists
 Affected area profile
 Mission disaster relief plan
 Strengths and weaknesses of previous and current
responses
 Maps
 Technical documents
 Contact lists
 Tactical operation procedures
 Response team requirements
Visual LEVEL1.200
ARESMAT Basic Action Elements
 Arrival Functions






Check with host ARES officials and obtain information about:
Frequencies in use
Current actions
Available personnel
Communication and computer equipment
Support facilities that could be used by the team to support
the relief effort
 Host's ARES plan in effect for the disaster should be obtained
 Establishment of an initial intra-team communication network and
an HF or VHF channel back to the home section for morale traffic
Visual LEVEL1.201
ARESMAT Basic Action Elements
 “In-situ Functions”





Make an initial assessment of functioning
communication facilities
Monitor host ARES officials' communications, and other
response team relief efforts to coordinate operations
and reduce duplication of effort
Team members should be monitored and their
capabilities to perform their duties evaluated
Proper safety practices and procedures must be
followed
Daily critique of communication effectiveness with
served units and communication personnel should be
conducted
Visual LEVEL1.202
ARESMAT Basic Action Elements
 Pre-Demobilization and Demobilization Functions

Extraction procedure should be negotiated with served
agencies and host ARES officials before it is needed
 To get volunteers' commitment to travel and participate,
they must be assured that there will be an end to their
commitment
• Open-ended commitments of volunteers are undesirable,
partly because they make potential volunteers hesitate to
become involved
 Leaders  coordinate with host ARES officials and
served agencies to determine when equipment and
personnel are no longer needed
Visual LEVEL1.203
ARESMAT Basic Action Elements
 Pre-Demobilization and Demobilization Functions (continued)





A team critique, begun on the trip home, should be
conducted, and individual performance evaluations on team
members should be prepared
Copies of critiques should be sent to both the home SEC and
in-disaster SEC
Problems stemming from personality conflicts should be
addressed and/or resolved outside of formal reports, as they
only provide distractions to the reports
Equipment should be accounted for.
A post-event evaluation meeting should always be
conducted, and a final report prepared upon which an update
to the inter-sectional ARESMAT plan can be made
Visual LEVEL1.204
 Remember, the “we can handle it” syndrome is
common
 As soon as you suspect mutual assistance is
needed, the EC should notify the DEC or SEC
Visual LEVEL1.205
Visual LEVEL1.206
Military Affiliate Radio Service (MARS)
 Department of Defense sponsored auxiliary
communication program, three separately managed and
operated programs
 US Army
 US Navy/Marine Corp
 US Air Force
 Operate disciplined and structured nets on assigned
military radio frequencies adjacent to the Amateur bands
 MARS has a strict set of rules regarding the type, content
and format of messages
 Special call signs are issued for MARS use
Visual LEVEL1.207
MARS
 MARS stations handle quasi-official and morale messages for
the three services
 MARSGRAMS  free public service, intended to boost the
morale of Soldiers, airmen, sailors, and other authorized
users worldwide
 During times of emergency, MARS provides backup
communication networks to military, federal, state, and local
agencies
 Advantage of the MARS system is that it is specifically
authorized to communicate with other government radio services
in time of emergency, including the federal SHARES HF
networks
 More on SHARES later
Visual LEVEL1.208
Army MARS Mission
 To provide Department of Defense sponsored emergency
communications on a local, national, and international basis as
an adjunct to normal communications.
 To provide auxiliary communications for military, civil, and/or
disaster officials during periods of emergency.
 To assist in effecting normal communications under emergency
conditions
 Headquartered at Fort Huachuca, Arizona
 Assigned to the Headquarters, United States Army Network
Enterprise Technology Command/9th Signal Command (Army)
(NETCOM/9th SC(A)), which directly reports to the Department
of the Army's Chief Information Officer/G-6
Visual LEVEL1.209
MARS Links
 Army:


http://www.netcom.army.mil/mars/default.aspx
http://wa.mars.hfradio.org/about_wamars.html
 Navy-Marine:

http://navymars.org/
 Air Force:

http://public.afca.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.
asp?fsID=7037
Visual LEVEL1.210
National Traffic System
Visual LEVEL1.211
National Traffic System (NTS)
 NTS consists of local, regional and national nets operating on a
regular basis to pass messages (traffic) from place to place
 Day-to-day usage

Handles non-critical organizational messages for its own
members and ARRL field organizations, radiograms for the
public, and various personal messages
 E-mail


NTS has seen a significant decrease in the number of
messages passed through the system, and a corresponding
decrease in membership and overall effectiveness
NTS still has an important role in emergency communication
More Later ….
Visual LEVEL1.212
Local Radio Clubs
Redmond ARES
Visual LEVEL1.213
Local Radio Clubs
 Not every area has a working ARES or other
nationally affiliated emcomm group
 In many cases, the void is filled by local radio
clubs who either work informally with served
agencies, or with a formal MOU
Visual LEVEL1.214
National Communications System (NCS)
 NCS consists of 23 government organizations tasked with
ensuring that the Federal Government has the necessary
communication capabilities under all conditions from day-to-day
use to national emergencies and international crises; includes:
 Forest Service,
 Federal Emergency Management Agency,
 Coast Guard,
 FBI,
 ATF, and others who have a variety of communication
assets.
 The Manager of the NCS is also the Director of the Defense
Information Systems Agency (DISA), usually an Air Force
general.
Visual LEVEL1.215
SHARES
 US Government's "Shared Resources System"

pairs MARS with various federal agencies and state
emergency operations centers to provide a high
frequency (HF) communication backbone if normal
communication systems should fail
 Key communications companies such as AT&T, and
agencies such as the Red Cross have SHARES radios
 The SHARES system utilizes a number of nationwide and
regional networks
Visual LEVEL1.216
SHARES
http://www.ncs.gov/n3/shares/shares.htm
Visual LEVEL1.217
FEMA INTEGRATED NETWORK
 Facilities linked with high-speed terrestrial circuits that
provide integrated voice, data, and video network
service
 Routers connect FEMA facilities and provide access
to the internet
 Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems provide
voice capability through FEMA’s Integrated Network,
Public Network, and Federal Telephone System (FTS)
 Disaster Field Offices are quickly added to
architecture to provide a robust field operating
environment
Visual LEVEL1.218
FEMA INTEGRATED NETWORK
Presidio
Bothell, WA
Altern-
Kansas City,
MO
ate
Denver, CO
Region 6
(+NTC)
Chicago, IL
Thomasville,
GA
Frankfort,KY
Atlanta, Ga
Hyattsville
NPSC
Philadelphia,
PA
Mt. Weather
Headquarters
Emmitsburg,
MD
Olney, MD
Albany, NY
Elkridge, MD
Maynard, MA
FIA
Boston, MA
Jessup, MD
Visual LEVEL1.219
Lanham, MD
New York, NY
FEMA National Radio System (FNARS)
 Provide a minimum essential emergency communication
capability among federal agencies, state, local commonwealth,
and territorial governments in times of national, natural and civil
emergencies
 FEMA monitors the FNARS HF frequencies on a daily basis
 FNARS is an Single Side Band (SSB) radio system that can
transmit both voice and data, and that has the capability to
operate in both secure and non-secure modes
 At the state level, FNARS radios are typically located at the state
emergency operations center (EOC)
 http://www.emd.wa.gov/telcom/telcom_other_radios_systems
.shtml
Visual LEVEL1.220
FNARS
ALASKA
ND
MT
WA
NH
MN
ME
VT
SD
WI
ID
OR
NY
MI
WY
NE
IA
MA
PA
RI
OH
CT
MO
IL
KS
NV
HAWAII
SAIPAN
CNMI
IN
NJ
UT
CO
CA
KY
VA
TN
OK
GUAM
AR
NC
AZ
A. SAMOA
DE
WV
NM
MS
TX
AL
GA
SC
LA
NET CONTROL
REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS/FRC'S
STATE OR TERRITORY
FL
FEMA HEADQUARTERS
Visual LEVEL1.221
MD
http://www.reactintl.org/
Visual LEVEL1.222
Radio Emergency Associated Communications Teams (REACT)
 REACT is a national emcomm group

members include Citizen's Band (CB) radio operators, hams,
and others
 In addition to CB and Amateur Radio, they may use General
Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), Family Radio, and the Multiple
Use Radio Service (MURS).
 Organizational structure similar to ARES
 Mission is somewhat broader than that of ARES.

Offer crowd and traffic control, logistics, public education, and
other services that usually (but not always) include a need for
radio communication.
Visual LEVEL1.223
REACT
 Mission:
We will provide public service communications to
individuals, organizations, and government
agencies to save lives, prevent injuries, and give
assistance wherever and whenever needed.
We will strive to establish a monitoring network of
trained volunteer citizen-based communicators
using any and all available means to deliver the
message.
 REACT and ARRL have an MOU
Visual LEVEL1.224
Emergency Warning Systems
Visual LEVEL1.225
Emergency Alert System -- EAS
 Current EAS system has evolved from the earlier



Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) and the original
"CONELRAD System" developed during WWII
EAS relies on radio and TV broadcast stations to relay
emergency alert messages from federal, state, and local
authorities
Messages may pertain to any immediate threat to public
safety, including enemy attack, storm warnings,
earthquake alerts, and wildfires
Messages are relayed from station to station using
automatic switching systems and digital signaling
Visual LEVEL1.226
Washington EAS Plan
 State of Washington Emergency Alert System EAS Plan
 Innovations in Washington State Plan:
1.
Broadcasters are not expected to originate messages, they just
relay them. Government agencies originate all EAS messages at
the both the State and Local levels. LP1 & LP2 stations may not be
manned, but their equipment will still relay the proper alerts
automatically.
2.
EAS messages pass through the network in the background and
stay in the background as much as possible. What is called a daisy
chain of broadcast stations is avoided except for backup.
3.
NOAA/NWS is fully integrated into the system, so events that were
not originated by NWS are still routed through their transmitters.
Visual LEVEL1.227
Washington EAS System
 VHF relay network that utilizes a Washington State Patrol
frequency.
 This network is controlled from the Washington State
Department of Emergency Services building at Camp
Murray Washington.
 This network gives full state coverage.
 The decoder/encoder installed at the WSDEM not only can
initiate EAS messages, it can also receive them and relay
them.
 Decoders/Encoders are to be installed at all NWS offices
through out the State
Visual LEVEL1.228
Washington EAS System
Visual LEVEL1.229
Washington EAS System
Visual LEVEL1.230
Western Washington EAS Matrix
AREA NAME
COUNTIES
LP
STA
CENTRAL PUGET
SOUND
ISLAND SNOHOMISH
KITSAP KING PIERCE
E.JEFFERSON
1- KIRO710
CLALLAM
EAST PORTION
CLALLAM
2-KPLU88.5
1 -KONP 1450
SRN
SITE
GOLD 155.475
NOAA SITE
& FREQ
LRN
FREQ
EAN
SOURCE
COUGAR
162.55
MILLER
162.425
MILLER
162.425 .
W. Tiger
Mtn.
450.087
5
45.86
KIRO -710 or SRN
155.475
ELLIS 155.475
OCTOPUS
162.425 Neah
Bay 162.550
.
KIRO-TV via NWS
RADIO
BAW FAW or
NASELLE
155.475
OCTOPUS
162.425
NASELLE
162.400
BAW FAW
162.475 or
NASELLE
162.40
BAW FAW
162.475
TBD
KIRO-710 or SRN
155.475
450.100
LRN to
monitor
SRN @
155.475
155.100
KIRO-710 or SRN
155.475
GOLD 155.475
COUGAR
162.55 or
BAW FAW
162.475
155.145
KIRO-710 or SRN
155.475
GALBRAITH
155.475
MILLER PK
162.425
Mt.
Const.
450.062
5
KIRO-710 or SRN
155.475
CLARK CO.
COMM CENTER
155.475
GOAT MT
162.550
166.250
NPR via SR-OPB
GALBRAITH
155.475
KIRO-710 or SRN
155.475
2- NWS
162.425
CLALLAM (WEST)
WEST PORTION
CLALLAM
1-KVAC1490
COASTAL
W. JEFF G. HARBOR
PACIFIC
2-KLLM103.9
1-KXRO1320
COWLITZ
WAHKIAKUM
COWLITZ
WAHKIAKUM
2-KDUX104.7
1-KZOE90.3
LEWIS
LEWIS
2-KLOG1490
1-KELA 1470
MASONTHURSTON
MASON THURSTON
NORTHERN
PUGET SOUND
WHATCOM S. JUAN
SKAGIT
PORTLAND/
VANCOUVER
CLARK
2-KMNT102.9
1-KGY1240
2-KGY96.9
1-KGMI790
2-KISM92.9
1-KXL-750
2-KGON92.3
BAW FAW
155.475
BAW FAW
155.475
Visual LEVEL1.231
KIRO-710 or SRN
155.475
Washington EAS Links
 http://www.wsab.org/eas/eas.html
 http://www.eas-wa.info/
Visual LEVEL1.232
NOAA Weather Alert and National Weather Radio (NWR)
 NWR is an all-hazards public warning system, broadcasting
forecasts, warnings and emergency information 24 hours a day
directly to the public
 Natural (e.g., tornado, hurricane, floods, earthquakes)
 Technological accidents (e.g., chemical release, oil spill,
nuclear power plant emergencies, maritime accidents, train
derailments)
 AMBER alerts
 Terrorist attacks
 NWR uses seven frequencies in the 162MHz band
 Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME)

remain silent until an alert is received for a specific
geographic area
NWR and the EAS use the same digital protocols
NWR is primary means for NWS alerts to activate EAS
Visual LEVEL1.233
NWR in Washington
Visual LEVEL1.234
NWR in Washington
Call Sign
Site Name
Site Location
Frequency
Power
KEC91
Astoria
Naselle Ridge
162.400
300
WXM62
Capitol Peak
Capitol Peak
162.475
330
WXN21
Cle Elum
Sky Meadows
162.400
300
Davis Peak
Cowlitz County
162.525
100
Dayton
Patit
162.525
300
Goldendale
Goodnoe Hills
162.525
100
KAD93
H Street - Blaine Area
H Street - Blaine Area
162.525
100
KIH36
Neah Bay
Bohokus Peak
162.550
100
WWF49
Okanogan
Tunk Mtn.
162.525
50
Olympic Nat'l. Park
Mt. Octopus
162.425
330
WWH27
Plymouth
Sillusi Butte
162.425
100
WWG24
Puget Sound Marine
Miller Peak
162.425
90
WWF56
Richland
Richland
162.450
300
KHB60
Seattle
Couger Mtn.
162.550
100
WXL86
Spokane
Spokane Mtn.
162.400
100
WXM34
The Dalles
Columbia Gorge
162.400
300
WXM48
Wenatchee
Eagle Rock
162.475
100
Yakima
Ahtanum Ridge
162.550
300
WNG604
KZZ73
WNG566
KXI27
KIG75
Visual LEVEL1.235
NWR in Washington
NOAA Weather Radio in Washington
Additional Sites (not shown)
Astoria, OR
162.400 MHz
Pendleton, OR
162.400 MHz
Abbotsford, BC
162.550 MHz
Blaine
162.525 MHz
Puget Sound
Marine
162.425 MHz
Bonners Ferry, ID
162.500 MHz
Cle Elum
162.400 MHz
Richland
162.450 MHz
Lewiston, ID
162.550 MHz
Dayton
162.525 MHz
Seattle
162.550 MHz
Portland, OR
162.550 MHz
Forks/Mt Octopus
162.425 MHz
Spokane
162.400 MHz
Vancouver, BC
162.400 MHz
Goldendale
162.525 MHz
The Dalles, OR
162.400 MHz
Victoria, BC
162.400 MHz
Heppner, OR 2
162.425 MHz
Umatilla, OR
162.500 MHz
Neah Bay
162.550 MHz
Upper Cowlitz
Basin
162.425 MHz
Neahkahnie, OR
162.425 MHz
Wenatchee
162.475 MHz
Okanogan
162.525 MHz
Woodland
162.525 MHz
Olympia
162.475 MHz
Yakima
162.550 MHz
Visual LEVEL1.236
NWR Coverage in Washington
White: Signal level of greater than 18dBuV: Reliable coverage
Green: 0dBuV to 18dBuV: picking up a signal is possible but unreliable
Red: Less than 0dBuV: Unlikely to receive a signal
Visual LEVEL1.237
NWR Seattle Coverage
King County
SAME: 053033
Visual LEVEL1.238
NWR Coverage - Arizona
Visual LEVEL1.239
NWR Questions
 Do you have a NWR Radio as part of your home
disaster plan?
 Battery operated?
 Is it continuously monitoring for an EAS tone?
 Local
SAME code?
 Do you periodically “exercise” your NWR during
the weekly tests?
Visual LEVEL1.240
NAWAS (National Warning System)
 “Hardened" and secure national wireline phone network connecting the warning points
in each state (usually the state police HQ or state EOC) to the Federal Government
 The National Warning System (NAWAS), a major component of the Civil Defense
Warning System (CDWS), was established with the primary purpose of providing a
capability to warn the nation of a threat of a nuclear attack
 NAWAS can be used for emergencies related to peacetime nuclear accidents, railroad
disasters, downed aircraft, and warning of potential natural disasters (e.g. hurricanes,
floods, tsunami's, and tornadoes).
 Center of NAWAS operations is the National Warning Center at NORAD's Cheyenne
Mountain command and control complex in Colorado
 Provide notification in case of enemy attack, and to inform and coordinate alert and
warning information among states in a given region
Visual LEVEL1.241
NAWAS
ALASKA
HAWAII
Warning Centers
FEMA Regional
Centers
State Warning
Points
Main Lines - WC’s
/Regions
Region to State WP Lines
ANWC
THOMASVILLE, GA
Visual LEVEL1.242
State/Local WP Lines
Washington NAWAS
 Primary State Warning Point
located in the state EOC
 Alternate State Warning
Point located in the
Washington State Patrol
(WSP) communications
center, Yakima
 Twenty-nine (29) local
primary warning points
 NAWAS is a voice only
network that allows
simultaneous signaling and
broadcasting to one or more
warning points
Visual LEVEL1.243
Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP)
 Should an incident involving
the storage and eventual
incineration of chemical
munitions at Umatilla Depot
Activity pose a life
threatening situation for
communities within Benton
County and surrounding
areas, alert notification and
information exchange
between state and local
authorities must occur
automatically or within
minutes after the event
occurs
Visual LEVEL1.244
Tsunami Warning System
 National and international
network of warning points
to provide timely
exchange of tsunami
warning information
 Information is relayed to a
wide range of government,
civil defense, military, and
international tsunami
research/warning points
within each country or
area
Visual LEVEL1.245
All Hazard Alert Broadcasting (AHAB) Radio
 All Hazard Alert Broadcast system is a
single unit or network of warning sirens
strategically placed to warn those who
are outside or who are in close
proximity to a siren
 All Hazard Alert, the siren may be
activated for an impending disaster,
like a distant tsunami, or it may be
activated for a hazardous material
incident providing instructions to
shelter- in-place
 The sirens are placed on the top of a
pole which looks much like any other
utility pole
Visual LEVEL1.246
AHAB
Point Hudson AHAB Station
Visual LEVEL1.247
Washington State All-Hazard Alert Broadcasting (AHAB) Network
TO BE COMPLETED
 Cape Disappointment  Island County
OPERATIONAL (49)
 Aberdeen
 Bay Center
 Clallam Bay
 Copalis Beach
 Diamond Point
 Fort Worden
 Grayland (2)
 Hoquiam
 Ilwaco
 La Push (Makah
Tribe)
 Long Beach
 Lower Elwha
 Lummi Nation (2)
 McAlder
 McMillin
 Neah Bay
 Ocean City
 Ocean Park (4)
 Ocean Shores (4)
 Orting (3)
 Puyallup (2)
 Pacific Park
 Port Angeles
 Port Townsend
 Sandy Point
 Seattle (3)
 Seaview
 Sumner
 Surfside
 Taholah (Quinault
Nation)
 Tokeland (Shoalwater
Bay Tribe)
 Westport (3)
Visual LEVEL1.248
National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)
 U.S. Geological Survey operates the National Earthquake
Information Center, located in Golden, Colorado
 Issues rapid reports for those earthquakes that register at
least 4.5 on the Richter Scale in the United States, or 6.5
on the Richter Scale (or are known to have caused
damage) anywhere else in the world
 Public warning reports are disseminated in the affected
areas via the NWR and EAS systems
Visual LEVEL1.249
Washington State EOC
 Essential numbers to know:






1-800-258-5990 State EOC, State Emergency Operations
Officer (SEOO) (24 hrs), Emergency Line (primarily for use
by local/state/federal agencies for reporting/coordinating
emergency situations)
1-800-854-5406 State EOC, WHEN ACTIVATED for
emergency situations
1-888-849-2727 State EOC, State Emergency Operations
Officer (SEOO) (24 hrs), Search and Rescue Line (primarily
for use by local jurisdiction SAR agencies for requesting SAR
missions/support)
(253) 512-7000 Emergency Management Division (EMD),
main business line
(253) 512-7203 State EOC Fax line
(253) 512-7200 EMD Administrative Fax line
Visual LEVEL1.250
King County Frequencies
Visual LEVEL1.251
Lesson 4 Student Activities
1. Go the ARRL website (http://www.arrl.org/).
Locate the MOU between ARRL and the
American National Red Cross. According to the
MOU, how is a "disaster" defined?
Visual LEVEL1.252
Lesson 4 Student Activities
2. Go to the ARRL web site
(http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/foreword.html) section
entitled "Public Services Communications Manual". Find the
answers to the following questions:
A.
Is ownership of emergency-powered equipment a
requirement for joining ARES?
B.
Who can authorize RACES operation?
C.
If the President were to invoke his War Emergency Powers,
could there be any restrictions on Amateur Radio
operation? If so, how would the two-meter band be affected
for RACES operation?
D.
What are the two primary components of ARRL's public
service field organization?
Visual LEVEL1.253
Lesson 4 Questions
1. Which of the following best describes the ARES
organizational structure?
A. ARRL -District-Section-County
B. ARRL-Section-District-County
C. ARRL -County-Region-Section
D. ARRL -State - Region-Section
Visual LEVEL1.254
Lesson 4 Questions
2. Which of the following best describes the ARES chain of
command within a Section?
A. Section Manager-District Emergency CoordinatorEmergency Coordinator, Assistant Emergency
Coordinator -Section Emergency Coordinator.
B. Section Emergency Coordinator- Section ManagerDistrict Emergency Coordinator-Emergency
Coordinator-Assistant Emergency Coordinator.
C. Section Manager-Section Emergency CoordinatorDistrict Emergency Coordinator-Emergency
Coordinator-Assistant Emergency Coordinator.
D. Section Manager-Section Emergency CoordinatorEmergency Coordinator District Emergency
Coordinator-Assistant Emergency Coordinator.
Visual LEVEL1.255
Lesson 4 Questions
3. Which of the following best describes a Level 2
RRT?
A. Is a first responder in any emergency.
B. Operates a few strategically placed stations
within the first hour of an emergency.
C. Responds within a few hours and is prepared
with longer term (72 hour) jump kits.
D. Is always affiliated with SATERN.
Visual LEVEL1.256
Lesson 4 Questions
4. Which of the following best describes an ARES
Mutual Assistance Team (ARESMAT)?
A. Is generally available for tasks lasting less
than one day.
B. Is always from the local area.
C. An ARES team who are willing and able to
travel to another area.
D. Is called out only when the President
suspends regular Amateur operations.
Visual LEVEL1.257
Lesson 4 Questions
5. Which of the following is true about REACT?
A.
B.
C.
D.
REACT is a part of ARRL.
REACT does not have an MOU with ARRL.
REACT's mission is more restricted than that
of ARRL.
REACT's resources include CB, Amateur
Radio, GMRS, FRS, and MURS.
Visual LEVEL1.258
Lesson 4 Reference Links
 National Communication System: www.ncs.gov
 REACT International: www.reactintl.org
 FEMA National Radio System: www.fema.gov




Use site search box to find “FNARS”
Amateur Radio Emergency Service: www.arrl.org/Fand
ES/field.pscm/sec1-ch1.html
National Weather Radio:
http://205.156.54.206/nwr/index.html
Emergency Alert System (EAS): www.fcc.gov/eb/eas/
Hawaii EAS:
http://www.scd.state.hi.us/04_Preparedness/communicatio
ns/eas/eas.htm

Visual LEVEL1.259
Lesson 4 Reference Links
 National Earthquake Information Center:




http://wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov/
 Enter exactly as shown. There is no dot between "www"
and "neic".
Army MARS: www.asc.army.mil/
Navy MARS: http://ns1.maf.mobile.al/users/navymars
Air Force MARS: http://public.afca.af.mil/public/mars1.htm
SATERN: http://satern.org/satern.html or
http://www.qso.com/satern411/
Visual LEVEL1.260
Lesson 5 - Served Agency
Communication Systems
Visual LEVEL1.261
Community Repeater Systems
 “Community" or "shared" repeater uses a different CTCSS
tone for each of several user groups
 One repeater shared by the water, public works, and
sanitation departments, licensed as a single "local
government" radio system
 Each department uses a different CTCSS tone
 When using any shared frequency -- repeater or simplex -it is important to press the "monitor" button for a moment
before transmitting.
 Disables the CTCSS decoder, temporarily allowing you
to hear any transmissions being made on the frequency
Visual LEVEL1.262
Continuous Tone Controlled Squelch System
 Motorola


Way to get more than one Land Mobile customer on the
same frequency at almost the same time
Invented Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System or
CTCSS for short
• Patented it as "PL" short for "Private line".
 Other manufacturers, finding that the system was absolutely
necessary to stay competitive came up with
 "Channel Guard" (CG)
 "Quiet Channel"
 "Call Guard"
 Many other names for the same thing to avoid lawsuits for
marketing a patented system
Visual LEVEL1.263
CTCSS
Visual LEVEL1.264
CTCSS
146.82
PL 100.0
100.0
146.82
PL 103.5
100.0
100.0
No Access
103.5
103.5
Visual LEVEL1.265
CTCSS
 Amateur equipment
 "tone"
for encode only
 "tone squelch" for encode/decode
 Coordination in Western Washington
 Western
Washington Amateur Relay
Association
 http://www.wwara.org
Visual LEVEL1.266
Digital Squelch Tone
 DPL = Digital Private Line
 Uses sub-audible digital code words
 Each
code word is unique and all code words
may be used on the same channel without
interference
 134.4 bits per second
Visual LEVEL1.267
Going Beyond Amateur Radio
 Emcomm volunteers may be asked to use the agency's own
communication systems
 Most served agencies will have their own communication
systems and equipment
 Ranging from modest to complex
 Work with the served agency well in advance to determine


Whether the agency will need you to use its equipment
Under what conditions
 On-air procedures will definitely be different

Training and drills may make Amateur Radio emcomm
operators proficient
Visual LEVEL1.268
Types of Served-Agency Radio Systems
 Each agency will probably have its own radio system

Large city and state police and fire radio systems
 More than one channel, assigned to different purposes
• Fire department "dispatch" channel
• One or more "fireground" channels
 FCC allocates specific radio frequencies to different types
of agencies, and some for multi-agency use
 A frequency designated for use by police agencies may
only be used for police business
Visual LEVEL1.269
State and Local Government Radio Systems
 Police, fire, sheriffs, highway, and other state,
county, or city departments
 Learn their standard operating procedures
 Know their "phonetic alphabet" system
 National Police Frequency 155.475 MHz
 Intercommunication
between any police
agency, regardless of state or jurisdiction
Be careful not to lapse into a ham radio operating style
Visual LEVEL1.270
State of Washington
 State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) warning systems:

National Warning System (NAWAS)
• A dedicated landline voice system used to pass warning and notification information
among federal, state, and local agencies

Emergency Alert System (EAS)
• In coordination with the broadcast industry, EAS is used to provide alert type information
essential to the public concerning an emergency

Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP)

A Central Computerized Enforcement Service System (ACCESS)
• A landline data system primarily used by law enforcement agencies that are available
to pass warning and notification information to local emergency management
agencies.
Visual LEVEL1.271
State of Washington
 State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) voice systems:

Commercial Telephone/Satellite Phone
• Primary means for communicating with local and state agencies.
• Includes public switched, cellular, facsimile, and secure capabilities
• Mitsubishi ST-121 satellite terminal emergency back-up system

Emergency Management Weather Information Network (EMWIN)
• A satellite based automated network for receiving real-time weather
data including warnings from the National Weather Service.
Visual LEVEL1.272
State of Washington
 State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) radio systems:

Comprehensive Emergency Management Network (CEMNET)
• A Very High Frequency (VHF) radio system that is the primary back-up system for
communicating with all county and city EOCs or Command Posts. It is used day-today by local government and some state agencies.

State Emergency Communications Using Radio Effectively
(SECURE)
•

A High Frequency (HF) radio system used for point-to-point communications. It
operates on eight assigned frequencies between 2-8 MHz. Use is limited to agencies
having this capability.
Emergency Management Radio Systems State Agency Emergency
Net - 800 MHz
• Primarily designed to provide a capability for state agencies within the Capitol
Campus, Tumwater, Lacey and surrounding areas to communicate with the State
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during emergency situations or disasters
•

Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)
• Backup communication system that provides emergency communications to state and
local government using Amateur Radio operators (HAMS) and their equipment
Visual LEVEL1.273
State of Washington
 Other Radio Systems Used by EMD:






FEMA MERS - Mobile Emergency Response System
FNARS - Federal National Radio System
STARCNET - State Area Command Net
OSCCR - On-Scene Command & Coordination Radio
SAR - Search and Rescue Net
REDNET/FIRECOM - Fire Communications Net
(Mutual Aid Channel)
 NLEEC - National Law Enforcement Emergency
Communications
 HEAR - Hospital Emergency Alerting Radio
 MEDNET - Medical Net
Visual LEVEL1.274
State of Washington
 Other HF and VHF Radio Systems

Included is use of National Guard, Civil Air Patrol,
and the United States Coast Guard systems and
other public safety systems
Visual LEVEL1.275
State Agency Emergency Net
 Incorporated into the Department of Transportation's 800 MHz
trunked radio system on Capitol Peak
 Provide a capability for state agencies within the Capitol
Campus, Tumwater, Lacey and surrounding areas to
communicate with the State Emergency Operations Center
(EOC)
 State Emergency Operations Officer (SEOO) monitors the net on
a 24-hour basis.
 Communications checks of the net are scheduled on the 1st and
3rd Mondays of each month to ensure operational readiness
Visual LEVEL1.276
Comprehensive Emergency Management Network
 Primary backup communication link between the state EOC and local
EOCs throughout the state
 CEMNET operates primarily on three (3) frequencies,

F1 45.200 MHz
• King County, Bellevue, Seattle, Redmond, Kirkland
 F2 45.360 MHz
 F3 45.480 MHz
 CEMNET is tested weekly with local emergency management
jurisdictions on the following schedule:


Western Washington stations: Tuesday, 0900 hours
Central Washington stations: Wednesday, 0900 hours
 Eastern Washington stations: Thursday, 0900 hours
Visual LEVEL1.277
CEMNET
Visual LEVEL1.278
SECURE
 State Emergency Communications Using Radio Effectively) high
frequency (HF) net
 Also known as CEMNET II
 Secondary emergency back-up communications capability for
intra- and inter-state use
 HF frequencies assigned are:
2.326 MHz (Upper Sideband (USB))
 2.411 MHz (USB)
 2.414 MHz (USB)
 2.587 MHz (USB)
 2.801 MHz (USB)
 5.192 MHz (USB)
 7.801 MHz (USB)
 7.935 MHz (USB)

Visual LEVEL1.279
FEMA
 Mobile Emergency Response System (MERS)





Five MERS locations are strategically placed throughout
regions of the country
Able to respond to all 10 FEMA regions, providing quick
action to disaster areas
MERS, a subset of FEMA, can be anywhere in the nation
within hours after a disaster and can set up a temporary
communications infrastructure
FEMA Operations Net, a VHF high-band system primarily
used by FEMA MERS for communicating with FEMA
personnel
For EMD purposes, this net is used as a secondary capability
for communicating with FEMA Region X and MERS
Operations located in Bothell, Washington
Visual LEVEL1.280
Multi-Radio Van (MRV)

Description: The MRV is a 30-foot long communications
van mounted on a Kenworth chassis with a total weight of
44,000 pounds. The rear section of the roof opens to reveal
a 2.4 meter satellite antenna, while the rest of the roof
contains antennas for use with its radio suite. The inside of
the van houses the MRV's screen room that contains its
communications equipment and a small office/work area in
the front. The truck has two built-in 20 kW generators
which provide self-contained power for the entire operation.
There is also a Second Antenna System (SAS) that is
mounted on another truck which can be connected to
provide a second satellite link.

Capabilities: The MRV provides an interface to a variety of
communications medium. It contains High Frequency (HF)
Radios; Very High Frequency (VHF) Radios and Ultra High
Frequency (UHF) Radios, all with telephone interface
capability. It also contains a Ku band satellite system which
can provide connectivity for telephones, Local and Wide
Area Network (LAN/WAN), compressed video
teleconferencing, and Broadcast Video. There are also
computers with scanning, printing, copying and facsimile
capabilities. The MRV also has a small telephone switch to
provide limited telephone support.

Functions: The MRV provides a mobile communications
platform that can quickly deploy to provide the initial means
of communications for the disaster response team and/or
the Disaster Field Office (DFO) until permanent
communications mediums can be restored to the area.
Visual LEVEL1.281
STARC
 State Area Command (STARC) net



HF system primarily used by the Washington
National Guard for intra-state emergency
communications between Headquarters, STARC in
Camp Murray and each Army/Air National Guard
armory/station
It is also used by the guard for interstate
communications with other National Guard units
For EMD purposes, this net is to be used as a
secondary capability for communicating with local
jurisdictions and deployed National Guard units
Visual LEVEL1.282
Medical Radio Systems
 MedStar


10 simplex VHF frequencies with a dial-type pulsed-tone encoder to signal
specific hospitals
Still in use in some rural areas, but is quickly being replaced by more modern
systems
 Emergency Medical Radio Service

10 UHF duplex frequency pairs; one assigned to the hospital, the other to the
ambulance, and 7 VHF simplex channels
 Medical Emergency Delivery Network (MEDNET)


Primarily used by ambulance services for communicating medical operations with
hospitals while en route.

462.950 Mhz and 468.175 MHz
Hospital Emergency Administrative Radio (HEAR)
 Primarily used by ambulance services for administrative communications with hospitals

155.340 MHz or 155.280 MHz
Visual LEVEL1.283
Other Radio Systems

On-Scene Command and Coordination (OSCCR)
 Primarily used by public-safety agencies, "on-scene" at an event/incident, for command
and coordination of activities between agencies. OSCCR can only be employed in the
simplex mode via mobile and/or handheld equipment
 156.135 MHz

Search & Rescue (SAR)
 Primarily used by Search and Rescue organizations for coordinating operations
between SAR units
 Can only be employed in the simplex mode via mobile and/or handheld equipment

155.160 MHz

State Fire Control Channel (REDNET/FIRECOM)
 Primarily used by fire departments and districts for coordinating operations between
firefighting units
 153.830 MHz

National Law Enforcement Emergency Channel (NLEEC)
 Primarily used by law enforcement agencies for mutual operations. Also used by EMD
for activation of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) relay network
 155.475 MHz
Visual LEVEL1.284
American Red Cross
 Nationally licensed frequency 47.42MHz
 Primarily
for disaster or emergency operations
 Some chapters also use 47.50MHz
 Chapters may rent space on commercial systems
or license their own VHF or UHF systems for dayto-day operations
Visual LEVEL1.285
Trunked Systems
 Allow several "low volume" users to share a single radio system



Several co-located repeaters tied together, using computer
control to automatically switch a call to an available repeater
One radio in a group is switched to a new frequency, all the
others in the group automatically follow
Channel switching and assignment data is transmitted on a
dedicated channel
 Amateur Radio does not currently use this type of system
 In emergency situations most trunked systems suffer from a lack
of reserve capacity
Visual LEVEL1.286
King County Trunked System
 The primary purpose of
the system is to provide
emergency radio
communications services
for all the police, fire,
emergency medical
services, public school
districts and public
hospitals within King
County
 The secondary purpose of
the system is to provide,
to the extent possible
within the constraints of
available funding and
limited spectrum
availability, sufficient
capacity within the system
to service other public
agencies with emergency
response duties
http://www.metrokc.gov/emd/800MHz.htm
Visual LEVEL1.287
King County Trunked System
 The regional system consists of several subsystems joined together by



electronic switching equipment to provide highly reliable region-wide
communications
Each subsystem has been implemented by what is called a Subregion
Subregions are either individual governments or interlocal agencies who
have a shared responsibility to build and operate the system
Subregions include:
 The City of Seattle
 King County
 Valley Communications Center
• An interlocal agency composed of the cities of Auburn, Kent, Renton,
Tukwila and Federal Way
 Eastside Public Safety Communications Agency
• EPSCA, an interlocal agency composed of the cities of Bellevue,
Kirkland, Redmond, Mercer Island and Issaquah
Visual LEVEL1.288
King County Trunked System
http://www.metrokc.gov/emd/mapof800.htm
Visual LEVEL1.289
King County Trunked Radio Systems
http://www.metrokc.gov/emd/flowch800.htm
Visual LEVEL1.290
Seattle Columbia Simulcast
























852.6875 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST)
866.3125 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST) (DIGITAL - RARE USE)
868.175 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST) (CONTROL CHANNEL)
852.9125 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST)
866.4375 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST)
853.4375 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST)
866.2875 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST)
868.875 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST)
867.2875 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST)
854.1875 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST)
868.475 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST)
868.675 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST)
854.3625 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST)
866.8875 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST)
851.4125 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST) (SECONDARY CONTROL CHANNEL)
867.7625 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST) (OVERFLOW)
866.7375 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST) (DIGITAL - RARE USE)
851.1875 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST) (CW ID CHANNEL :24 & :54)
866.3375 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST)
851.9375 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST)
867.7875 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST)
866.7125 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST) - UNVERIFIED
851.9875 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST)
866.6875 CITY OF SEATTLE (COLUMBIA SIMULCAST) (OVERFLOW)
Visual LEVEL1.291
EPSCA Simulcast

















868.525 EPSCA (SIMULCAST)
866.9875 EPSCA (SIMULCAST)
867.3125 EPSCA (SIMULCAST)
867.8125 EPSCA (SIMULCAST)
868.200 EPSCA (SIMULCAST) (SECONDARY CONTROL CHANNEL)
867.4875 EPSCA (SIMULCAST)
867.8875 EPSCA (SIMULCAST) (OVERFLOW CHANNEL)
866.2125 EPSCA (SIMULCAST)
853.3875 EPSCA (SIMULCAST)
866.4625 EPSCA (SIMULCAST)
852.6375 EPSCA (SIMULCAST)
866.9125 EPSCA (SIMULCAST)
854.2375 EPSCA (SIMULCAST)
851.8875 EPSCA (SIMULCAST)
868.825 EPSCA (SIMULCAST)
868.775 EPSCA (SIMULCAST) (CONTROL CHANNEL)
851.1375 EPSCA (SIMULCAST) (CW ID CHANNEL :24 AND :54)
Visual LEVEL1.292
Seattle Police Talkgroups (Seattle Simulcast)

















3216 SPD Citywide ATG (patch ID?)
3248 SPD West
3280 SPD North
3312 SPD South
3344 SPD East
3408 SPD Data
3440 SPD Tac 1
3472 SPD Tac 2
3504 SPD Tac 3
3536 SPD Tac 4
3568 SPD Event 1
3600 SPD Emergency
3632 SPD East Tac
3664 SPD South Tac
3696 SPD North Tac
3728 SPD West Tac
3760 SPD Inv Tac 1




















3792 SPD Inv Tac 2
3824 SPD Ctr 1
3856 SPD Ctr 2
3888 SPD Cmd 1
3920 SPD Cmd 2
3952 SPD Cmd 3
3984 SPD Cmd 4
4016 SPD Cmd 5
4048 SPD Cmd 6 Harbor Ptrl
4080 SPD Narc 1
4112 SPD Narc 2
4144 SPD Narc 3
4176 SPD NTF
4208 SPD Vice 1
4240 SPD Vice 2
4336 SPD Emer Rsp Team 1
4368 SPD Emer Rsp Team 2
4400 SPD Hostage Neg 1
4432 SPD Hostage Neg 2
4464 SPD Internal Invest
Visual LEVEL1.293
Redmond Police Talkgroups (EPSCA Simulcast)
 Redmond (EPSCA Simulcast)

18544 Redmond PD Dispatch
 18416 Redmond PD Tac1
 18384 Redmond PD Tac2
 18448 Redmond PD Admin
 18480 Redmond PD Investigations
 18512 Redmond PD Traffic
Visual LEVEL1.294
Bellevue Police Talkgroups (EPSCA Simulcast)












21424 Bellevue PD Disp 1 (Primary dispatch)
21392 Bellevue PD Disp 2
21360 Bellevue PD Records
21328 Bellevue PD Tac 1
21296 Bellevue PD Tac 2
21264 Bellevue PD Training
21232 Bellevue PD Car To Car
21200 Bellevue PD Events
21168 Bellevue PD Detectives
21136 Bellevue PD SDU
21104 Bellevue PD Traffic
21072 Bellevue PD Comm Center
Visual LEVEL1.295
Eastside Fire
Eastside Communications (to be NORCOM in July2009) currently dispatches the following Fire Departments:











Bellevue Fire Department
Kirkland Fire Department
Redmond Fire Department
Mercer Island Fire Department
Woodinville Fire & Life Safety
Bothell Fire Dept (including the Snohomish County parts of Bothell)
Kenmore/Northshore Fire Department
Shoreline Fire Department
King County FD 10 (Issaquah and all the outlying county areas east of Bellevue to include Duvall, Carnation, Fall City, North
Bend, City of Snoqualmie)
King County FD 50, Skykomish Fire (and approx. 6 miles beyond Stevens Pass)
Snoqualmie Pass Fire Department (and several miles over the pass, joint response with Kittitas County Fire)
Talkgroups:












22384 Eastside Fire Disp 1
22352 Eastside Fire Disp 2
22224 Eastside Fire Tac1
22192 Eastside Fire Tac2
22160 Eastside Fire Tac3
22128 Eastside Fire Tac4
22096 Eastside Fire Tac5
22064 Eastside Fire Tac6
22032 Fire Tac7
22000 Fire Tac8
21968 Eastside Fire Tac-9 (was Training Pool 3)
21936 Eastside Fire Tac-10 (was Training Pool 2)
Visual LEVEL1.296
APCO Project 25 Radio Systems
 P25 radios are extremely flexible

Operate in both analog and digital voice modes, and as
part of trunked and conventional radio systems
 Radios from several manufacturers can be programmed to
communicate with each other seamlessly, as can radios
from different agencies and jurisdictions
 Digital modes offer excellent audio quality, and optional
encrypted modes offer message and data security
 Not as effective in rural or mountainous areas

Reception of digital signals
Visual LEVEL1.297
Phoenix P25 System Example

 Simulcast A:
Phoenix PD


















867.06250
867.17500
867.21250c
867.26250
867.38750
867.41250
867.68750
867.71250
867.76250
867.87500
867.91250
867.96250c
868.16250
868.18750
868.23750
868.33750
868.48750
868.51250
Simulcast A: Phoenix Police and
Municipal Services transmitting from 9
sites in Phoenix:









Visual LEVEL1.298
Site 1 (WPNW554): Downtown Phoenix,
200 West Washington.
Site 3 (WPWX741): SW Phoenix, Fire
Sta34, 50 N. 51st Ave.
Site 4 (WPWT692): Maryvale, 4020 W.
Glenrosa.
Site 5 (WPWR968): Squaw Peak Area,
Phx PD Substation, 6208 N. 24th St.
Site 6 (WPXE694): North Mountain
(North Central Phoenix), 10600 N 7th
St.
Site 7 (WPWS651): Sky Harbor Airport
area, T4, 3800 E Sky Harbor Blvd.
Site 8 (WPWY575): Conv Fire Ops: Far
N. Desert Hills. 701 W Carefree Hwy.
Site 9 (WPWS758): North Phoenix,
Adobe Mountain, 23060 N. 27th
Avenue.
Site 26 (WPXE706): NE Phoenix, 15040
N. Tatum Blvd.
Telephone Systems
 Business telephone systems









Answering incoming calls
Placing outside calls
Placing and answering intercom calls
Making "speed dial" calls
Overhead paging
Placing calls on hold, and then retrieving
them.
Transferring calls to another extension.
Transferring calls to voice mail, if available
Retrieving calls from a voice mail box
 Good idea to keep user's manual close at hand
Visual LEVEL1.299
Satellite Telephones
 Becoming more common among served agencies as the
cost of ownership and airtime decreases
 Inmarsat, Iridium, Thuraya, and Globalstar
 Iridium’s 66 satellite low earth orbit (LEO) constellation
has the most coverage with 100%
 Inmarsat at 98%
 Globalstar with 80% land-area coverage
 Require line-of-sight to the satellite
 Typically expensive
Visual LEVEL1.300
Satellite Telephones
Visual LEVEL1.301
Satellite Data Systems
 Satellite systems in use by public service agencies vary
greatly
 Two-way data and voice communication
 One-way reception of voice, data, or video
 NOAA Emergency Management Weather Information
System (EMWINS) system
 Obtain up-to-the-second weather maps and information
 http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/emwin/index.htm
 Agency will have to provide training if they want you to
operate this equipment
Visual LEVEL1.302
EMWIN
 Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN

provide the emergency management community with access
to a set of NWS warnings, watches, forecasts, and other
products
 EMWIN is a supplement to other NWS dissemination services,
which include: NOAA Weather Radio (NWR), NOAA Weather
Wire System (NWWS), Family of Services (FOS), NOAAPORT,
and NEXRAD Information Dissemination Service (NIDS).
 Commercial EMWIN vendors:

http://www.weather.gov/emwin/winven.htm
Visual LEVEL1.303
EMWIN
Visual LEVEL1.304
Other Agency-Owned Equipment
 Fax machines, copiers, computers, and similar
devices
 Some copiers and computer programs are
quite complicated and may require instruction
in their use
 Computer software used in public safety
applications is usually specially written for the
purpose and may require extensive training in the
rare situation where you will be required to use
the system
Visual LEVEL1.305
Monitoring Agency Radio Systems
 Analog Scanners


V/UHF FM
Aircraft
 Analog Trunking Scanners



Seattle, EPSCA
“Trunking”
“Triple Trunking”
 Digital Scanners


P25 systems (Phoenix)
“Digital”
Visual LEVEL1.306
Lesson 5 Student Activities
1. Using the links provided, answer the following questions:
A.
What do Sections 97.403 and 97.405 of the FCC
Rules and Regulations
(www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/rulesregs.html) Part 97 state about Amateur
communications during emergencies?
B.
Which courses offered by IMSA
(www.imsasafety.org/certify.htm) pertain to radio
operations? To what extent do these courses pertain
to emcomm operations?
Visual LEVEL1.307
Lesson 5 Questions
1. When emcomm team members are called upon
to operate on Public Safety Radio Systems,
which of the following may they NOT do?
A. Use special "10 codes".
B. Use the served agency's standard operating
procedure.
C. Use the phonetic alphabet employed by the
served agency.
D. Engage in casual conversations.
Visual LEVEL1.308
Lesson 5 Questions
2. Which of the following is another trademarked
version of Continuous Tone Coded Squelch
System (CTCSS)?
A. Private Guard.
B. Private Channel.
C. Line Guard.
D. Private Line.
Visual LEVEL1.309
Lesson 5 Questions
3. Which of the following best describes the newer
Emergency Medical Radio Services?
A. Ten UHF duplex frequencies and seven VHF simplex
channels.
B. Ten simplex VHF frequencies with pulsed tone
encoders for each hospital.
C. Seven UHF duplex frequencies and ten VHF simplex
channels.
D. The MedStar system with channels Med 1 through
Med 10.
Visual LEVEL1.310
Lesson 5 Questions
4. Which one of the following statements is true about
trunked systems?
A. Trunked systems are able to operate without the use
of computer controllers.
B. The number of frequencies on a trunked system is
always a multiple of 10.
C. Amateur radio does not currently use this type of
system.
D. Most trunked systems have ample reserve capacity
Visual LEVEL1.311
Lesson 5 Questions
5. When emcomm teams work with a served agency, a
number of assumptions are made. Which of the following
assumptions are true?
A. Amateur radio operators can operate any
communication equipment they encounter.
B. There are NO significant differences between
amateur radio operating procedures and the
procedures used by the served agencies.
C. Served agencies must provide training if amateur
operators are to be used effectively.
D. All phonetic alphabets are essentially the same and
are thus interchangeable.
Visual LEVEL1.312
Lesson 5 Reference Links
 FCC -- Public Safety Radio Service: http://wireless.fcc.gov/publicsafety/
 FCC Rules -- Ham Radio: www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/rules








regs.html
APCO -- www.apco911.org
International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA): www.imsasafety.org/
Dispatch Magazine: www.911dispatch.com/
Project 25 -- www.project25.org
Inmarsat -- www.inmarsat.com
Globalstar -- www.globalstar.com
iridium -- www.iridium.com
Thuraya -- www.thuraya.com (United Arab Emirates)
Motorola -- http://www.motorola.com/cgiss/networks.shtml
Visual LEVEL1.313
Visual LEVEL1.314