EMCOMM AND YOU
Bob Hejl - W2IK
all rights reserved 2011
email for reprint permission
Bob Hejl - W2IK
all rights reserved 2011
email for reprint permission
The enjoyment of our hobby of amateur radio comes with a very small, but very important price tag. The federal government has granted ham radio operators the use of thousands of radio frequencies ranging from those near the "AM Broadcast Band" all the way to frequencies approaching light. That's a lot of space to operate! There are many things hams can do with the privileges they were given, including using voice, digital and even television transmissions. We also have our own satellites. We build and operate repeaters which allow us to spread our transmissions even further than a handi-talkie is capable of on it's own. There is something for everyone in this amazing hobby.
But, along with the ability to talk around the world also comes the RESPONSIBILITY to help your fellow man. Using these same frequencies and using this same equipment, we are morally bound to help during times of need, such as in the aftermath of a hurricane or other severe weather. We are charged with also helping during other sad events, such as during a terrorist attack or an earthquake. EVERY amateur radio operator needs to plan, prepare and train to use their communications equipment and experience if there is either a local or national emergency where normal means of communications become overloaded or inoperable.
As an example, on September 11, 2001, we Americans awoke to the jolting fact that we can no longer think of ourselves as protected from the wrath of others just because the United States is partially isolated by two oceans. For the first time since Pearl Harbor, major attacks by non-citizens were committed on American soil. Along with the attacks we learned plenty of cold, hard facts. The first, and most important, is that we are woefully unprepared to meet the challenges of terrorism. In every aspect of life, we are unprepared.
As reported by the Department Of Homeland Security on June 16, 2006 (And almost entirely ignored by the press):
"Although our Nation's emergency services are the finest in the world, they labor under a handicap imposed by outmoded planning processes that are ill-suited to modern homeland security challenges."
Catching up is very difficult, expensive and time consuming, but it must be done, and done properly, or the next disaster will be beyond description. If it isn't done properly, we will have a hollow self-confidence which will end up biting us in the ass when another "9/11" takes place. The creation of a Department Of Homeland Security was a good start, but other support areas need much more work. Some agencies have scrambled to update their existing plans and philosophies on how to deal with external threats. They have done this mainly by adding to the old principles that were already in place, most of them being developed during the beginning of the "cold war era" many years ago. Accomplishing the task in this manner is a disasterous mistake. Even non-ham radio training, such as courses offered by Red Cross, are out of step with what needs to be taught today. I've taken many training courses back in the pre-WTC 9/11 era only to see that when I've retaken them now, they are virtually identical in both content and mistakes. They prepare and protect no one. The reason for this failure is because the wrong people are creating the training programs. Just because someone has the "title" does NOT make them all-knowing. I'd rather trust "old salts" than "new badges".
We, as amateur radio operators, desperately need to start from scratch in both the fields of preparedness and communications if we are to remain ahead of the challenges which could be thrust upon us at any moment. Old rules and old training no longer are appropriate. Anyone who thinks that by dusting off some outdated training manuals or adding a few paragraphs here and there to existing guides will make training adequate during a terrorist event is living in a fantasy world. These people or groups are both blind and foolish. This includes the "new" ARRL EMCOMM training courses. Harsh words? Perhaps. But how harsh the penalty of not being properly prepared and trained for the next event? Many lives may hang in the balance of how properly we perform our emergency communications duties.
Parameters have changed to such an extent that we need to be trained differently and become ready in the latest aspects of emergency communications. This can partially be accomplished by listening to progressive and experienced communicators in developing both the training and the means to properly support their communities during events such as terrorist attacks.
Those of us who have actually been in the "terrorist trenches" of emergency communications can tell you one thing: Old rules no longer apply and if adhered to can be possibly dangerous. It is also important for everyone to realize that unless you've "eaten dirt" in emergency communications (and not just being deployed in some shelter during a hurricane) you have no business training others by writing, theorizing and instructing. Those who have developed training programs without actually having been confronted with real emergencies have little truths to offer and little in the way of guiding new communicators. In some respects, they do more harm than good by giving a false sense of security when EmComm workers assume they've been properly trained.
Serious experience isn't deploying to some shelter and reporting. (Although manning shelters is a vital cog in the complete emergency communications program and anyone who deploys to these shelters is owed a debt of gratitude.) What I mean by serious experience is literally being a first responder getting dirty, getting near or in harm's way to supply communications "in the eye of the storm".) It's a shame that when some groups were developing their brand of training all the "badge polishers" and "good ole boys" never stopped to ask for the knowledge gained from experienced emergency communicators. They took it upon themselves to dictate what is taught. In a great deal of cases what they teach is either wrong or has no bearing on what emergency communicators need to know. This book is attempting to correct very serious errors by giving you information based on real-world experiences during hurricanes, winter storms, wildfires, plane crashes, search and rescue and terrorism.
As a basic example concerning preparedness, until 2001, we usually had a window of time to prepare for most events, such as hurricanes, winter storms, flooding and the threat of growing wildfires. We had the luxury of time to charge batteries, assemble and check our equipment and run to the store to get needed supplies to "top off" our go-bags. You'd usually see a hurricane coming days away as it would cross some ocean or gulf, track it's progress and prepare accordingly. Wildfires take time to build in their coverage and intensity. To be sure, there are events we've assisted in that were quick to bloom, such as an earthquake, but these are in the minority. Even a search and rescue mission has a window of time in which to prepare. It might be a smaller amount of time, but it does exist. What DOES NOT exist is any window of time when a terrorist event takes place. It might also be the "first wave" in a series of terrorist strikes such as the series during "9/11".
We must develop a philosophy quite like that used by fire departments which is to always be trained and ready with everything we need on hand. "Grab and Go" should be the rule. In my home, I have a "Grab and Go" bag with everything that I assume would be needed to assist in emergency communications, including during a terrorist attack. It is in the same location as my "Grab and Go" CERT backpack. Ready. Waiting. We no longer have the luxury of time to become prepared. Later in this series I go through "What To Have Before You Go" and exactly why. This is not just a list as you might expect from another short-sighted" training source, but a detailed explanation all the components needed to do your communications job.
However, just having adequate "hardware" and supplies is not enough. Along with the proper tools to handle a terrorist event or a weather related disaster comes the training (not just reading a course or doing some tabletop exercises) and a totally new and different philosophy in emergency communications response. Being the first emergency communications responder deployed at "ground zero" during the WTC 9/11 attacks, I've had a unique "baptism by fire". In being faced with the new challenges forced upon me, I've developed ideas and principles that were never covered in training by any emergency communications group. I had to do this to both survive and properly carry out my communications responsibilities. I also learned from this event, and many others I have been a part of, that there were dozens of things covered in the popular training manuals that were glaringly wrong. Most of these courses and manuals are stuck in the "60's attitude" and were written by people who've never been faced with real-life events. In some respects supplying emergency communications in the field is like fighting a war. In today's climate you don't fight a battle using 1960's (or even 1990's) equipment, experience or training. You use up-to-date hardware and support supplies and materials to go with up-to date techniques.
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MENTAL PREPAREDNESS
Mental preparedness is just as important as communications training. Just about anyone can learn how to properly use a radio or set up a communications post. However, without the mental toughness to perform under such stressful situations such as being surrounded by needless death and destruction, you could quickly withdraw into an "emotional shell" and in doing so this would cripple your ability to be an effective communicator.
No one can give you a present of "mental toughness", but later in this book I will show you ways to combat your fears. If, after reading the section on mental and emotional preparedness, you feel that you cannot cope with the mental and emotional stress of being "on the front lines", then inform your EC or whomever is responsible for deploying your group that you cannot work faced with this sorrow. They will understand and use your talents elsewhere, such as supplying communications support in a shelter or will allow you to do support work in some other non-stressful atmosphere. Everyone, regardless of emotional abilities, has a place in emergency communications. Not all of us can, nor should, be at the "front lines".
Not all of us can face the aftermath of a terrorist attack close up. This doesn't make you less valuable as a resource. To be faced with a terrorist event means the possibility of seeing destruction close up. This means the sight of human remains in all types of degradation such as those witnessed by rescue crews during a plane crash. Some of us cannot tolerate such scenes.
Others have learned to work beyond it towards a goal of helping those who might still be able to be saved. This does not mean that you will be charged with any responsibility of victim removal, but you may be faced with seeing this happen as you fulfill your communications duties. The only recommendation I can make at this time is to become focused at your job at hand. Later in this book I will go into mental and emotional preparedness.
Do not waiver from the reason you are there: Supplying communications as part of the team who are responding to the event. Focus on radio, not the sorrow. Yes, during the WTC disaster I did see many horrors such as body parts. Yes, I knew the dust I was breathing contained cremated remains of victims, and today I suffer from "WTC Cough" but it did not stop me from the core of my job, that of supporting the team effort by supplying emergency communications.
Later in this book, I will explain in detail my remarks as stated above.
A SHORT LIST OF WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS BOOK
A 21st century approach to emergency communications.
A basic communications training program.
The proper hardware for deployment.
Mental and emotional preparedness.
A New Concept In Equipment Deployment For A Terrorist Event
How to cope with the unexpected.
Tactics and techniques.
Thinking on your feet beyond your training.
Family Preparedness For Natural Disasters and Terrorism
Creating A Viable Jump Team And How It Functions
A NEW APPROACH TO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS:
The new keyword in emergency communications following the disasters in 2001 and following hurricanes such as Katrina is: FLEXIBILITY. Gone are the straight and narrow concepts that have long been drummed into the heads of emergency communicators who've trained using antique manuals and philosophies. They are still teaching the wrong path to reach the right goal. You must become flexible in both your ideas and your execution while maintaining the basic concept of emergency communications, that being to pass information quickly and accurately.
Always be aware of where you are, what you are doing, what other resources are around you to take advantage of should things change. Each emergency event will produce it's own unique set of parameters. For instance, if we were to plug in the same response parameters that we'd normally follow during a hurricane and apply them to a multidimensional event created by a terrorist incursion we'd be setting ourselves up for a communications nightmare. There are times, however, when you should NOT be flexible.
During a hurricane, you might pass information not exactly (word for word) what was originally given to you. Let's face it, asking for 25 cots at an evac center is a simple matter. Important, yes, but still a simple type of communications. However, during a terrorist event you might be asked to relay information which might contain coded messages, as was the case during the World Trade Center Disaster. Sending coded information was needed because it was felt that many ears were listening in to our communications ... both the press and terrorists. Those of you who are "stuck in yestersay" might disagree. If you do, then you've never been involved in this kind of event. This is one area when being flexible is NOT an option! You must give the information EXACTLY as was given to you. This dismisses the sending of any information in NTS formatted traffic. So DO NOT take it upon yourself to reformat the information. GET OUT OF THE NTS MINDSET. Stick with plain text message sending with read-backs to verify for accuracy. THOSE WHO PREACH NTS TRAFFIC HANDLING ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE ARE LIVING IN "YESTERDAY".
An example of improper training:
"ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Courses -- Student Activities
EC-001 Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level I [Revised 06/22/04]
LU 9 :
2. Assume that you are helping a served agency staffer condense a lengthy message. Edit the following message text to reduce the number of words to a minimum, without losing any clarity.
"We need 50 additional cots and blankets at the Roe School shelter, and we also need more food since 20 new people just arrived and we are told another 30 may be coming soon. Please call me and tell me when these supplies will arrive." "
By preaching this method, it's only human nature that many ops will take it upon themselves to re-format a message unaided. When this is done during a terrorist event, it will lose any coded traffic which might be sent by the shelter manager.
STICK TO PLAIN TEXT MESSAGING
During a terrorist event it also becomes necessary to lie. Yes, I said lie. This is a very rare occurance and only a few times did I actually have to do this. Remember that your communications might be monitored by many people. The press, eager to get a "scoop", the public in general and even terrorists might be listening. I lied quite a bit in my communications when I was at "ground zero". I lied when I sent my location and what it was. You can hear one of my lies on the BBC broadcast "Unsung Heroes" where during the program they played back snipets of WTC 9/11 communications. My location was held secret because of it's very sensitive nature of being the forward command post (or Incident Command Center if you wish to call it that) where many decisions were made. There was a rumor that additional terrorist acts were eminent. What better way to create additional chaos than to set off a car bomb in front of the incident command center based upon my communicating it's actual location over the air. (Up until the third day they allowed just about any van to drive up to the building. Very poor basic security at that point. Our security awareness "grew up" after 9/11.) And so, when asked for my location, I lied. I said on the air that I was manning an evac center and even gave bogus hourly reports of client numbers, etc. My "bosses" knew where I was and knew no evac center existed. I also lied when I was communicating with the mayor's bunker. If you monitored my communications you'd have thought I was communicating with just another evac center. Those message exchanges were also coded by both myself and the operator at the mayor's bunker.
You were never taught to lie during any ARES/RACES training both old and new. I also broke standard FCC rules by sending what would be called "coded" traffic. But, after that terrorist strike both became a necessity and, in an emergency, legal. You, as a communicator, could easily be responsible for the escalation of an event by inadvertently mentioning sensitive facts on the air between dedicated message sending or by revealing a "secret" location. It became a new world with new rules that day. Be aware of where you are deployed and if it's location is sensitive. If need be, you might have to lie. Whomever deployed you knows where you are. No need to inform others, even ops deployed elsewhere.
Our country has great potential as givers. I've seen it many times during many emergencies. During several wildfires on Long Island, I have witnessed the generosity of teenagers when they baked cakes and delivered them to evacuation shelters. Displaced families being taken in by neighbors in upstate New York during ice storms which cut off towns from the rest of the world. Search and rescue missions run by everyday groups when people were reported missing after hurricanes struck. During the WTC event the streets near the Red Cross Headquarters were literally jammed with thousands of people wanting to help. There was a line over two blocks long with people just wanting to give blood. Down near the disaster site there were many vehicles handing out food. These weren't just emergency service organizations but "Mom and Pop" stores and places such as "Outback" and countless local Chinese restaurants ... all giving ... all doing. This is the spirit and philosophy that is America. Along with this is the caring nature of amateur radio operators. Hams want to help. It's in our blood. However, without proper and up-to-date "real world" training, we can sometimes cause harm in our attempts to do good. During any ham radio operator's deployment there are things we should and should not do.
To help you find a good start towards your goal of supplying emergency communications during any disaster, including terrorism, I have written a course, included in this book, to guide you from the very beginning. In it, I have included many items you need to know about even before you talk on your radio. I also cover drill events, public service events, emergency events and how to be properly prepared for all. Use this along with any real life training, such as working during public events, to hone your skills for the day when you will be called upon to help during an actual emergency. The chances are that any emergency communications deployment you'd be asked to participate in would involve a natural disaster, however, you must always be aware that terrorists can create havoc anytime and anywhere (even during a natural disaster) so be prepared for both. Get all the items I suggest in the training section, as soon as possible, especially the two types of respirators I've listed. Now on to some basic training. This is unlike any you've ever read and for good reason. It is based upon the real world, real events and not antique training or philosophies.
A BASIC COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING PROGRAM
PART A
This training program is designed to help you become a more effective radio operator so you can assist with communications duties whenever a local or regional emergency occurs, including terrorist events. Each section is part of a step-by-step process which follows a logical sequence to help build your confidence and skill level in preparing for an emergency. The course was specifially tailored to licensed amateur radio operators who work behind the scenes during just about every emergency from hurricanes to terrorist attacks to earthquakes. I am not writing this as part of any organization's training or education, most of which I consider riddled with mistakes and considering the world we live in today at the very least outdated. Even newer versions of courses currently offered by organizations are just rehashings of old publications and techniques. A few are dangerously wrong.
This is a completely new guide and it is based upon my many years of actual field experience in emergency communications on local, national and international response levels. The main thrust of this information is to prepare you for responding during local emergency conditions. Using this course as a base, you will be able to expand your abilities beyond local emergencies to cover regional and even national emergency situations. You will be taught the proper procedures in communicating during both non-emergency and emergency conditions. You will also learn how to build and store the necessary items both you and your family will need to better cope with an emergency. You will be taken through a few emergency and non-emergency scenarios so you can gain a better understanding of both their similarities and differences.
I will also dispell some of the "bunk and baloney" that is being offered by other emergency communications training manuals. There may be organizations and people that do not agree with some of the advice I am delivering. Too bad, however, few people have had more experience providing emergency communications duties under such varied stressful and exhausting conditions. The following pages are written after being involved in winter storms, hurricanes, ice storms, floods, airline disasters, wildfires, missing persons searches, hazmat events and being the first responder at WTC 9/11 "Ground Zero". At the end of each section you will find a review and a small list of optional assignments that I suggest you try to complete.
This book is NOT meant to be read in one sitting. It is a training course. Each section needs to be slowly read, digested, reviewed and where possible the optional assignments completed. You should re-read any section you might find difficult to understand. Consult with experienced amateur radio operators about any points you do not understand. When you have completed this training guide you will have been exposed to the most comprehensive and up-to-date training course that has ever been offered on the subject of amateur radio emergency communications.
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W2IK's BASIC TRAINING OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
(REVISED 2011)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART A:
Section One: Family First: taking care of your loved ones
before you take care of others
Section Two: Learning The Ropes: procedures, procedures, procedures
Section Three: Getting Into The Field: your first public service event
Section Four: Licking Your Wounds: evaluating yourself and your equipment
Section Five: Do It Again: a different type of event
Section Six: Finding Your Way: to a good emergency communications group and the agencies they help
Section Seven: A List Of Essentials: a.k.a. Your First "Go Bag" for almost any event
Section Eight: Your First Emergency Event: a step-by-step process of the real thing
PART B:
Section Nine: Lots Of Odds And Ends: the media, ITU Phonetics (the REAL deal), using a microphone the right way, human interference, tactical calls and nets, duty site interaction, when or if to turn out, and more
Section Ten: HAZMAT Emergencies: don't touch, just communicate
Section Eleven: SKYWARN and You: special training makes for special eyes
Section Twelve: Constructing A Pocket "J Pole": making one that actually works
Section Thirteen: Net Control Operator: To Be Or Not To Be?
Section Fourteen: Still More Odds And Ends: your emotions, family support, "Drop Teams", Rural and Urban search and rescue, and more
PART C:
Section Fifteen: Terrorist Event Preparation
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SECTION ONE: FAMILY FIRST
You've studied long and finally gotten your amateur radio license. Congratulations on becoming part of a unique and tight-knit family! By now, you may have even purchased some radio equipment and gotten on the air, usually on two meters. I hope that you didn't buy too much as you'll read my recommendations on equipment, and my reasons why, later in section seven titled: "EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS: A LIST OF ESSENTIALS" and other places within this guide. Now your thoughts may drift to becoming involved in emergency communications and helping your neighbors. I'm glad that you have community spirit ! You already know that during an "emergency event", such as a hurricane, the infrastructure of any town or area is at risk. Often, the first areas of breakdown will be both the telephone and electrical power systems. Typically, cell phone systems also fail, as most cell phone companies do not have adequate backup systems and their limited capacity sites that are working during an emergency will probably be jammed. Also, since cell phones can't be recharged from dead wall outlets, they would eventually become useless. During a large wildfire emergency a few years ago most of the cellphone sites were burned up! All the other nearby cell sites were overloaded thanks to the many reporters who came to report the event. The only reliable form of communications is amateur radio, using emergency back-up power in the form of rechargeable batteries and generators, and being operated by experienced radio communicators like yourself. Most of the time, supplying emergency communications will require you to report somewhere for duty. Make sure you discuss this aspect with your family to see if they are comfortable with you being away during an emergency. Never leave your family or home if you think that either would be in jeopardy during an emergency.
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During emergency operations, it is vital that your complete focus be on any task at hand. Before you should even consider becoming involved in emergency communications, you must make sure that your family can function at home without you. If this is not the case, if your family can not be comfortable without your support, you might be more concerned about your family's welfare at home and this worry could effect your abilities to properly carry out your emergency communications duties. The term "family first" is very important.
First, make sure that your family has their own, what I call, "home bag" and keep it up to date. A "home bag" is a collection of items that your family might need to help them through an emergency. You must always bear in mind that a small, local event might easily expand and encompass a greater area and last for a longer period of time. If your family has the proper supplies, information and family training, it will make doing your communications job less stressful. Some of the items I suggest you include in such a "home bag" collection are: duct tape , at least two rolls. Duct tape is used to prevent windows from shattering during a violent storm. You should tape a large "X" on each large window pane. Obtain several flashlights for your homebag. I like using portable (camping) fluorescent lights because they use less energy for the amount of light they produce so their batteries will last longer. You can get these in the sporting goods department of any large store. Be sure to include several changes of batteries for each flashlight.(Buy them fresh, keep them stored in plastic bags in the event they leak. That stuff about freezing batteries so they'll last a lot longer is a load of crap) You will also need enough bottled water for at least 5 days, a battery-operated AM/FM radio with extra batteries, a roll of heavy plastic sheathing that you can cut and apply to any widow area that does break, a heavy-duty staple gun with extra staples, canned or jarred food that needs no heating such as canned fruits, powdered milk, other non-perishable food such as "power bars", candles (use with extreme care and never unattended), a lighter and several boxes or books of matches, basic hand tools such as a hammer, cutters etc, prescription medication (enough for 5 days), cash, in case your family needs to buy additional supplies and ATMs are defunct, a decent first-aid kit , a note pad (large spiral type), pens and markers, a battery powered digital clock , three rolls of 1000 sheet single ply toilet tissue and any supplies/food and food bowl/leashes for your pet (the four-legged kind, not your mother-in-law).
Each member of your family should also have on them a list of phone numbers of friends and relatives and a sequence of places to stay if the need should arise that they have to evacuate from your home. Also, you should plan an additional place to meet if an evacuation needs to take place in your area and you are located elsewhere at the time. This might be a relative's home or a friend who lives nearby, but not in your area. In the event of possible flooding, such as may be the case during a hurricane or a series of severe storms, make sure that each location you choose is above any flood range and can be reached without having to drive through any low-lying areas. Plan such a route and practice driving it. Make sure that your family's vehicle always has at least a half tank of gas. Store both a local area and state map in the glove compartment and in your "home bag" so they can locate any shelter, or home, if their own evacuation needs to take place. IF THE NEED TO EVACUATE SHOULD OCCUR, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR FAMILY KNOWS TO TAKE THEIR "HOME BAG" WITH THEM.
You might also want to do some simple training with your family, such as taking them through the steps of covering a window with plastic sheathing and stapling it in place. Show them how to reload more staples in the gun. It's better they learn how to do this on a sunny day, so they will be better equipped to do the real thing under stress during a storm. Remind them that the safe way to use candles is by keeping them far away from anything that they might ignite, such as drapes, and use sturdy bases to hold them. NEVER leave a lit candle unattended. This includes keeping them away from snooping pets. I have large candles that are encased in heavy glass. These candles last longer and are safer to use than thin "dinner mood" candles. All of the items that are listed above can be stored in a large plastic bin with a snap-on cover. These storage bins can be purchased at any "Walmart", "K-Mart" or any other such discount store.
Once you feel confident that your family can take care of themselves, then you are ready to take the next step. Before you do, read the short review section and if you have any problems re-read this main section. Also in this series of websites are two entitled: "Family Preparedness" Make sure both you and your family read them.
REVIEW of this Section:
In order to be effective you must make sure your family is taken care of by giving them the means to do so. Develop a "home bag" composed of items that your family might need during any emergency event. Review emergency procedures with them. Have on hand all emergency telephone numbers and alternate locations in case their own evacuation becomes necessary. Make sure your pets are provided for.
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Optional assignment: After reading the above section, write a list of items you think should be included in your family's "home bag". When you are finished composing it, check your list with the items outlined in this section and discuss the list with your family. You may also wish to discuss emergency preparedness with friends and neighbors so they may make their own "home bags". Now is the time to start developing your famiy's "home bag". Purchase one of those inexpensive large plastic bins that are available at stores like "Walmart", with snap on lid, to use as your "home bag". Store it in a place not subject to freezing or excessive heat.
SECTION TWO: Becoming Involved and Learning the "Ropes"
In order to become an effective communicator, you must learn the proper communications procedures to use when you operate. This is especially true during an emergency. It is not just as simple as picking up a microphone and speaking. The way to learn how to communicate properly is to start by taking small steps. First, listen in on the local repeaters in your area. It would be very wise, if you have the equipment, to place all the local repeater frequencies/offsets/tones into the memories of your radio. (If you do not know what these terms actually mean, refer to your licence study materials.) The directions on programming are included in your radio's operating manual. This way you will have quick access to them all. When you do, also make sure that you have included the proper tone/offsets by testing to make sure you can "hit"(reach) each repeater. Study the operating manuals that came with your equipment so you can quickly change frequencies or add new frequencies in your radio's memory in case the need should arise. It is a good idea if you make copies of your radio's operating manual so you can keep the original stored away in a safe place and use the copy instead. This way, if you lose the copy, you won't be crippled when you have to make changes in your radio's memories. You should also make a "quick reference card" listing in a few simple steps how to program your radio. Make several copies, laminate them and always keep one in your wallet and one with your radio.
Now the hard part comes: LISTENING.
On most local repeaters there usually are weekly "nets" where groups of amateur radio operators meet at pre-determined times and on specific days to listen and talk in a controlled situation. Usually there is a "Net Control Operator", whose job it is to make sure there is an orderly flow of communications during that specific net. After you have listened to several of these nets and gotten the general idea of how a net operates, you may wish to check into one. When the net begins, LISTEN to the directions of the net control operator and what they are requesting. The net control operator is like a radio "traffic cop", guiding everyone through a smooth operation of the net. Listen to what they say and respect their directions. Give the requested information and nothing more. Make sure that when the net control operator asks for "check-ins" and asks in a specific manner, that you check-in at the proper time. If the control operator asks for radio operators to check in with callsigns in a group of suffixes, follow their request. The series of letters after the number in your callsign is the suffix. If they ask for callsigns with a suffix of A through N, and you have a suffix that begins with a "P"(such as N2PSG), don't check-in yet. Learn the procedure and wait until it gets to the point where the "O through Z" suffixes are requested. When it comes time, use proper procedure: slowly and clearly say: "This is", then release your push-to-talk switch and listen for a second to see if you and someone else are talking at the same time, called "doubling". If you aren't doubling, then give your callsign, slowly and clearly, using ITU (International Telecommunications Union) phonetics ONLY. (refer to section nine about the REAL ITU phonetic alphabet) Give your name and any other information if requested by the net control operator, speaking as clearly as possible, and then wait. DO NOT interfere with any on-going communications. When called upon, it will be your turn to talk. The first net you check in to, such as a "club information net", will usually be short in duration. Remember that if you are called on to talk further you must ID with your callsign, observing the FCC's "10 minute rule" AND when you are done talking, say "back to net" so people know you have completed your thoughts. After becoming involved in several of these non-emergency nets, you will become much more confident in talking over the radio and gain the knowledge of what is expected of you. You will find a number of these nets to be very interesting, informative and fun!
You will make many "on the air" friends that you will eventually meet should you join any local radio clubs. I suggest that at this point you join a few local radio clubs, attend their meetings, listen to any technical talks that might be given, take notes, and soon you will be able to put faces to the callsigns you hear on the air. These will be the same people you will be working with during emergencies. Ask them any questions you might have concerning programming and operating your equipment and their participation in emergency communications. I am sure you will get plenty of information, some inaccurate, but most will be good solid advice.
Now that you've listened to various net operations and have participated in a few and followed the directions of the net control operator, you are ready to take that next step. But first, a short review. If you don't understand any of the things covered in this section re-read it or contact the "elmer" in your radio club. An "elmer" is a term used to describe an experienced amateur radio operator who makes it a point to assist/teach new amateur radio operators in everything from programming and operating that new rig to assembling a new antenna.
REVIEW of this section:
Listening is the most important part of communicating. Become involved in local "nets" on the radio so you can become aquainted with "net control" operations. Learn the proper way to "check in" to a net. Talk slowly and clearly. See Section nine: "Lots Of Odds and Ends" to learn the right way to use a microphone. (yes, there is a wrong way to use a microphone)Follow the directions of the "Net Control Operator", who acts as a traffic cop by assuring an even flow of communications. "Listen much, talk little". Join and be active in one or more local radio clubs and attend their meetings. Learn and remember all proper communications procedures. Know how your radio works and how to program it. Keep a list of local repeaters in it's memory. Refer to your radio's operations manual often, make a copy of it, and use the copy. Keep the original manual in a safe place.
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Optional assignment: Listen to a few nets on the various repeaters in your area. Write down the list of stations as each one checks in with their callsign. Note how they follow a specific procedure for checkins and operation. Notice how each operator pauses during check in to see if they are doubling with another operator. Also make note that the net control operator gives their ID often.
Ask a fellow club member, who serves as a Net Control Operator during a short non-emergency net, if you can sit in with them as they do an actual net. Ask them if they will allow you to serve as a part-Net Control Operator and do just the check in list at the beginning of the operation. You will find out that even doing this is not as easy as you might think. Write notes when they do the net and ask them any questions you might have about net control operations and net procedures. Re-read this section as it is VERY important that you understand about proper communications procedures.
SECTION THREE : Going Into The Field For A Basic Non-Emergency
You are now ready to put your talents into use. This does NOT mean you are ready to participate in an actual emergency situation. You still need to gain some field experience operating your radio during non-emergency "events". Those clubs that you've joined probably support local community organizations by providing radio communications during events such as a bike race, parade, walk-a-thon, or some other limited-duty one day event. These are called "public service events". When your club asks for radio operators to help out in such an event, SIGN UP!! Don't be apprehensive. We all started out this way. The experience you gain by volunteering for a few of these one-day public service events will be most rewarding. Not only will you be helping out your community, but you will also gain that inner strength that comes from the experience in communicating during these events. There will always be someone in charge of taking down names and callsigns for whatever event you choose to start with. Make sure you tell this person that this will be your first event as an amateur radio operator. Usually, if there are enough operators signed up, you might be paired with an experienced operator. This is a great way to learn from someone who has "been there, done that".
AN EXAMPLE OF A PUBLIC SERVICE EVENT
Let's just say, for example, you signed up for the "Annual Walk-a-thon For Wayward Socks". Before the event, you will be given some basic information, such as the location of the event, length of the walk and where and when you are to report for deployment. MAKE A LARGE SIGN WHICH STATES : "RADIO COMMUNICATIONS " using a computer printer. You will need this placed on the dashboard of your car to identify that you aren't just a regular driver, but a member of the support process of whatever event you are going to. Gather up your radio equipment, including extra batteries if you are using an HT, water, snacks, two pens and a small spiral bound note pad so pages don't become dislodged and lost. If inclement weather is in the forecast a bright colored rain parka is a great idea. Drive to the location for deployment, called a "staging area".
When you reach the communications staging area, there will usually be other ham radio operators you will recognize from your club's membership who have also signed up. Introduce yourself, giving your name and callsign. It's always a good idea to have a "callsign badge" or a hat with your callsign on it. People, myself included, tend to remember callsigns rather than names. Report to the person in charge, usually a ham radio operator, telling them what type of equipment you will be using, either an HT or a mobile unit in your vehicle. You will then be given your assignment. This is the location where you will be stationed and will be based upon your equipment and experience. You will also be given a map of the course with all "radio posts" clearly marked along the route, perhaps an ID badge or shirt and the frequency you will be using, usually a repeater, and a back-up frequency. Write these frequencies down. PROGRAM YOUR RADIO NOW, if you don't already have that repeater, and back up frequency, in the radio's memory.
Do a test transmission with your fellow hams NOW.
Ask any questions you might have concerning the event NOW because once you are at your post it may be too late. Listen and write down other hams' assignments, INCLUDING the callsign of the control operator for the event, since this is the person you will be communicating with 99% of the time. This probably isn't the first time ham radio operators have "worked" this event, so they know the best frequency/repeater to use for maximum coverage. If all you have is an HT (handi-talkie), you'll probably get a fixed, non traveling, assignment closer to the repeater so you can be assured of reliable communications. YOU DID BRING SPARE BATTERIES, DIDN'T YOU?? There might be many assignments, depending upon the number of hams available. Some will be stationed at rest/refreshment areas, which might also be called "check points", along the route. Others will be "shadows". These are hams that will follow specific event officials in case they need to relay some information. Still others will be at the walk's start/finish location. Some radio operators will be on "chase or SAG vehicles" that will follow the event as it winds along the route. Some will be on "pick-up" vehicles, such a bus or van, that will pick up people who can't finish the walk for one reason or another. Another operator might be stationed at any first-aid/ambulance staging area. Then there will be others who might be with any re-stocking vehicles that bring more water/cups/snacks to any checkpoints that may run low. Different public service events will run differently and have different needs. There may not be as many of these assignments as stated. It all depends upon the size of the event, and its participants, the number of radio operators, and any arrangements that were made.
GETTING TO YOUR POST
The person who is in charge of the radio communications for this event will instruct you when it is time to go to your assigned post. Due to streets or areas being closed off for the event, there might be specific directions for getting to your post. Listen to any instructions about taking detours. This will help in getting you to your location easier. The sign on your dashboard, and the antenna on your vehicle, will usually get you through closed streets if necessary. DRIVE VERY SLOWLY and WATCH FOR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, who might be darting in and out of the streets to get to better observation points. Once you have found your "post", park your vehicle in a place that will not hamper the smooth flow of people or support vehicles such as re-stocking vans or emergency vehicles. If you are using your mobile radio in your vehicle, you will have to park "close to the action". This is another reason to have a sign on your vehicle stating: RADIO COMMUNICATIONS. Now is the time to test out your radio equipment, either your mobile or HT radio, from your post. A simple report to your net control operator letting them know you have reached your assigned area will do. When they contact you back, that will prove your communications setup works. The next step is to find the person who is in charge of that location, if it is a check point or rest area, and tell them that you are assigned to that site to provide communications on their behalf to the other race officials and other support services. Sometimes they won't even be aware that a radio operator was to be at their location. Also inform them that if they need any additional supplies or services that it is just a radio call away. Then step back and let them do "their thing" because they, and other volunteers, are probably going to be very busy setting up whatever is involved at that location, such as setting up tables, water, etc.
Because this is a walking event, try to get as clear and as long a view of the course as you can so in the event that someone should require assistance you can see them down the course and they won't have to struggle to get to you for help. The area you are servicing is NOT just that check point/rest area. I don't care what anybody may say to the contrary. You need to watch not only your position, but as far as you can see up and down the course. If you are using your mobile unit in your vehicle, try parking it in such a way as you have as wide a view as possible, even if you have to park in a vacant parking lot across the street from the check point. You must always be aware of this responsibility of coverage during the entire event. Being observant is very important. DO NOT just sit in your vehicle while the event is taking place. This is the sign of a poor operator. Be active. Look around. An observant communicator makes ham radio operators look more professional and increases our value and stature during these events.
Just before the event starts, the net control operator will usually check and contact each radio operator to make sure they are at their posts and can communicate. When the event begins, the net control operator will send out a communications stating that the event has "kicked off". If you are on the course somewhere away from the start/finish line, it might be a while before you see any "action".
You can relax a bit, but always keep an open eye. Quite often the net control operator will ask each radio operator stationed at each check point to call in as the first participants pass by their location. If you listen carefully, and refer to the course map, you will see just how quickly they are moving. When you see the first participants coming down the course towards your area, you know that soon you will be making your first official communications. When they arrive at your site, and if the policy is to contact the net control operator of this, it's your turn to talk. (Sometimes there is a "Lead" vehicle with a radio operator who will report this information) Just slowly say: "Net Control, this is (your callsign or tactical call)" and wait for the net control operator to come back and acknowledge you. (see the red paragraph below about tactical callsigns) DO NOT be upset if they don't come back right away as they might be busy "off air" doing some other duty or getting information. If you don't get a call back from them in a MINUTE, then repeat your communications as was stated above. Once net control has acknowledged you, you can come back to them and state that the first participants have reached your location. Then give BOTH your tactical call and your callsign. That's it!! Your first communications! That was the simple part. Now it gets a bit more complex, but nothing you can't handle.
As the event continues, you might be called upon to send requests on behalf of your check point/rest area for additional supplies. Make sure that you are NOT interrupting any on-going communications. Then you may begin your communications. ALWAYS say "Net Control, this is (your callsign or tactical call)" Again, there are a lot of things going on at this point and the net control operator may not come back and acknowledge you right away. Wait about a minute, then call again. Once they have acknowledged you, then you should give your request. Speak slowly and clearly. Also state your location. I say this because quite often if the net control operator is busy, he/she may not be aware of your location even though they probably have a map listing all locations of radio operators.
USING TACTICAL CALLS: During both public service and emergency events the net control operator may request that you use Tactical Calls to identify. These are usually either a location or vehicle you might be in. Tactical calls make the net control operations easier to keep track of during a hectic operation. If this is the case, then do so. An example would be saying: "Net Control, this is Rest Stop # 3". But remember that this does NOT absolve you from following FCC rules that state you MUST give your callsign when IDing at the end of a series of transmissions and every ten minutes. Since most of your communications during an event will be under ten minutes in duration, this can be simply done on the last transmission in the series by stating your callsign.
Being net control operator can, at times, be a bit hectic. There are also times when they will be relieved for a spell and someone else will be the net control operator. So give your location. If you are unsure of the message being properly received by the net control operator, ask for a verification, called a "read back". A good net control operator will automatically repeat your request just to make sure they understood it. And while you are at it, mark down all requests made by you in your spiral notebook, noting the time. location and actual request and who requested it. If another station is asking a question to the net control operator and you know the answer DO NOT "chime in" with a reply. Remember net protocol. If net control doesn't answer the question then you should address the net control operator and ask for permission before "going direct" with the other station.
I DON'T CARE WHO SAID WHAT DURING ANY OTHER TRAINING YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD, if it appears to you that your location is running low on water, ASK the person incharge of that location if they'd like you to send a radio request for more. Sometimes they may be so busy attending to other things they won't notice it. Tell them that the reason you ask is that it will probably take a while for the supplies to be delivered. The re-supply vehicle might be driving VERY slow due to the streets being clogged with participants OR it might be making other drops. Dehydration during an event is a common problem. Your observing low water supplies might prevent a medical emergency. Be observant. Check water supplies often.
Now the event is in full swing. Other radio operators are calling net control with updates on where the first participants are or any other information requested by the net control operator. Others might be requesting supplies or a vehicle to pick up anyone who gets fatigued along the route. This is when you must be very observant. At times there might be a great swell of people, perhaps hundreds, walking past your location. Look up and down the route. Make sure that everything is going well. If you see someone sitting on the side of the route looking tired, you may wish to ask them if they need a ride back to the finish line. If they do, call net control, and after getting their acknowledgment, inform them that there is someone who needs a ride, giving their exact location including the main street, any cross streets and any outstanding landmarks. The same thing applies for anyone who gets injured. DO NOT attempt any first aid other than, perhaps, offering water. It is not your responsibility to administer first aid unless you are both trained and qualified. Just pass the information ("traffic") to the net control station.
DO NOT jump into the street and try to direct traffic or walkers. This is NOT your responsibility and doing this might cause a "black eye" for amatuer radio communicators. AKA: Don't act like a jerk!! There have been a few cases, in different parts of the country, where one or two over-zealous hams have acted in an unprofessional manner and because of their actions ham radio operators are no longer invited to participate in that area's public service events. If you are approached by people who seem interested in what you are doing, tell them all about the wonderful things ham radio has to offer! It's your turn to be a salesman for amateur radio.
While you are doing all of this, it pays keep a mental note whenever you see either a supply truck, "pick-up" or emergency vehicle pass or stop at your location. There may be some point during the operation where the net control operator will ask ("poll") all the radio operators to see if someone has seen "such-and-such" vehicle. If it has passed your point, or if it is currently there, relay this to net control using the proper communications procedure. Some vehicles might not have radio operators with them and will rely on directions from you and others. It will be rare, but it will happen, when in the middle of a communications the net control operator asks you to "go direct" with another operator in order to pass information. Do so in a professional manner. When you are done passing that traffic, respond to net control by saying : "This is (your callsign), back to net". By doing this, you have properly ID'd and have let everyone know that your direct communications with another radio operator is done. If you are listening to communications and net control tells two other stations to "go direct", DO NOT interfere with any other type of communications you might have, EXCEPT IF YOU HAVE DIRE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS. There will be plenty of time to pass any routine traffic you have after the two stations have finished ("cleared"). Also be aware that if you are talking to net control and another radio operator breaks in and says "emergency", YOU ARE TO STOP TALKING. Emergency communications have top priority over EVERYTHING. Just wait until you are sure that the emergency traffic has cleared before trying to re-establish contact with net control to finish your communications.
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Now the walk-a-thon is slowly winding down and you've passed a few messages asking for additional supplies that came and were a big help. You've also heard that the last of the walkers have gone by the check point just before yours. This means that your part as a communicator for this event is coming to a close. BUT NOT YET !! Usually the people who are in the final groups to travel the route are those who might have "bit off more than they could chew", families who might be pushing strollers or even people in wheelchairs. This is a time when you should remain attentive and watchful. There might be a person or two, who when they reach your location, decide that they can't continue. Of course, by now, you know exactly what to do. You call in to the net control operator and inform them that you have people who cannot finish the walk and need to be picked up.
There might be a vehicle that trails the last of the walkers. (Sometimes called a "Tail" vehicle) When this vehicle passes your point, you should again contact net control and inform them of that fact. At this point in the event, you might think you'd be done. This is NOT the case. After the last of the people have passed, there still remains for the people who volunteered to work at that location to "break" it down... or in other words, pack up the leftovers. Usually they just either box it up and pack it into their vehicles or leave it stacked for a truck that will come by later to pick it up. This might be about the time where the net control operator calls to tell you that you can now either come back to the staging area or leave your post and travel back home, called "standing down". DO NOT DO THIS. Yes, that's what I said. Do not leave your location until those people whom you've called in to net control to get a ride actually get the transportation they need. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER leave a participant by themselves. Our communications duties REQUIRE us to look after anyone on the route. To do less is morally wrong, NO MATTER WHAT YOU WERE TAUGHT IN ANY OTHER TRAINING. Only after all the participants have been taken care of will you be absolved of your communications duties. Can you imagine if you left, just because net control said you could, and there is a person or two stuck at your site? What if one of them is close to heat exhaustion? Rather you should be a professional and wait those extra few minutes to make sure they are picked up.
Well, now you finally were able to "stand down" and are returning to the communications staging area for a short de-briefing. Drive VERY slowly and carefully as there will still be many people in your area and the areas along your return path. At the de-briefing, tell them your observations and ideas, using the notes of communications, etc. that you made in your small spiral-bound notebook. We, as communicators, always try to improve our operation. You might also have input that would make next year's event run better, such as if possible relocating the check point/rest area to another parking lot so people have better access. Your input, and the actual communications help you provided to make the event successful, is greatly appreciated by everyone.
The same basic principles can be applied to many other events, such as parades, special events at parks, minor sporting events, etc. The main reason you would be at any of these would be to supply either primary or seconadry communications. There are times when organizations will be using a limited amount of either rented handi-talkies or GMRS type radios. In most cases the people with these radios are untrained in communications. The amateur radio operators will really stand out if proper procedures and a professional attitude are maintained. As you volunteer and turn out for more and more public service events you will become at ease with the communications duties and operating procedures. This self-assurance will go a long way in helping you communicate during emergency events.
REVIEW of this section:
Getting your "feet wet" by helping out with communications during "public service" events is a good way to develop communications skills in a less stressful environment.
Test your radio at the "staging area", BEFORE you are deployed, so you can be sure you have the right frequencies in your radio's memory. Listen to the requests of the net control operator and follow their directions. DO NOT interrupt any emergency communications that might take place. Be observant of all that is taking place around you. Keep notes of all information you send, noting date and time. Send each request exactly as it is given to you. Add NOTHING except your callsign. A "RADIO COMMUNICATIONS" sign, printed and displayed on your dashboard, will assist you in SLOWLY driving to your location for deployment. NEVER leave your post until ALL participants have passed your deployment area and are out of view. Be active and visible. DO NOT just sit in your vehicle. Re-read this section again, just in case you missed a point or two.
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Optional assignment: Talk to several radio operators who have been active during public service events. Ask them how they felt and what they did on their first assignment. Ask if they could have handled something differently and what they learned from the event. If you feel comfortable with one, ask to be assigned with them on your first communications detail. If there are any small public service events in your area sign up for one. After you have "worked" one refer to the next section so you can be ready for your second public service event.
SECTION FOUR: Licking Your Wounds
Now that this event is over and you've gotten a taste of communications during your first non-emergency event, you need to do a little self-evaluation. What did you learn from this experience? One thing you might have learned is that if you are operating using your mobile rig in your vehicle, it is hard to monitor communications. If net control tries to call you when you are out of the vehicle you may not be able to hear them. The answer: Buy an inexpensive external speaker that you can plug in your radio and place the speaker on the roof or hood of your car/truck facing the direction you will be standing. With the volume turned up, it should supply more than enough audio to overcome all the extraneous noise from your location. You will also become atuned to your callsign or tactical call when it is announced by the net control operator. By now, you've also learned that keeping the microphone poised at the window will prevent you from having to enter your vehicle each time you have to make a call on your radio. Not to worry, the "duty cycle" of your radio communuications will be very small and the drain on your vehicle's battery during your public service event will not be a problem. (Unless you have a poor vehicle battery to begin with)
If you used an HT, you might have learned that it would make a world of difference if you bought a belt-clip to hold your radio on your belt AND a speaker/mic that can be clipped to your shirt near one of your shoulders, just a bit below mouth-level, so all you have to do is press it's PTT (push-to-talk) switch. No fumbling around, it leaves your hands free AND it makes the communications easier to hear in noisy areas. While you are at it, buy a longer (at least 15 inches) FLEXIBLE antenna to use with your HT. It will make "hitting" the repeater easier. Some other suggestions might be to check with your fellow hams about getting a "battery bag" for your HT. This is a bag with a shoulder strap that contains a small, rechargeable gel-cell type battery (4-7 amp-hours) and can be plugged into your HT. This will supply power for a much greater time, usually days, so no battery switching will be needed. Not all HTs have an "external power input"... This is an option you will need to think about when you buy an HT. You've probably also learned that those cute little HTs that put out 300 milliwatts are just toys. For dedicated communications work you need a sturdy 5 watt handi-talkie, with a good antenna, to effectively do communications work.
As far as your personal comforts are concerned, perhaps next time bring an extra salty snack as you are not immune to dehydration, a little more water and some other clothing as the weather might change during the event. How about another hat? Some handi-wipes for when you spilled soda on yourself? Sunglasses...yes. That will save you a headache. Speaking about headaches, how about some type of pain reliever like aspirin or such? Do you know what you are doing? You are slowly composing what we call a "go-bag" for a one day event. All the things you need for personal comfort and to aid your communications! Assemble all these items in a bag, with a strap, that you can carry with you in case your assignment is, say, that of walking around with a race official. We call that assignment a "shadow". Wear comfortable shoes if you know you are going to be someone's shadow . There is a detailed discussion about "go bag" items in section seven.
REVIEW of this section:
Develop a "go bag" that will contain all the supplies and comforts needed to carry out your basic communications duties. Review the list above and check it again after reading "List of Essentials", located in section seven.* Before you do this, do the optional assignment below. It is better to have too much than too little. Use a longer antenna on your HT to maintain reliable communications. Make sure you have enough battery power to fulfill your communications needs. An HT that relies on "AA" batteries is better than one that needs special battery packs. Use an HT that supplies enough power, 4-6 watts, to reach the repeater you are using. A speaker/mic with your HT makes communicating much easier in noisy locations. An external speaker, located outside your vehicle, allows you more flexability when using a mobile radio instead of an HT. After each event do a self-evaluation so you can improve your "go bag" and your communications procedures. Listen to any suggestions of more experienced operators to see if you need to make any corrections or additions. There will be many additions to prepare for your deployment during a terrorist event.
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Optional assignment: Make a list of items you think should be included in a "go bag". Place this list aside and after you have read sections five thru seven, compare the list to the items after completing the optional assignment which follows section seven. Check out longer whip antennas for your HT from various radio dealers. Make sure the one you choose is at least 15 inches long and FLEXIBLE so it won't break if you "sit" on your radio.
SECTION FIVE : DO IT AGAIN (and again)
So with one public service event under your belt, you are gaining the understanding and knowledge that evolves with becoming a communications professional. YES, Read that last word: "professional". A professional isn't someone who gets paid. A professional is a person who becomes trained and learns to do a superior job. You are on the right road to becoming a professional in providing communications for public service events, and later, during emergencies. I also said "becoming" because you need to experience other public service events in your area that use amateur radio communications.
You did a great job during that casual walk-a-thon, but what about, say, a marathon? That is a slightly different event where people actually compete, sometimes for awards or money prizes. The New York City Marathon, for example, avails themselves with the help of over 300 ham radio operators to provide communications along the over 26 mile course. I know, several years ago I was one of them. That is a lot of area to cover. In simplest terms, however, it is much like that walk-a-thon you helped out on. Many runners instead of walkers, many, many water stops, tens of thousands of bottles of water, hundreds of thousands of cups, emergency issues and countless other things that need attention. You might think that this is an super-human feat that needs to be accomplished, BUT, when you break each coverage area down, it isn't that big a problem.
When you do communications for a marathon, you will usually be deployed at a location to see that the needs of the runners are accommodated by communicating requests for water and other supplies, watching for fallen runners and calling net control for first aid when needed. Doesn't that kind of sound like the same thing that went on during the walk-a-thon? Yes, it is, with a few minor differences. In a marathon, the runners are in a race, so they definitely don't want to get involved in a chat, or even stop. There will be lines of helpers stationed along the course to simply hand out cups of water and other fluids that runners will grab along the way, usually dumping empty bottles and cups as they run. What a clean-up job!!! Be glad you aren't on that detail! The officials at each site will be asking you to send re-supply requests, so make yourself very visable, but DO NOT get in the way of any runner!! There will be some amount of stress associated with the seriousness of an actual race. Don't worry, you'll do fine as long as you remember all what you have read so far, and will read in later sections, AND have experienced in your previous event. So many of the same duties will be handled by radio communicators: riding in a SAG vehicle, being on a re-supply vehicle or "pick up" vehicle, being a shadow or being at the check points. But out of all of these, the "chief" is still the NET CONTROL OPERATOR. Listen to their directions and follow them.
Make notes in your book in case there is a question during your de-briefing. Do a self-evaluation after the event is over when you can review things in your head. What could you have done better? What other supplies do you need to include in your "go bag"? Perhaps you need to purchase an orange vest so you can be easily seen? "Communications? Yeah, See the guy in the orange vest". It is always nice to document the public service event you are supporting so you may wish to take a few photos to bring to your next emergency communications group's meeting. (before you do, read the paragraphs about taking photos in section sixteen) As you answer these questions, and as you become involved in events such as these, you will learn much more than any course can ever hope to teach you. Being "in the trenches" is always the best teacher as long as you keep your eyes and your mind open
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REVIEW of this section:
Each event you participate in as a communicator will have it's own unique set of parameters. Be flexible, yet maintain the standard communications procedures you have been trained for. Being "in the trenches" is the best teacher. Make sure you introduce yourself to the person in charge of your site. Do not interfere with any on-going event participants. No directing traffic or any duty not within the realm of communications. Be visible at all times. Always do a self-evaluation after each event. Try to volunteer for as many DIFFERENT public service events as possible so you can experience the differences and similarities in each deployment. Add to your "go bag" any additional items you feel necessary to improve personal comfort and communications efficiency and keep "dated" items, such as batteries or food bars, fresh.
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Optional assignment: List what you think are the important differences between communications support for a marathon and for a parade. List the similarities. Why is supplying water of utmost concern during any type of event requiring walking, biking or running? Why is it important to stay out of "harm's way" during a marathon? If you don't know the answers, re-read the section above. Try to be involved in as many different public service events as your time allows. This will increase your skill level and confidence.
SECTION SIX: FINDING YOUR WAY
So now you have several public events under your belt and have gained the experience needed to start on your "emergency communications journey". The next step is to find whatever emergency communications groups are in your area. There are probably several, each with different affiliations and specialties. The best way to learn about these organizations, and how to contact them, would be to ask at those radio clubs you are a member of. There will be hams who attend those club meetings who are members of one or more emergency communications groups. Some groups that involve themselves in emergency communications : REACT, SATURN,ARES, RACES and more. You might even find that high level members in such organizations are sitting next to you at your club meetings! If, by now, they haven't given some sort of presentation at your club's meetings, then SHAME ON THEM. Each radio club offers a vast cadre of operators, some of whom might wish to be a part of an emergency services group. It is unfortunate that there are locations in our country that such groups can act very "cliquish" and think that only a few hams are "worthy" to be a member in their group or attend their meetings.
To them I say: "GROW UP. You don't know everything and you will never have enough manpower if a wide scale emergency befalls your area especially during a terrorist event. It is your moral responsibility to enlist as many radio operators as possible. It is your responsibility to help train them in CURRENT emergency response techniques. If you did your job properly I wouldn't be writing this entire manual/course."
Also, remember that physically challenged ham radio operators make very good relay stations, loggers, relief net control operators and are very good listeners. They don't have to be "in harm's way" to do a tremendously important job during an emergency. Use them to the fullest extent of their abilities. They will surprize you!!
After you have made a list of organizations, research each one carefully. See if they have an adequate operational structure. How do you know? Well, talk to several people in each group who are part of the "chain of command". See if they are all on the "same wavelength", that is, see if they all unveil to you the main purpose of their organization, the "served agencies" and the system and means to carry out that purpose. (By the way, we DO NOT "serve" anyone.... we are NOT waiters. We are communications operators and we WORK WITH agencies as part of a team) Some groups may work with agencies like the Salvation Army or Red Cross. See how strong the connection is.
Red Cross offers many courses that you might wish to attend. You need not become a "Shelter Manager" just because you took their Shelter Mangement course, but you will gain a better understanding of shelter operations. This will help you to better interface with a Shelter Manager if you are assigned a duty post there. Check with your local Red Cross chapter for more information.
Another training resource is CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). This is a training program not just for communicators but also for the public. People from many walks of life go through this training as CERT teams will be called upon to assist when due to a wide-scale problem there aren't enough fire, police or rescue workers to fill all the tasks which might be required. CERT training teaches how to do "cribbing" to remove a victim trapped under rubble, basic first aid, going into a smoke-filled structure to assist those trapped and more. The hands-on drills are a good measure of what may present itsellf in real life. You are usually given basic CERT supplies to help you after the training process has been completed. I suggest that if there is a CERT training program in your area that you take it and be involved in periodic CERT test drills.
Under emergency conditions, radio operators are called upon to "man" evacuation centers. These are places, also called "shelters", that people can come to when they need a place to stay for a while. These shelters may be "activated" (started) by the Red Cross, Salvation Army or many other helping groups and will need communications. They supply the cots and food, we supply the "tongue". Most of the time, thanks to pre-made agreements, these shelters will be located in churches, schools and other large public buildings. Your emergency communications group will have a list of these possible sites could be opened depending upon the size and severity of the emergency.
GETTING TO YOUR SITE IN AN EMERGENCY
So, you've joined some emergency support group, taken some training and even done a few drills. That's great! Your equipment is ready. You're ready. But, "Murphy" has other ideas. Whether you're a member of ARES, RACES, SATERN, REACT, CERT or any other group, you need to do more homework than what they've suggested. What good is all your equipment, training and confidence if you can't get to a deployment site? Unfortunately, I've never seen any group adequately cover one of the most important steps in emergency communications: Getting volunteers to their final destinations as quickly and as safely as possible. Although this is especially true during natural disasters such as winter storms, hurricanes or intense periods of rain which produce almost catastrophic flooding, it can also encompass volunteers who attempt to deploy during other events such as wildfire emergencies. Can you imagine deploying to a wildfire disaster and almost getting trapped by the flames because no one told you the extent or the range of the fire? Well, it happened to me when I, with others, attempted to deploy during the Long Island wildfires a number of years ago. We were armed with everything we thought we needed.... except up-to-date information. No maps or directions were given so there we were "driving by the seat of our pants" in the dead of the night into what almost was a catastrophe for us all. Luckily, we back tracked and took the long way around finally reaching our deployment points.
Everyone was to blame for this screw-up. We, as seasoned veterans of dozens of emergencies, were at fault because in our zeal to respond, we never thought to ask for additional information concerning the safest route or the extent of the wildfire. Our EC was also at fault for not automatically supplying us with any information other than the locations at which to deploy. This has always been a bone of contention with me. When deploying, it is the responsibility of every radio officer or EC to supply enough information (including at times MAPS labeled with deployment and "fall back" points) and possible "pitfalls" whenever we are asked to go near "harm's way". Notice, I also listed "fall back" points or locations? In emergency mode you have backup repeaters and simplex frequencies which are known to your group. You better also have backup locations which are known because, as an example, during that same wildfire event we had to evacuate from the deployed shelter due to shifting winds which caused the fire to endanger that location. Without the proper information, I had to make a very strong suggestion to the shelter manager with an alternate shelter option. (Another school within that same district which had an MOU with Red Cross) I shouldn't have needed to do this, but the needs at the time, plus the lack of experience on the part of the shelter manager, made it vital that another location be quickly found. As we drove off to the alternate location, looking through my rear view mirror, I never saw flames as high as during this event.
Hopefully, you've read a lot of this book so you won't make the same dumb, and dangerous, mistakes we did. Being ready, equipped, trained, experienced and eager is not enough. You also need to be ARMED with as much information as possible. This information can either be given to you OR you need to do your homework and arm yourself. If you aren't given what you feel is adequate information...ASK!
Let's leave the wildfire event and talk about another emergency which is more likely to happen in almost any place in the country. That is, any disaster which might have the element of severe flooding. This might occur during a hurricane, a stalled front which drops heavy rain over a prolonged period of time or even quick spring snow thaws. You might be lucky enough to have a home which is situated high above any possible flood plain. But what if you want to provide communications or some other form of help to either your local community or region? You still have to get there.
According to "Mr. Murphy", the shortest route will almost always be the most hazardous. To circumvent this, you'll need to do some investigation of the terrain between your home and any/all possible deployment locations. As a start, in Texas, as in many other states, you'll find marked "flood gauges" on low areas of highways that are subject to flooding situations. This is all well and good, IF, they are all properly marked AND the sticks are in place to begin with. So what do you do with this very basic information? You need to get a detailed map of your county and perhaps the surrounding counties. (If you are limited in your deployment ability range, you may wish to use a smaller coverage map. In any event, make sure any map you use is as detailed as possible.) This will become your own personal "Master Deployment Map". First, mark all important locations... those where you might deploy to, hospitals, etc. Also on this map, you should mark all those possible road flooding points (using a different color marker). By doing this, you are already better prepared to deploy than 99% of EmComm ops. This is a much better start, but not a finish. Next, you'll need to investigate fragile points by using several options. One is to visit your local fire departments and talk to the veterans about any "high water rescues" and see where they were. If these locations were flooded before, chances are that they will be flooded again. Mark these locations on that map (use different colored markers so you can distinguish the difference).
Hooray for the Internet! This is a valuable tool in finishing off that map. Do a "Google" image search for pictures of flooded areas near your location and points between all possible shelters or locations you might be assigned to. Usually these images are also marked with locations, so mark these on your map.(again, another color) Again on the Internet, look up the terms "storm surge", "inundation" and "flooding" to see how they relate to locations within your area and mark on your map any additional points such as flood plains, dams, etc. as needed. You might also wish to check at your local library for old issues of local papers regarding past major flooding. If you see any locations where you've placed more than one color mark, than you know this is a very fragile location and it would be best if you avoided it. ALSO... mark on that map all the main evacuation routes either out of your area or, if you are located inland, into your area. Theses are also areas that you may wish to avoid because they might be jammed with evacuees. Ok, now I've overlooked one very important resource when it comes to flooding. That resource are you neighbors. The ones who've been living in your neighborhood for years. They can be a vital source of information. Ask them about any flooding over the years. Heed their advice. Make more marks on that map. If you live in a state or area prone to mudslides, mark those hazards too.
So, now what are you left with? A map that's worth it's weight in gold. A map that could make your deployment much easier. You'll be armed with information so you can decide which might be the best route (and alternate) to any deployment location and what areas to avoid due to flooding or congested evacuation routes. This map becomes doubly valuable in case you need to redeploy or evacuate from your current shelter or deployment area to another location. When you do deploy, do so with extreme caution. Don't attempt to cross streets which appear flooded, if you can't see the pavement lines or if water is flowing. You don't wish to add to the problem by becoming a flooding victim.
You might, if asked by net control, relay spots to avoid when your fellow volunteers are deploying by using your detailed map as a guide. Now that you've done this with a local area map (covering your county and surrounding areas), you should do the same with a regional map (covering most of your state or region). Time to do something else.... Make a copy of each map. It's always good to have a backup and maps are a cheap, yet vital, investment.
You may wish to talk to either your service group or EC to do this as a project with all the members in your group. Creating these maps is a great training project. This way, everyone will have their own map and in doing so it will also aquaint everyone with the terrain they might be traversing. DO NOT leave it to a committee as they never get anything done. Remember, it's your butt out there, so GET IT DONE even if you have to do it yourself!
After posting this webpage, I received an email from an EmComm volunteer in South Central Texas who was told by their ARES AEC that they should "pick up a map from a store on the way to their deployment location". WHAT??? You've got to be kidding! I had to read that email twice to believe it. This, from an AEC??!! That person should be fired! How dangerously lazy and stupid a concept! Sure... It's not their butt out there, it's yours. Still another email outlined a serious problem when, in California, a large CERT group was asked to deploy during a large scale event and map supplies at every store were depleted. How, even if you could get your hands on maps, would they be as useful, being void of all hazard locations, as that map you should have which outlines flood plains, low areas, possible shelters, etc? Don't wait until you're on your way to a site or at the end of "hurricane season". DO IT NOW!.
By the way.... You might also need to consult your map to get back home as the route you chose to get to an area may become impassable later due to continued rains or flooding. And for all you techies... GPS may tell you where you are, but not where all the flooded routes are. To shorten a quote from another emailer: "A map with a hole through it is still a map, a GPS with a hole through it is a piece of junk!"
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Your emergency communications organization will not be the one who opens shelters. That determination will be made by other people. Your radio organization WILL support each shelter that opens by supplying trained communicators. Once you have looked into the emergency communications organizations in your area, pick one that will allow you to grow, train you a bit, is active in tests and drills, welcomes new volunteers and responds the best to the community's needs. Don't pick a poorly organized group, one that lacks the ability or time to become productively involved or attempts to instruct you using old techniques that are no longer valid in today's world. Some of these groups seem like ghosts and are merely used to inflate egos. Pass them by. Take a good look at each organization's "track record". Do not rely on making a decision based upon their propaganda. The team you choose to be a part of will determine how the radio world and the public will see you, ie: "You're known by the company you keep."
For example, let's say you've chosen to enroll in the "Emergency Messaging Amateur Radio" or EMAR group. You've heard some nice things about them, such as their ability to effectively handle communications on behalf of the "International Community Support Services" during the last major hurricane in your area. After speaking to the EMAR's Radio Training Officer, he's invited you to join them at their next general meeting. The meeting will run along the lines of the radio club meetings that you've attended, so there won't be that much of a surprize. However, instead of the normal speaker that might be lined up to talk at a radio club meeting, you will have someone speak about training, such as how to assemble a "go bag", build a "J"pole antenna or perhaps review emergency on-the-air procedures. Then you might be asked to participate in a round-robin of simple traffic handling..... The moderator will whisper some information in the first member's ear. He will write down the information, then relay the information, via whispering, to the next person who will do the same, and so on down the line for about 4 people. The last person, who has written down the information he received, will then compare his information with the original traffic. This might just be a list of supplies for a shelter. After the comparison has been made, a critique of the procedure will take place. Although very crude, this is a great way to learn how to pass information exactly as heard and get to know the members of this group. Then they might talk about any emergency equipment they have "on the ready" or perhaps an actual radio room that is at their "command center" or EOC, Emergency Operations Center. An Emergency Operations Center is usually located near, or with, other agencies and has access to local governmental officials who make decisions during emergencies..
Hopefully, your emergency communications group will start to supply you with handouts about how they operate and a quick synopsis of what they do during an event. If you decide to actually join, they will have you fill out some paperwork, giving them information about you, your phone contact numbers in case you need to be "called out", and a list of the equipment you have on hand and other equipment you know how to operate. I'm sure that if they are an efficient group, they will also have a local repeater that they use during most events. PROGRAM IT IN YOUR RADIO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. They probably will wish to give you some sort of introductory training on exactly how they operate. Hopefully, you will "turn out" for any "test drills" they have. Treat any drill as a REAL EVENT. These drills will uncover any weakenss in their system or your own operation. They are learning events, so don't worry if you aren't perfect. All anyone can ask is that you do your best. By you being involved, they will soon see that you are going to be a sincere and dedicated radio operator. It will be at this point that you will be issued an official ID card or laminated badge with your picture on it that identifies you as a member of that group. This ID will help you get through any "off limits" areas or routes when you do your emergency communications duty. DO NOT ABUSE THIS. The way you conduct yourself will be a reflection on the entire communications group and ham radio operators in general.
At some point, you might be issued a shirt "uniform", with a distinctive patch that will also identify you as a communicator and will make you easier to spot by other officials. Some of the more effective emergency radio organizations allow you to rent one of their "pagers" that will beep during a "callup". It is ONLY used for this purpose, so you know that if it signals, there is an emergency or drill, and you will be required to check into their emergency net for further details.
After taking part in disaster drills and training, you will get to know the personalities of the other radio operators, how they talk and what any inflections in their voices might tell you. This is very important to learn, as their "stress level" might give you some indication of the seriousness of the event.
You might notice that NO WHERE in this discussion have I mentioned any of the "official" traffic handling procedures that might be drummed into the heads of radio operators with this junk being professed in other emergency lessons. Those old-fashioned traffic handling procedures might be fine for Aunt Tilly sending birthday greetings via amateur radio. They fall far short of relaying VITAL information to and from a Net Control Operator and radio operators out in the trenches during emergencies. I have NEVER used any of that format garbage during any local emergency communications, not even back during the earthquake in Alaska. It makes me both laugh and cringe when I hear groups dwelling on this during training. My guess is they dwell on this because they really have no idea what emergency communications is all about or what to teach you. The MOST important truth is that you get the right information to the Net Control Operator. From there, it will remain up to the Net Control Operator, and others, to decide it's next destination and format. It is up to YOU to send the information just as requested. Do not add any personal comments or opinions. Most of the communications you will be transmitting during an emergency event will involve re-stocking of a shelter, reporting the number of people in the shelter, requesting a nurse or social worker or some other similiar request. These do not need to be in any official "formatted" plan, they just need to be passed accurately.
REVIEW of this section:
Investigate all the emergency communications groups in your area and try to find one that has a record of efficient communications during past emergency events. Join one that trains and is active in a productive way using current communications procedures and not out-dated techniques. Forget about that NTS rubbish a "national" organization tries to ram down your throat, you'll never use it in a local emergency. Be involved in as many tests and drills as possible. Make sure you program into your radio their most often used frequencies. When you are issued an ID, do not abuse it's privilages. Be a professional at all times, both on the air and off, as it reflects on the entire ham radio community.
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Optional assignment: After contacting them, investigate and list the similarities of the various emergency communications groups in your area, such as ARES, RACES, SATURN and REACT. List the differences. Which one has an active, proven track record in your area? What agencies do they support by providing emergency communications? Which one(s) support new hams with official memberships, IDs and training? Check out your local Red Cross chapter and see if they offer training courses and find out what is covered in each course. Take one or two courses so you can be familiar with how Red Cross operates. Take the CERT Training when it is available in your area and be kept up-to-date by periodic CERT drills.
SECTION SEVEN : Before "IT" Hits (A NATURAL DISASTER)
Time to take a break in the sequential list of training and education. Before you dive into an emergency communications operation, you have to make sure that you will have on hand all the necessary equipment and other vital supplies to carry out your duty in an efficient and timely manner. Therefore, I have included the following section on a "List Of Essentials". Read it carefully. It will help you in choosing the proper equipment and supplies.
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But, along with the ability to talk around the world also comes the RESPONSIBILITY to help your fellow man. Using these same frequencies and using this same equipment, we are morally bound to help during times of need, such as in the aftermath of a hurricane or other severe weather. We are charged with also helping during other sad events, such as during a terrorist attack or an earthquake. EVERY amateur radio operator needs to plan, prepare and train to use their communications equipment and experience if there is either a local or national emergency where normal means of communications become overloaded or inoperable.
As an example, on September 11, 2001, we Americans awoke to the jolting fact that we can no longer think of ourselves as protected from the wrath of others just because the United States is partially isolated by two oceans. For the first time since Pearl Harbor, major attacks by non-citizens were committed on American soil. Along with the attacks we learned plenty of cold, hard facts. The first, and most important, is that we are woefully unprepared to meet the challenges of terrorism. In every aspect of life, we are unprepared.
As reported by the Department Of Homeland Security on June 16, 2006 (And almost entirely ignored by the press):
"Although our Nation's emergency services are the finest in the world, they labor under a handicap imposed by outmoded planning processes that are ill-suited to modern homeland security challenges."
Catching up is very difficult, expensive and time consuming, but it must be done, and done properly, or the next disaster will be beyond description. If it isn't done properly, we will have a hollow self-confidence which will end up biting us in the ass when another "9/11" takes place. The creation of a Department Of Homeland Security was a good start, but other support areas need much more work. Some agencies have scrambled to update their existing plans and philosophies on how to deal with external threats. They have done this mainly by adding to the old principles that were already in place, most of them being developed during the beginning of the "cold war era" many years ago. Accomplishing the task in this manner is a disasterous mistake. Even non-ham radio training, such as courses offered by Red Cross, are out of step with what needs to be taught today. I've taken many training courses back in the pre-WTC 9/11 era only to see that when I've retaken them now, they are virtually identical in both content and mistakes. They prepare and protect no one. The reason for this failure is because the wrong people are creating the training programs. Just because someone has the "title" does NOT make them all-knowing. I'd rather trust "old salts" than "new badges".
We, as amateur radio operators, desperately need to start from scratch in both the fields of preparedness and communications if we are to remain ahead of the challenges which could be thrust upon us at any moment. Old rules and old training no longer are appropriate. Anyone who thinks that by dusting off some outdated training manuals or adding a few paragraphs here and there to existing guides will make training adequate during a terrorist event is living in a fantasy world. These people or groups are both blind and foolish. This includes the "new" ARRL EMCOMM training courses. Harsh words? Perhaps. But how harsh the penalty of not being properly prepared and trained for the next event? Many lives may hang in the balance of how properly we perform our emergency communications duties.
Parameters have changed to such an extent that we need to be trained differently and become ready in the latest aspects of emergency communications. This can partially be accomplished by listening to progressive and experienced communicators in developing both the training and the means to properly support their communities during events such as terrorist attacks.
Those of us who have actually been in the "terrorist trenches" of emergency communications can tell you one thing: Old rules no longer apply and if adhered to can be possibly dangerous. It is also important for everyone to realize that unless you've "eaten dirt" in emergency communications (and not just being deployed in some shelter during a hurricane) you have no business training others by writing, theorizing and instructing. Those who have developed training programs without actually having been confronted with real emergencies have little truths to offer and little in the way of guiding new communicators. In some respects, they do more harm than good by giving a false sense of security when EmComm workers assume they've been properly trained.
Serious experience isn't deploying to some shelter and reporting. (Although manning shelters is a vital cog in the complete emergency communications program and anyone who deploys to these shelters is owed a debt of gratitude.) What I mean by serious experience is literally being a first responder getting dirty, getting near or in harm's way to supply communications "in the eye of the storm".) It's a shame that when some groups were developing their brand of training all the "badge polishers" and "good ole boys" never stopped to ask for the knowledge gained from experienced emergency communicators. They took it upon themselves to dictate what is taught. In a great deal of cases what they teach is either wrong or has no bearing on what emergency communicators need to know. This book is attempting to correct very serious errors by giving you information based on real-world experiences during hurricanes, winter storms, wildfires, plane crashes, search and rescue and terrorism.
As a basic example concerning preparedness, until 2001, we usually had a window of time to prepare for most events, such as hurricanes, winter storms, flooding and the threat of growing wildfires. We had the luxury of time to charge batteries, assemble and check our equipment and run to the store to get needed supplies to "top off" our go-bags. You'd usually see a hurricane coming days away as it would cross some ocean or gulf, track it's progress and prepare accordingly. Wildfires take time to build in their coverage and intensity. To be sure, there are events we've assisted in that were quick to bloom, such as an earthquake, but these are in the minority. Even a search and rescue mission has a window of time in which to prepare. It might be a smaller amount of time, but it does exist. What DOES NOT exist is any window of time when a terrorist event takes place. It might also be the "first wave" in a series of terrorist strikes such as the series during "9/11".
We must develop a philosophy quite like that used by fire departments which is to always be trained and ready with everything we need on hand. "Grab and Go" should be the rule. In my home, I have a "Grab and Go" bag with everything that I assume would be needed to assist in emergency communications, including during a terrorist attack. It is in the same location as my "Grab and Go" CERT backpack. Ready. Waiting. We no longer have the luxury of time to become prepared. Later in this series I go through "What To Have Before You Go" and exactly why. This is not just a list as you might expect from another short-sighted" training source, but a detailed explanation all the components needed to do your communications job.
However, just having adequate "hardware" and supplies is not enough. Along with the proper tools to handle a terrorist event or a weather related disaster comes the training (not just reading a course or doing some tabletop exercises) and a totally new and different philosophy in emergency communications response. Being the first emergency communications responder deployed at "ground zero" during the WTC 9/11 attacks, I've had a unique "baptism by fire". In being faced with the new challenges forced upon me, I've developed ideas and principles that were never covered in training by any emergency communications group. I had to do this to both survive and properly carry out my communications responsibilities. I also learned from this event, and many others I have been a part of, that there were dozens of things covered in the popular training manuals that were glaringly wrong. Most of these courses and manuals are stuck in the "60's attitude" and were written by people who've never been faced with real-life events. In some respects supplying emergency communications in the field is like fighting a war. In today's climate you don't fight a battle using 1960's (or even 1990's) equipment, experience or training. You use up-to-date hardware and support supplies and materials to go with up-to date techniques.
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MENTAL PREPAREDNESS
Mental preparedness is just as important as communications training. Just about anyone can learn how to properly use a radio or set up a communications post. However, without the mental toughness to perform under such stressful situations such as being surrounded by needless death and destruction, you could quickly withdraw into an "emotional shell" and in doing so this would cripple your ability to be an effective communicator.
No one can give you a present of "mental toughness", but later in this book I will show you ways to combat your fears. If, after reading the section on mental and emotional preparedness, you feel that you cannot cope with the mental and emotional stress of being "on the front lines", then inform your EC or whomever is responsible for deploying your group that you cannot work faced with this sorrow. They will understand and use your talents elsewhere, such as supplying communications support in a shelter or will allow you to do support work in some other non-stressful atmosphere. Everyone, regardless of emotional abilities, has a place in emergency communications. Not all of us can, nor should, be at the "front lines".
Not all of us can face the aftermath of a terrorist attack close up. This doesn't make you less valuable as a resource. To be faced with a terrorist event means the possibility of seeing destruction close up. This means the sight of human remains in all types of degradation such as those witnessed by rescue crews during a plane crash. Some of us cannot tolerate such scenes.
Others have learned to work beyond it towards a goal of helping those who might still be able to be saved. This does not mean that you will be charged with any responsibility of victim removal, but you may be faced with seeing this happen as you fulfill your communications duties. The only recommendation I can make at this time is to become focused at your job at hand. Later in this book I will go into mental and emotional preparedness.
Do not waiver from the reason you are there: Supplying communications as part of the team who are responding to the event. Focus on radio, not the sorrow. Yes, during the WTC disaster I did see many horrors such as body parts. Yes, I knew the dust I was breathing contained cremated remains of victims, and today I suffer from "WTC Cough" but it did not stop me from the core of my job, that of supporting the team effort by supplying emergency communications.
Later in this book, I will explain in detail my remarks as stated above.
A SHORT LIST OF WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS BOOK
A 21st century approach to emergency communications.
A basic communications training program.
The proper hardware for deployment.
Mental and emotional preparedness.
A New Concept In Equipment Deployment For A Terrorist Event
How to cope with the unexpected.
Tactics and techniques.
Thinking on your feet beyond your training.
Family Preparedness For Natural Disasters and Terrorism
Creating A Viable Jump Team And How It Functions
A NEW APPROACH TO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS:
The new keyword in emergency communications following the disasters in 2001 and following hurricanes such as Katrina is: FLEXIBILITY. Gone are the straight and narrow concepts that have long been drummed into the heads of emergency communicators who've trained using antique manuals and philosophies. They are still teaching the wrong path to reach the right goal. You must become flexible in both your ideas and your execution while maintaining the basic concept of emergency communications, that being to pass information quickly and accurately.
Always be aware of where you are, what you are doing, what other resources are around you to take advantage of should things change. Each emergency event will produce it's own unique set of parameters. For instance, if we were to plug in the same response parameters that we'd normally follow during a hurricane and apply them to a multidimensional event created by a terrorist incursion we'd be setting ourselves up for a communications nightmare. There are times, however, when you should NOT be flexible.
During a hurricane, you might pass information not exactly (word for word) what was originally given to you. Let's face it, asking for 25 cots at an evac center is a simple matter. Important, yes, but still a simple type of communications. However, during a terrorist event you might be asked to relay information which might contain coded messages, as was the case during the World Trade Center Disaster. Sending coded information was needed because it was felt that many ears were listening in to our communications ... both the press and terrorists. Those of you who are "stuck in yestersay" might disagree. If you do, then you've never been involved in this kind of event. This is one area when being flexible is NOT an option! You must give the information EXACTLY as was given to you. This dismisses the sending of any information in NTS formatted traffic. So DO NOT take it upon yourself to reformat the information. GET OUT OF THE NTS MINDSET. Stick with plain text message sending with read-backs to verify for accuracy. THOSE WHO PREACH NTS TRAFFIC HANDLING ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE ARE LIVING IN "YESTERDAY".
An example of improper training:
"ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Courses -- Student Activities
EC-001 Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level I [Revised 06/22/04]
LU 9 :
2. Assume that you are helping a served agency staffer condense a lengthy message. Edit the following message text to reduce the number of words to a minimum, without losing any clarity.
"We need 50 additional cots and blankets at the Roe School shelter, and we also need more food since 20 new people just arrived and we are told another 30 may be coming soon. Please call me and tell me when these supplies will arrive." "
By preaching this method, it's only human nature that many ops will take it upon themselves to re-format a message unaided. When this is done during a terrorist event, it will lose any coded traffic which might be sent by the shelter manager.
STICK TO PLAIN TEXT MESSAGING
During a terrorist event it also becomes necessary to lie. Yes, I said lie. This is a very rare occurance and only a few times did I actually have to do this. Remember that your communications might be monitored by many people. The press, eager to get a "scoop", the public in general and even terrorists might be listening. I lied quite a bit in my communications when I was at "ground zero". I lied when I sent my location and what it was. You can hear one of my lies on the BBC broadcast "Unsung Heroes" where during the program they played back snipets of WTC 9/11 communications. My location was held secret because of it's very sensitive nature of being the forward command post (or Incident Command Center if you wish to call it that) where many decisions were made. There was a rumor that additional terrorist acts were eminent. What better way to create additional chaos than to set off a car bomb in front of the incident command center based upon my communicating it's actual location over the air. (Up until the third day they allowed just about any van to drive up to the building. Very poor basic security at that point. Our security awareness "grew up" after 9/11.) And so, when asked for my location, I lied. I said on the air that I was manning an evac center and even gave bogus hourly reports of client numbers, etc. My "bosses" knew where I was and knew no evac center existed. I also lied when I was communicating with the mayor's bunker. If you monitored my communications you'd have thought I was communicating with just another evac center. Those message exchanges were also coded by both myself and the operator at the mayor's bunker.
You were never taught to lie during any ARES/RACES training both old and new. I also broke standard FCC rules by sending what would be called "coded" traffic. But, after that terrorist strike both became a necessity and, in an emergency, legal. You, as a communicator, could easily be responsible for the escalation of an event by inadvertently mentioning sensitive facts on the air between dedicated message sending or by revealing a "secret" location. It became a new world with new rules that day. Be aware of where you are deployed and if it's location is sensitive. If need be, you might have to lie. Whomever deployed you knows where you are. No need to inform others, even ops deployed elsewhere.
Our country has great potential as givers. I've seen it many times during many emergencies. During several wildfires on Long Island, I have witnessed the generosity of teenagers when they baked cakes and delivered them to evacuation shelters. Displaced families being taken in by neighbors in upstate New York during ice storms which cut off towns from the rest of the world. Search and rescue missions run by everyday groups when people were reported missing after hurricanes struck. During the WTC event the streets near the Red Cross Headquarters were literally jammed with thousands of people wanting to help. There was a line over two blocks long with people just wanting to give blood. Down near the disaster site there were many vehicles handing out food. These weren't just emergency service organizations but "Mom and Pop" stores and places such as "Outback" and countless local Chinese restaurants ... all giving ... all doing. This is the spirit and philosophy that is America. Along with this is the caring nature of amateur radio operators. Hams want to help. It's in our blood. However, without proper and up-to-date "real world" training, we can sometimes cause harm in our attempts to do good. During any ham radio operator's deployment there are things we should and should not do.
To help you find a good start towards your goal of supplying emergency communications during any disaster, including terrorism, I have written a course, included in this book, to guide you from the very beginning. In it, I have included many items you need to know about even before you talk on your radio. I also cover drill events, public service events, emergency events and how to be properly prepared for all. Use this along with any real life training, such as working during public events, to hone your skills for the day when you will be called upon to help during an actual emergency. The chances are that any emergency communications deployment you'd be asked to participate in would involve a natural disaster, however, you must always be aware that terrorists can create havoc anytime and anywhere (even during a natural disaster) so be prepared for both. Get all the items I suggest in the training section, as soon as possible, especially the two types of respirators I've listed. Now on to some basic training. This is unlike any you've ever read and for good reason. It is based upon the real world, real events and not antique training or philosophies.
A BASIC COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING PROGRAM
PART A
This training program is designed to help you become a more effective radio operator so you can assist with communications duties whenever a local or regional emergency occurs, including terrorist events. Each section is part of a step-by-step process which follows a logical sequence to help build your confidence and skill level in preparing for an emergency. The course was specifially tailored to licensed amateur radio operators who work behind the scenes during just about every emergency from hurricanes to terrorist attacks to earthquakes. I am not writing this as part of any organization's training or education, most of which I consider riddled with mistakes and considering the world we live in today at the very least outdated. Even newer versions of courses currently offered by organizations are just rehashings of old publications and techniques. A few are dangerously wrong.
This is a completely new guide and it is based upon my many years of actual field experience in emergency communications on local, national and international response levels. The main thrust of this information is to prepare you for responding during local emergency conditions. Using this course as a base, you will be able to expand your abilities beyond local emergencies to cover regional and even national emergency situations. You will be taught the proper procedures in communicating during both non-emergency and emergency conditions. You will also learn how to build and store the necessary items both you and your family will need to better cope with an emergency. You will be taken through a few emergency and non-emergency scenarios so you can gain a better understanding of both their similarities and differences.
I will also dispell some of the "bunk and baloney" that is being offered by other emergency communications training manuals. There may be organizations and people that do not agree with some of the advice I am delivering. Too bad, however, few people have had more experience providing emergency communications duties under such varied stressful and exhausting conditions. The following pages are written after being involved in winter storms, hurricanes, ice storms, floods, airline disasters, wildfires, missing persons searches, hazmat events and being the first responder at WTC 9/11 "Ground Zero". At the end of each section you will find a review and a small list of optional assignments that I suggest you try to complete.
This book is NOT meant to be read in one sitting. It is a training course. Each section needs to be slowly read, digested, reviewed and where possible the optional assignments completed. You should re-read any section you might find difficult to understand. Consult with experienced amateur radio operators about any points you do not understand. When you have completed this training guide you will have been exposed to the most comprehensive and up-to-date training course that has ever been offered on the subject of amateur radio emergency communications.
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W2IK's BASIC TRAINING OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
(REVISED 2011)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART A:
Section One: Family First: taking care of your loved ones
before you take care of others
Section Two: Learning The Ropes: procedures, procedures, procedures
Section Three: Getting Into The Field: your first public service event
Section Four: Licking Your Wounds: evaluating yourself and your equipment
Section Five: Do It Again: a different type of event
Section Six: Finding Your Way: to a good emergency communications group and the agencies they help
Section Seven: A List Of Essentials: a.k.a. Your First "Go Bag" for almost any event
Section Eight: Your First Emergency Event: a step-by-step process of the real thing
PART B:
Section Nine: Lots Of Odds And Ends: the media, ITU Phonetics (the REAL deal), using a microphone the right way, human interference, tactical calls and nets, duty site interaction, when or if to turn out, and more
Section Ten: HAZMAT Emergencies: don't touch, just communicate
Section Eleven: SKYWARN and You: special training makes for special eyes
Section Twelve: Constructing A Pocket "J Pole": making one that actually works
Section Thirteen: Net Control Operator: To Be Or Not To Be?
Section Fourteen: Still More Odds And Ends: your emotions, family support, "Drop Teams", Rural and Urban search and rescue, and more
PART C:
Section Fifteen: Terrorist Event Preparation
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SECTION ONE: FAMILY FIRST
You've studied long and finally gotten your amateur radio license. Congratulations on becoming part of a unique and tight-knit family! By now, you may have even purchased some radio equipment and gotten on the air, usually on two meters. I hope that you didn't buy too much as you'll read my recommendations on equipment, and my reasons why, later in section seven titled: "EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS: A LIST OF ESSENTIALS" and other places within this guide. Now your thoughts may drift to becoming involved in emergency communications and helping your neighbors. I'm glad that you have community spirit ! You already know that during an "emergency event", such as a hurricane, the infrastructure of any town or area is at risk. Often, the first areas of breakdown will be both the telephone and electrical power systems. Typically, cell phone systems also fail, as most cell phone companies do not have adequate backup systems and their limited capacity sites that are working during an emergency will probably be jammed. Also, since cell phones can't be recharged from dead wall outlets, they would eventually become useless. During a large wildfire emergency a few years ago most of the cellphone sites were burned up! All the other nearby cell sites were overloaded thanks to the many reporters who came to report the event. The only reliable form of communications is amateur radio, using emergency back-up power in the form of rechargeable batteries and generators, and being operated by experienced radio communicators like yourself. Most of the time, supplying emergency communications will require you to report somewhere for duty. Make sure you discuss this aspect with your family to see if they are comfortable with you being away during an emergency. Never leave your family or home if you think that either would be in jeopardy during an emergency.
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During emergency operations, it is vital that your complete focus be on any task at hand. Before you should even consider becoming involved in emergency communications, you must make sure that your family can function at home without you. If this is not the case, if your family can not be comfortable without your support, you might be more concerned about your family's welfare at home and this worry could effect your abilities to properly carry out your emergency communications duties. The term "family first" is very important.
First, make sure that your family has their own, what I call, "home bag" and keep it up to date. A "home bag" is a collection of items that your family might need to help them through an emergency. You must always bear in mind that a small, local event might easily expand and encompass a greater area and last for a longer period of time. If your family has the proper supplies, information and family training, it will make doing your communications job less stressful. Some of the items I suggest you include in such a "home bag" collection are: duct tape , at least two rolls. Duct tape is used to prevent windows from shattering during a violent storm. You should tape a large "X" on each large window pane. Obtain several flashlights for your homebag. I like using portable (camping) fluorescent lights because they use less energy for the amount of light they produce so their batteries will last longer. You can get these in the sporting goods department of any large store. Be sure to include several changes of batteries for each flashlight.(Buy them fresh, keep them stored in plastic bags in the event they leak. That stuff about freezing batteries so they'll last a lot longer is a load of crap) You will also need enough bottled water for at least 5 days, a battery-operated AM/FM radio with extra batteries, a roll of heavy plastic sheathing that you can cut and apply to any widow area that does break, a heavy-duty staple gun with extra staples, canned or jarred food that needs no heating such as canned fruits, powdered milk, other non-perishable food such as "power bars", candles (use with extreme care and never unattended), a lighter and several boxes or books of matches, basic hand tools such as a hammer, cutters etc, prescription medication (enough for 5 days), cash, in case your family needs to buy additional supplies and ATMs are defunct, a decent first-aid kit , a note pad (large spiral type), pens and markers, a battery powered digital clock , three rolls of 1000 sheet single ply toilet tissue and any supplies/food and food bowl/leashes for your pet (the four-legged kind, not your mother-in-law).
Each member of your family should also have on them a list of phone numbers of friends and relatives and a sequence of places to stay if the need should arise that they have to evacuate from your home. Also, you should plan an additional place to meet if an evacuation needs to take place in your area and you are located elsewhere at the time. This might be a relative's home or a friend who lives nearby, but not in your area. In the event of possible flooding, such as may be the case during a hurricane or a series of severe storms, make sure that each location you choose is above any flood range and can be reached without having to drive through any low-lying areas. Plan such a route and practice driving it. Make sure that your family's vehicle always has at least a half tank of gas. Store both a local area and state map in the glove compartment and in your "home bag" so they can locate any shelter, or home, if their own evacuation needs to take place. IF THE NEED TO EVACUATE SHOULD OCCUR, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR FAMILY KNOWS TO TAKE THEIR "HOME BAG" WITH THEM.
You might also want to do some simple training with your family, such as taking them through the steps of covering a window with plastic sheathing and stapling it in place. Show them how to reload more staples in the gun. It's better they learn how to do this on a sunny day, so they will be better equipped to do the real thing under stress during a storm. Remind them that the safe way to use candles is by keeping them far away from anything that they might ignite, such as drapes, and use sturdy bases to hold them. NEVER leave a lit candle unattended. This includes keeping them away from snooping pets. I have large candles that are encased in heavy glass. These candles last longer and are safer to use than thin "dinner mood" candles. All of the items that are listed above can be stored in a large plastic bin with a snap-on cover. These storage bins can be purchased at any "Walmart", "K-Mart" or any other such discount store.
Once you feel confident that your family can take care of themselves, then you are ready to take the next step. Before you do, read the short review section and if you have any problems re-read this main section. Also in this series of websites are two entitled: "Family Preparedness" Make sure both you and your family read them.
REVIEW of this Section:
In order to be effective you must make sure your family is taken care of by giving them the means to do so. Develop a "home bag" composed of items that your family might need during any emergency event. Review emergency procedures with them. Have on hand all emergency telephone numbers and alternate locations in case their own evacuation becomes necessary. Make sure your pets are provided for.
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Optional assignment: After reading the above section, write a list of items you think should be included in your family's "home bag". When you are finished composing it, check your list with the items outlined in this section and discuss the list with your family. You may also wish to discuss emergency preparedness with friends and neighbors so they may make their own "home bags". Now is the time to start developing your famiy's "home bag". Purchase one of those inexpensive large plastic bins that are available at stores like "Walmart", with snap on lid, to use as your "home bag". Store it in a place not subject to freezing or excessive heat.
SECTION TWO: Becoming Involved and Learning the "Ropes"
In order to become an effective communicator, you must learn the proper communications procedures to use when you operate. This is especially true during an emergency. It is not just as simple as picking up a microphone and speaking. The way to learn how to communicate properly is to start by taking small steps. First, listen in on the local repeaters in your area. It would be very wise, if you have the equipment, to place all the local repeater frequencies/offsets/tones into the memories of your radio. (If you do not know what these terms actually mean, refer to your licence study materials.) The directions on programming are included in your radio's operating manual. This way you will have quick access to them all. When you do, also make sure that you have included the proper tone/offsets by testing to make sure you can "hit"(reach) each repeater. Study the operating manuals that came with your equipment so you can quickly change frequencies or add new frequencies in your radio's memory in case the need should arise. It is a good idea if you make copies of your radio's operating manual so you can keep the original stored away in a safe place and use the copy instead. This way, if you lose the copy, you won't be crippled when you have to make changes in your radio's memories. You should also make a "quick reference card" listing in a few simple steps how to program your radio. Make several copies, laminate them and always keep one in your wallet and one with your radio.
Now the hard part comes: LISTENING.
On most local repeaters there usually are weekly "nets" where groups of amateur radio operators meet at pre-determined times and on specific days to listen and talk in a controlled situation. Usually there is a "Net Control Operator", whose job it is to make sure there is an orderly flow of communications during that specific net. After you have listened to several of these nets and gotten the general idea of how a net operates, you may wish to check into one. When the net begins, LISTEN to the directions of the net control operator and what they are requesting. The net control operator is like a radio "traffic cop", guiding everyone through a smooth operation of the net. Listen to what they say and respect their directions. Give the requested information and nothing more. Make sure that when the net control operator asks for "check-ins" and asks in a specific manner, that you check-in at the proper time. If the control operator asks for radio operators to check in with callsigns in a group of suffixes, follow their request. The series of letters after the number in your callsign is the suffix. If they ask for callsigns with a suffix of A through N, and you have a suffix that begins with a "P"(such as N2PSG), don't check-in yet. Learn the procedure and wait until it gets to the point where the "O through Z" suffixes are requested. When it comes time, use proper procedure: slowly and clearly say: "This is", then release your push-to-talk switch and listen for a second to see if you and someone else are talking at the same time, called "doubling". If you aren't doubling, then give your callsign, slowly and clearly, using ITU (International Telecommunications Union) phonetics ONLY. (refer to section nine about the REAL ITU phonetic alphabet) Give your name and any other information if requested by the net control operator, speaking as clearly as possible, and then wait. DO NOT interfere with any on-going communications. When called upon, it will be your turn to talk. The first net you check in to, such as a "club information net", will usually be short in duration. Remember that if you are called on to talk further you must ID with your callsign, observing the FCC's "10 minute rule" AND when you are done talking, say "back to net" so people know you have completed your thoughts. After becoming involved in several of these non-emergency nets, you will become much more confident in talking over the radio and gain the knowledge of what is expected of you. You will find a number of these nets to be very interesting, informative and fun!
You will make many "on the air" friends that you will eventually meet should you join any local radio clubs. I suggest that at this point you join a few local radio clubs, attend their meetings, listen to any technical talks that might be given, take notes, and soon you will be able to put faces to the callsigns you hear on the air. These will be the same people you will be working with during emergencies. Ask them any questions you might have concerning programming and operating your equipment and their participation in emergency communications. I am sure you will get plenty of information, some inaccurate, but most will be good solid advice.
Now that you've listened to various net operations and have participated in a few and followed the directions of the net control operator, you are ready to take that next step. But first, a short review. If you don't understand any of the things covered in this section re-read it or contact the "elmer" in your radio club. An "elmer" is a term used to describe an experienced amateur radio operator who makes it a point to assist/teach new amateur radio operators in everything from programming and operating that new rig to assembling a new antenna.
REVIEW of this section:
Listening is the most important part of communicating. Become involved in local "nets" on the radio so you can become aquainted with "net control" operations. Learn the proper way to "check in" to a net. Talk slowly and clearly. See Section nine: "Lots Of Odds and Ends" to learn the right way to use a microphone. (yes, there is a wrong way to use a microphone)Follow the directions of the "Net Control Operator", who acts as a traffic cop by assuring an even flow of communications. "Listen much, talk little". Join and be active in one or more local radio clubs and attend their meetings. Learn and remember all proper communications procedures. Know how your radio works and how to program it. Keep a list of local repeaters in it's memory. Refer to your radio's operations manual often, make a copy of it, and use the copy. Keep the original manual in a safe place.
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Optional assignment: Listen to a few nets on the various repeaters in your area. Write down the list of stations as each one checks in with their callsign. Note how they follow a specific procedure for checkins and operation. Notice how each operator pauses during check in to see if they are doubling with another operator. Also make note that the net control operator gives their ID often.
Ask a fellow club member, who serves as a Net Control Operator during a short non-emergency net, if you can sit in with them as they do an actual net. Ask them if they will allow you to serve as a part-Net Control Operator and do just the check in list at the beginning of the operation. You will find out that even doing this is not as easy as you might think. Write notes when they do the net and ask them any questions you might have about net control operations and net procedures. Re-read this section as it is VERY important that you understand about proper communications procedures.
SECTION THREE : Going Into The Field For A Basic Non-Emergency
You are now ready to put your talents into use. This does NOT mean you are ready to participate in an actual emergency situation. You still need to gain some field experience operating your radio during non-emergency "events". Those clubs that you've joined probably support local community organizations by providing radio communications during events such as a bike race, parade, walk-a-thon, or some other limited-duty one day event. These are called "public service events". When your club asks for radio operators to help out in such an event, SIGN UP!! Don't be apprehensive. We all started out this way. The experience you gain by volunteering for a few of these one-day public service events will be most rewarding. Not only will you be helping out your community, but you will also gain that inner strength that comes from the experience in communicating during these events. There will always be someone in charge of taking down names and callsigns for whatever event you choose to start with. Make sure you tell this person that this will be your first event as an amateur radio operator. Usually, if there are enough operators signed up, you might be paired with an experienced operator. This is a great way to learn from someone who has "been there, done that".
AN EXAMPLE OF A PUBLIC SERVICE EVENT
Let's just say, for example, you signed up for the "Annual Walk-a-thon For Wayward Socks". Before the event, you will be given some basic information, such as the location of the event, length of the walk and where and when you are to report for deployment. MAKE A LARGE SIGN WHICH STATES : "RADIO COMMUNICATIONS " using a computer printer. You will need this placed on the dashboard of your car to identify that you aren't just a regular driver, but a member of the support process of whatever event you are going to. Gather up your radio equipment, including extra batteries if you are using an HT, water, snacks, two pens and a small spiral bound note pad so pages don't become dislodged and lost. If inclement weather is in the forecast a bright colored rain parka is a great idea. Drive to the location for deployment, called a "staging area".
When you reach the communications staging area, there will usually be other ham radio operators you will recognize from your club's membership who have also signed up. Introduce yourself, giving your name and callsign. It's always a good idea to have a "callsign badge" or a hat with your callsign on it. People, myself included, tend to remember callsigns rather than names. Report to the person in charge, usually a ham radio operator, telling them what type of equipment you will be using, either an HT or a mobile unit in your vehicle. You will then be given your assignment. This is the location where you will be stationed and will be based upon your equipment and experience. You will also be given a map of the course with all "radio posts" clearly marked along the route, perhaps an ID badge or shirt and the frequency you will be using, usually a repeater, and a back-up frequency. Write these frequencies down. PROGRAM YOUR RADIO NOW, if you don't already have that repeater, and back up frequency, in the radio's memory.
Do a test transmission with your fellow hams NOW.
Ask any questions you might have concerning the event NOW because once you are at your post it may be too late. Listen and write down other hams' assignments, INCLUDING the callsign of the control operator for the event, since this is the person you will be communicating with 99% of the time. This probably isn't the first time ham radio operators have "worked" this event, so they know the best frequency/repeater to use for maximum coverage. If all you have is an HT (handi-talkie), you'll probably get a fixed, non traveling, assignment closer to the repeater so you can be assured of reliable communications. YOU DID BRING SPARE BATTERIES, DIDN'T YOU?? There might be many assignments, depending upon the number of hams available. Some will be stationed at rest/refreshment areas, which might also be called "check points", along the route. Others will be "shadows". These are hams that will follow specific event officials in case they need to relay some information. Still others will be at the walk's start/finish location. Some radio operators will be on "chase or SAG vehicles" that will follow the event as it winds along the route. Some will be on "pick-up" vehicles, such a bus or van, that will pick up people who can't finish the walk for one reason or another. Another operator might be stationed at any first-aid/ambulance staging area. Then there will be others who might be with any re-stocking vehicles that bring more water/cups/snacks to any checkpoints that may run low. Different public service events will run differently and have different needs. There may not be as many of these assignments as stated. It all depends upon the size of the event, and its participants, the number of radio operators, and any arrangements that were made.
GETTING TO YOUR POST
The person who is in charge of the radio communications for this event will instruct you when it is time to go to your assigned post. Due to streets or areas being closed off for the event, there might be specific directions for getting to your post. Listen to any instructions about taking detours. This will help in getting you to your location easier. The sign on your dashboard, and the antenna on your vehicle, will usually get you through closed streets if necessary. DRIVE VERY SLOWLY and WATCH FOR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, who might be darting in and out of the streets to get to better observation points. Once you have found your "post", park your vehicle in a place that will not hamper the smooth flow of people or support vehicles such as re-stocking vans or emergency vehicles. If you are using your mobile radio in your vehicle, you will have to park "close to the action". This is another reason to have a sign on your vehicle stating: RADIO COMMUNICATIONS. Now is the time to test out your radio equipment, either your mobile or HT radio, from your post. A simple report to your net control operator letting them know you have reached your assigned area will do. When they contact you back, that will prove your communications setup works. The next step is to find the person who is in charge of that location, if it is a check point or rest area, and tell them that you are assigned to that site to provide communications on their behalf to the other race officials and other support services. Sometimes they won't even be aware that a radio operator was to be at their location. Also inform them that if they need any additional supplies or services that it is just a radio call away. Then step back and let them do "their thing" because they, and other volunteers, are probably going to be very busy setting up whatever is involved at that location, such as setting up tables, water, etc.
Because this is a walking event, try to get as clear and as long a view of the course as you can so in the event that someone should require assistance you can see them down the course and they won't have to struggle to get to you for help. The area you are servicing is NOT just that check point/rest area. I don't care what anybody may say to the contrary. You need to watch not only your position, but as far as you can see up and down the course. If you are using your mobile unit in your vehicle, try parking it in such a way as you have as wide a view as possible, even if you have to park in a vacant parking lot across the street from the check point. You must always be aware of this responsibility of coverage during the entire event. Being observant is very important. DO NOT just sit in your vehicle while the event is taking place. This is the sign of a poor operator. Be active. Look around. An observant communicator makes ham radio operators look more professional and increases our value and stature during these events.
Just before the event starts, the net control operator will usually check and contact each radio operator to make sure they are at their posts and can communicate. When the event begins, the net control operator will send out a communications stating that the event has "kicked off". If you are on the course somewhere away from the start/finish line, it might be a while before you see any "action".
You can relax a bit, but always keep an open eye. Quite often the net control operator will ask each radio operator stationed at each check point to call in as the first participants pass by their location. If you listen carefully, and refer to the course map, you will see just how quickly they are moving. When you see the first participants coming down the course towards your area, you know that soon you will be making your first official communications. When they arrive at your site, and if the policy is to contact the net control operator of this, it's your turn to talk. (Sometimes there is a "Lead" vehicle with a radio operator who will report this information) Just slowly say: "Net Control, this is (your callsign or tactical call)" and wait for the net control operator to come back and acknowledge you. (see the red paragraph below about tactical callsigns) DO NOT be upset if they don't come back right away as they might be busy "off air" doing some other duty or getting information. If you don't get a call back from them in a MINUTE, then repeat your communications as was stated above. Once net control has acknowledged you, you can come back to them and state that the first participants have reached your location. Then give BOTH your tactical call and your callsign. That's it!! Your first communications! That was the simple part. Now it gets a bit more complex, but nothing you can't handle.
As the event continues, you might be called upon to send requests on behalf of your check point/rest area for additional supplies. Make sure that you are NOT interrupting any on-going communications. Then you may begin your communications. ALWAYS say "Net Control, this is (your callsign or tactical call)" Again, there are a lot of things going on at this point and the net control operator may not come back and acknowledge you right away. Wait about a minute, then call again. Once they have acknowledged you, then you should give your request. Speak slowly and clearly. Also state your location. I say this because quite often if the net control operator is busy, he/she may not be aware of your location even though they probably have a map listing all locations of radio operators.
USING TACTICAL CALLS: During both public service and emergency events the net control operator may request that you use Tactical Calls to identify. These are usually either a location or vehicle you might be in. Tactical calls make the net control operations easier to keep track of during a hectic operation. If this is the case, then do so. An example would be saying: "Net Control, this is Rest Stop # 3". But remember that this does NOT absolve you from following FCC rules that state you MUST give your callsign when IDing at the end of a series of transmissions and every ten minutes. Since most of your communications during an event will be under ten minutes in duration, this can be simply done on the last transmission in the series by stating your callsign.
Being net control operator can, at times, be a bit hectic. There are also times when they will be relieved for a spell and someone else will be the net control operator. So give your location. If you are unsure of the message being properly received by the net control operator, ask for a verification, called a "read back". A good net control operator will automatically repeat your request just to make sure they understood it. And while you are at it, mark down all requests made by you in your spiral notebook, noting the time. location and actual request and who requested it. If another station is asking a question to the net control operator and you know the answer DO NOT "chime in" with a reply. Remember net protocol. If net control doesn't answer the question then you should address the net control operator and ask for permission before "going direct" with the other station.
I DON'T CARE WHO SAID WHAT DURING ANY OTHER TRAINING YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD, if it appears to you that your location is running low on water, ASK the person incharge of that location if they'd like you to send a radio request for more. Sometimes they may be so busy attending to other things they won't notice it. Tell them that the reason you ask is that it will probably take a while for the supplies to be delivered. The re-supply vehicle might be driving VERY slow due to the streets being clogged with participants OR it might be making other drops. Dehydration during an event is a common problem. Your observing low water supplies might prevent a medical emergency. Be observant. Check water supplies often.
Now the event is in full swing. Other radio operators are calling net control with updates on where the first participants are or any other information requested by the net control operator. Others might be requesting supplies or a vehicle to pick up anyone who gets fatigued along the route. This is when you must be very observant. At times there might be a great swell of people, perhaps hundreds, walking past your location. Look up and down the route. Make sure that everything is going well. If you see someone sitting on the side of the route looking tired, you may wish to ask them if they need a ride back to the finish line. If they do, call net control, and after getting their acknowledgment, inform them that there is someone who needs a ride, giving their exact location including the main street, any cross streets and any outstanding landmarks. The same thing applies for anyone who gets injured. DO NOT attempt any first aid other than, perhaps, offering water. It is not your responsibility to administer first aid unless you are both trained and qualified. Just pass the information ("traffic") to the net control station.
DO NOT jump into the street and try to direct traffic or walkers. This is NOT your responsibility and doing this might cause a "black eye" for amatuer radio communicators. AKA: Don't act like a jerk!! There have been a few cases, in different parts of the country, where one or two over-zealous hams have acted in an unprofessional manner and because of their actions ham radio operators are no longer invited to participate in that area's public service events. If you are approached by people who seem interested in what you are doing, tell them all about the wonderful things ham radio has to offer! It's your turn to be a salesman for amateur radio.
While you are doing all of this, it pays keep a mental note whenever you see either a supply truck, "pick-up" or emergency vehicle pass or stop at your location. There may be some point during the operation where the net control operator will ask ("poll") all the radio operators to see if someone has seen "such-and-such" vehicle. If it has passed your point, or if it is currently there, relay this to net control using the proper communications procedure. Some vehicles might not have radio operators with them and will rely on directions from you and others. It will be rare, but it will happen, when in the middle of a communications the net control operator asks you to "go direct" with another operator in order to pass information. Do so in a professional manner. When you are done passing that traffic, respond to net control by saying : "This is (your callsign), back to net". By doing this, you have properly ID'd and have let everyone know that your direct communications with another radio operator is done. If you are listening to communications and net control tells two other stations to "go direct", DO NOT interfere with any other type of communications you might have, EXCEPT IF YOU HAVE DIRE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS. There will be plenty of time to pass any routine traffic you have after the two stations have finished ("cleared"). Also be aware that if you are talking to net control and another radio operator breaks in and says "emergency", YOU ARE TO STOP TALKING. Emergency communications have top priority over EVERYTHING. Just wait until you are sure that the emergency traffic has cleared before trying to re-establish contact with net control to finish your communications.
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Now the walk-a-thon is slowly winding down and you've passed a few messages asking for additional supplies that came and were a big help. You've also heard that the last of the walkers have gone by the check point just before yours. This means that your part as a communicator for this event is coming to a close. BUT NOT YET !! Usually the people who are in the final groups to travel the route are those who might have "bit off more than they could chew", families who might be pushing strollers or even people in wheelchairs. This is a time when you should remain attentive and watchful. There might be a person or two, who when they reach your location, decide that they can't continue. Of course, by now, you know exactly what to do. You call in to the net control operator and inform them that you have people who cannot finish the walk and need to be picked up.
There might be a vehicle that trails the last of the walkers. (Sometimes called a "Tail" vehicle) When this vehicle passes your point, you should again contact net control and inform them of that fact. At this point in the event, you might think you'd be done. This is NOT the case. After the last of the people have passed, there still remains for the people who volunteered to work at that location to "break" it down... or in other words, pack up the leftovers. Usually they just either box it up and pack it into their vehicles or leave it stacked for a truck that will come by later to pick it up. This might be about the time where the net control operator calls to tell you that you can now either come back to the staging area or leave your post and travel back home, called "standing down". DO NOT DO THIS. Yes, that's what I said. Do not leave your location until those people whom you've called in to net control to get a ride actually get the transportation they need. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER leave a participant by themselves. Our communications duties REQUIRE us to look after anyone on the route. To do less is morally wrong, NO MATTER WHAT YOU WERE TAUGHT IN ANY OTHER TRAINING. Only after all the participants have been taken care of will you be absolved of your communications duties. Can you imagine if you left, just because net control said you could, and there is a person or two stuck at your site? What if one of them is close to heat exhaustion? Rather you should be a professional and wait those extra few minutes to make sure they are picked up.
Well, now you finally were able to "stand down" and are returning to the communications staging area for a short de-briefing. Drive VERY slowly and carefully as there will still be many people in your area and the areas along your return path. At the de-briefing, tell them your observations and ideas, using the notes of communications, etc. that you made in your small spiral-bound notebook. We, as communicators, always try to improve our operation. You might also have input that would make next year's event run better, such as if possible relocating the check point/rest area to another parking lot so people have better access. Your input, and the actual communications help you provided to make the event successful, is greatly appreciated by everyone.
The same basic principles can be applied to many other events, such as parades, special events at parks, minor sporting events, etc. The main reason you would be at any of these would be to supply either primary or seconadry communications. There are times when organizations will be using a limited amount of either rented handi-talkies or GMRS type radios. In most cases the people with these radios are untrained in communications. The amateur radio operators will really stand out if proper procedures and a professional attitude are maintained. As you volunteer and turn out for more and more public service events you will become at ease with the communications duties and operating procedures. This self-assurance will go a long way in helping you communicate during emergency events.
REVIEW of this section:
Getting your "feet wet" by helping out with communications during "public service" events is a good way to develop communications skills in a less stressful environment.
Test your radio at the "staging area", BEFORE you are deployed, so you can be sure you have the right frequencies in your radio's memory. Listen to the requests of the net control operator and follow their directions. DO NOT interrupt any emergency communications that might take place. Be observant of all that is taking place around you. Keep notes of all information you send, noting date and time. Send each request exactly as it is given to you. Add NOTHING except your callsign. A "RADIO COMMUNICATIONS" sign, printed and displayed on your dashboard, will assist you in SLOWLY driving to your location for deployment. NEVER leave your post until ALL participants have passed your deployment area and are out of view. Be active and visible. DO NOT just sit in your vehicle. Re-read this section again, just in case you missed a point or two.
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Optional assignment: Talk to several radio operators who have been active during public service events. Ask them how they felt and what they did on their first assignment. Ask if they could have handled something differently and what they learned from the event. If you feel comfortable with one, ask to be assigned with them on your first communications detail. If there are any small public service events in your area sign up for one. After you have "worked" one refer to the next section so you can be ready for your second public service event.
SECTION FOUR: Licking Your Wounds
Now that this event is over and you've gotten a taste of communications during your first non-emergency event, you need to do a little self-evaluation. What did you learn from this experience? One thing you might have learned is that if you are operating using your mobile rig in your vehicle, it is hard to monitor communications. If net control tries to call you when you are out of the vehicle you may not be able to hear them. The answer: Buy an inexpensive external speaker that you can plug in your radio and place the speaker on the roof or hood of your car/truck facing the direction you will be standing. With the volume turned up, it should supply more than enough audio to overcome all the extraneous noise from your location. You will also become atuned to your callsign or tactical call when it is announced by the net control operator. By now, you've also learned that keeping the microphone poised at the window will prevent you from having to enter your vehicle each time you have to make a call on your radio. Not to worry, the "duty cycle" of your radio communuications will be very small and the drain on your vehicle's battery during your public service event will not be a problem. (Unless you have a poor vehicle battery to begin with)
If you used an HT, you might have learned that it would make a world of difference if you bought a belt-clip to hold your radio on your belt AND a speaker/mic that can be clipped to your shirt near one of your shoulders, just a bit below mouth-level, so all you have to do is press it's PTT (push-to-talk) switch. No fumbling around, it leaves your hands free AND it makes the communications easier to hear in noisy areas. While you are at it, buy a longer (at least 15 inches) FLEXIBLE antenna to use with your HT. It will make "hitting" the repeater easier. Some other suggestions might be to check with your fellow hams about getting a "battery bag" for your HT. This is a bag with a shoulder strap that contains a small, rechargeable gel-cell type battery (4-7 amp-hours) and can be plugged into your HT. This will supply power for a much greater time, usually days, so no battery switching will be needed. Not all HTs have an "external power input"... This is an option you will need to think about when you buy an HT. You've probably also learned that those cute little HTs that put out 300 milliwatts are just toys. For dedicated communications work you need a sturdy 5 watt handi-talkie, with a good antenna, to effectively do communications work.
As far as your personal comforts are concerned, perhaps next time bring an extra salty snack as you are not immune to dehydration, a little more water and some other clothing as the weather might change during the event. How about another hat? Some handi-wipes for when you spilled soda on yourself? Sunglasses...yes. That will save you a headache. Speaking about headaches, how about some type of pain reliever like aspirin or such? Do you know what you are doing? You are slowly composing what we call a "go-bag" for a one day event. All the things you need for personal comfort and to aid your communications! Assemble all these items in a bag, with a strap, that you can carry with you in case your assignment is, say, that of walking around with a race official. We call that assignment a "shadow". Wear comfortable shoes if you know you are going to be someone's shadow . There is a detailed discussion about "go bag" items in section seven.
REVIEW of this section:
Develop a "go bag" that will contain all the supplies and comforts needed to carry out your basic communications duties. Review the list above and check it again after reading "List of Essentials", located in section seven.* Before you do this, do the optional assignment below. It is better to have too much than too little. Use a longer antenna on your HT to maintain reliable communications. Make sure you have enough battery power to fulfill your communications needs. An HT that relies on "AA" batteries is better than one that needs special battery packs. Use an HT that supplies enough power, 4-6 watts, to reach the repeater you are using. A speaker/mic with your HT makes communicating much easier in noisy locations. An external speaker, located outside your vehicle, allows you more flexability when using a mobile radio instead of an HT. After each event do a self-evaluation so you can improve your "go bag" and your communications procedures. Listen to any suggestions of more experienced operators to see if you need to make any corrections or additions. There will be many additions to prepare for your deployment during a terrorist event.
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Optional assignment: Make a list of items you think should be included in a "go bag". Place this list aside and after you have read sections five thru seven, compare the list to the items after completing the optional assignment which follows section seven. Check out longer whip antennas for your HT from various radio dealers. Make sure the one you choose is at least 15 inches long and FLEXIBLE so it won't break if you "sit" on your radio.
SECTION FIVE : DO IT AGAIN (and again)
So with one public service event under your belt, you are gaining the understanding and knowledge that evolves with becoming a communications professional. YES, Read that last word: "professional". A professional isn't someone who gets paid. A professional is a person who becomes trained and learns to do a superior job. You are on the right road to becoming a professional in providing communications for public service events, and later, during emergencies. I also said "becoming" because you need to experience other public service events in your area that use amateur radio communications.
You did a great job during that casual walk-a-thon, but what about, say, a marathon? That is a slightly different event where people actually compete, sometimes for awards or money prizes. The New York City Marathon, for example, avails themselves with the help of over 300 ham radio operators to provide communications along the over 26 mile course. I know, several years ago I was one of them. That is a lot of area to cover. In simplest terms, however, it is much like that walk-a-thon you helped out on. Many runners instead of walkers, many, many water stops, tens of thousands of bottles of water, hundreds of thousands of cups, emergency issues and countless other things that need attention. You might think that this is an super-human feat that needs to be accomplished, BUT, when you break each coverage area down, it isn't that big a problem.
When you do communications for a marathon, you will usually be deployed at a location to see that the needs of the runners are accommodated by communicating requests for water and other supplies, watching for fallen runners and calling net control for first aid when needed. Doesn't that kind of sound like the same thing that went on during the walk-a-thon? Yes, it is, with a few minor differences. In a marathon, the runners are in a race, so they definitely don't want to get involved in a chat, or even stop. There will be lines of helpers stationed along the course to simply hand out cups of water and other fluids that runners will grab along the way, usually dumping empty bottles and cups as they run. What a clean-up job!!! Be glad you aren't on that detail! The officials at each site will be asking you to send re-supply requests, so make yourself very visable, but DO NOT get in the way of any runner!! There will be some amount of stress associated with the seriousness of an actual race. Don't worry, you'll do fine as long as you remember all what you have read so far, and will read in later sections, AND have experienced in your previous event. So many of the same duties will be handled by radio communicators: riding in a SAG vehicle, being on a re-supply vehicle or "pick up" vehicle, being a shadow or being at the check points. But out of all of these, the "chief" is still the NET CONTROL OPERATOR. Listen to their directions and follow them.
Make notes in your book in case there is a question during your de-briefing. Do a self-evaluation after the event is over when you can review things in your head. What could you have done better? What other supplies do you need to include in your "go bag"? Perhaps you need to purchase an orange vest so you can be easily seen? "Communications? Yeah, See the guy in the orange vest". It is always nice to document the public service event you are supporting so you may wish to take a few photos to bring to your next emergency communications group's meeting. (before you do, read the paragraphs about taking photos in section sixteen) As you answer these questions, and as you become involved in events such as these, you will learn much more than any course can ever hope to teach you. Being "in the trenches" is always the best teacher as long as you keep your eyes and your mind open
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REVIEW of this section:
Each event you participate in as a communicator will have it's own unique set of parameters. Be flexible, yet maintain the standard communications procedures you have been trained for. Being "in the trenches" is the best teacher. Make sure you introduce yourself to the person in charge of your site. Do not interfere with any on-going event participants. No directing traffic or any duty not within the realm of communications. Be visible at all times. Always do a self-evaluation after each event. Try to volunteer for as many DIFFERENT public service events as possible so you can experience the differences and similarities in each deployment. Add to your "go bag" any additional items you feel necessary to improve personal comfort and communications efficiency and keep "dated" items, such as batteries or food bars, fresh.
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Optional assignment: List what you think are the important differences between communications support for a marathon and for a parade. List the similarities. Why is supplying water of utmost concern during any type of event requiring walking, biking or running? Why is it important to stay out of "harm's way" during a marathon? If you don't know the answers, re-read the section above. Try to be involved in as many different public service events as your time allows. This will increase your skill level and confidence.
SECTION SIX: FINDING YOUR WAY
So now you have several public events under your belt and have gained the experience needed to start on your "emergency communications journey". The next step is to find whatever emergency communications groups are in your area. There are probably several, each with different affiliations and specialties. The best way to learn about these organizations, and how to contact them, would be to ask at those radio clubs you are a member of. There will be hams who attend those club meetings who are members of one or more emergency communications groups. Some groups that involve themselves in emergency communications : REACT, SATURN,ARES, RACES and more. You might even find that high level members in such organizations are sitting next to you at your club meetings! If, by now, they haven't given some sort of presentation at your club's meetings, then SHAME ON THEM. Each radio club offers a vast cadre of operators, some of whom might wish to be a part of an emergency services group. It is unfortunate that there are locations in our country that such groups can act very "cliquish" and think that only a few hams are "worthy" to be a member in their group or attend their meetings.
To them I say: "GROW UP. You don't know everything and you will never have enough manpower if a wide scale emergency befalls your area especially during a terrorist event. It is your moral responsibility to enlist as many radio operators as possible. It is your responsibility to help train them in CURRENT emergency response techniques. If you did your job properly I wouldn't be writing this entire manual/course."
Also, remember that physically challenged ham radio operators make very good relay stations, loggers, relief net control operators and are very good listeners. They don't have to be "in harm's way" to do a tremendously important job during an emergency. Use them to the fullest extent of their abilities. They will surprize you!!
After you have made a list of organizations, research each one carefully. See if they have an adequate operational structure. How do you know? Well, talk to several people in each group who are part of the "chain of command". See if they are all on the "same wavelength", that is, see if they all unveil to you the main purpose of their organization, the "served agencies" and the system and means to carry out that purpose. (By the way, we DO NOT "serve" anyone.... we are NOT waiters. We are communications operators and we WORK WITH agencies as part of a team) Some groups may work with agencies like the Salvation Army or Red Cross. See how strong the connection is.
Red Cross offers many courses that you might wish to attend. You need not become a "Shelter Manager" just because you took their Shelter Mangement course, but you will gain a better understanding of shelter operations. This will help you to better interface with a Shelter Manager if you are assigned a duty post there. Check with your local Red Cross chapter for more information.
Another training resource is CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). This is a training program not just for communicators but also for the public. People from many walks of life go through this training as CERT teams will be called upon to assist when due to a wide-scale problem there aren't enough fire, police or rescue workers to fill all the tasks which might be required. CERT training teaches how to do "cribbing" to remove a victim trapped under rubble, basic first aid, going into a smoke-filled structure to assist those trapped and more. The hands-on drills are a good measure of what may present itsellf in real life. You are usually given basic CERT supplies to help you after the training process has been completed. I suggest that if there is a CERT training program in your area that you take it and be involved in periodic CERT test drills.
Under emergency conditions, radio operators are called upon to "man" evacuation centers. These are places, also called "shelters", that people can come to when they need a place to stay for a while. These shelters may be "activated" (started) by the Red Cross, Salvation Army or many other helping groups and will need communications. They supply the cots and food, we supply the "tongue". Most of the time, thanks to pre-made agreements, these shelters will be located in churches, schools and other large public buildings. Your emergency communications group will have a list of these possible sites could be opened depending upon the size and severity of the emergency.
GETTING TO YOUR SITE IN AN EMERGENCY
So, you've joined some emergency support group, taken some training and even done a few drills. That's great! Your equipment is ready. You're ready. But, "Murphy" has other ideas. Whether you're a member of ARES, RACES, SATERN, REACT, CERT or any other group, you need to do more homework than what they've suggested. What good is all your equipment, training and confidence if you can't get to a deployment site? Unfortunately, I've never seen any group adequately cover one of the most important steps in emergency communications: Getting volunteers to their final destinations as quickly and as safely as possible. Although this is especially true during natural disasters such as winter storms, hurricanes or intense periods of rain which produce almost catastrophic flooding, it can also encompass volunteers who attempt to deploy during other events such as wildfire emergencies. Can you imagine deploying to a wildfire disaster and almost getting trapped by the flames because no one told you the extent or the range of the fire? Well, it happened to me when I, with others, attempted to deploy during the Long Island wildfires a number of years ago. We were armed with everything we thought we needed.... except up-to-date information. No maps or directions were given so there we were "driving by the seat of our pants" in the dead of the night into what almost was a catastrophe for us all. Luckily, we back tracked and took the long way around finally reaching our deployment points.
Everyone was to blame for this screw-up. We, as seasoned veterans of dozens of emergencies, were at fault because in our zeal to respond, we never thought to ask for additional information concerning the safest route or the extent of the wildfire. Our EC was also at fault for not automatically supplying us with any information other than the locations at which to deploy. This has always been a bone of contention with me. When deploying, it is the responsibility of every radio officer or EC to supply enough information (including at times MAPS labeled with deployment and "fall back" points) and possible "pitfalls" whenever we are asked to go near "harm's way". Notice, I also listed "fall back" points or locations? In emergency mode you have backup repeaters and simplex frequencies which are known to your group. You better also have backup locations which are known because, as an example, during that same wildfire event we had to evacuate from the deployed shelter due to shifting winds which caused the fire to endanger that location. Without the proper information, I had to make a very strong suggestion to the shelter manager with an alternate shelter option. (Another school within that same district which had an MOU with Red Cross) I shouldn't have needed to do this, but the needs at the time, plus the lack of experience on the part of the shelter manager, made it vital that another location be quickly found. As we drove off to the alternate location, looking through my rear view mirror, I never saw flames as high as during this event.
Hopefully, you've read a lot of this book so you won't make the same dumb, and dangerous, mistakes we did. Being ready, equipped, trained, experienced and eager is not enough. You also need to be ARMED with as much information as possible. This information can either be given to you OR you need to do your homework and arm yourself. If you aren't given what you feel is adequate information...ASK!
Let's leave the wildfire event and talk about another emergency which is more likely to happen in almost any place in the country. That is, any disaster which might have the element of severe flooding. This might occur during a hurricane, a stalled front which drops heavy rain over a prolonged period of time or even quick spring snow thaws. You might be lucky enough to have a home which is situated high above any possible flood plain. But what if you want to provide communications or some other form of help to either your local community or region? You still have to get there.
According to "Mr. Murphy", the shortest route will almost always be the most hazardous. To circumvent this, you'll need to do some investigation of the terrain between your home and any/all possible deployment locations. As a start, in Texas, as in many other states, you'll find marked "flood gauges" on low areas of highways that are subject to flooding situations. This is all well and good, IF, they are all properly marked AND the sticks are in place to begin with. So what do you do with this very basic information? You need to get a detailed map of your county and perhaps the surrounding counties. (If you are limited in your deployment ability range, you may wish to use a smaller coverage map. In any event, make sure any map you use is as detailed as possible.) This will become your own personal "Master Deployment Map". First, mark all important locations... those where you might deploy to, hospitals, etc. Also on this map, you should mark all those possible road flooding points (using a different color marker). By doing this, you are already better prepared to deploy than 99% of EmComm ops. This is a much better start, but not a finish. Next, you'll need to investigate fragile points by using several options. One is to visit your local fire departments and talk to the veterans about any "high water rescues" and see where they were. If these locations were flooded before, chances are that they will be flooded again. Mark these locations on that map (use different colored markers so you can distinguish the difference).
Hooray for the Internet! This is a valuable tool in finishing off that map. Do a "Google" image search for pictures of flooded areas near your location and points between all possible shelters or locations you might be assigned to. Usually these images are also marked with locations, so mark these on your map.(again, another color) Again on the Internet, look up the terms "storm surge", "inundation" and "flooding" to see how they relate to locations within your area and mark on your map any additional points such as flood plains, dams, etc. as needed. You might also wish to check at your local library for old issues of local papers regarding past major flooding. If you see any locations where you've placed more than one color mark, than you know this is a very fragile location and it would be best if you avoided it. ALSO... mark on that map all the main evacuation routes either out of your area or, if you are located inland, into your area. Theses are also areas that you may wish to avoid because they might be jammed with evacuees. Ok, now I've overlooked one very important resource when it comes to flooding. That resource are you neighbors. The ones who've been living in your neighborhood for years. They can be a vital source of information. Ask them about any flooding over the years. Heed their advice. Make more marks on that map. If you live in a state or area prone to mudslides, mark those hazards too.
So, now what are you left with? A map that's worth it's weight in gold. A map that could make your deployment much easier. You'll be armed with information so you can decide which might be the best route (and alternate) to any deployment location and what areas to avoid due to flooding or congested evacuation routes. This map becomes doubly valuable in case you need to redeploy or evacuate from your current shelter or deployment area to another location. When you do deploy, do so with extreme caution. Don't attempt to cross streets which appear flooded, if you can't see the pavement lines or if water is flowing. You don't wish to add to the problem by becoming a flooding victim.
You might, if asked by net control, relay spots to avoid when your fellow volunteers are deploying by using your detailed map as a guide. Now that you've done this with a local area map (covering your county and surrounding areas), you should do the same with a regional map (covering most of your state or region). Time to do something else.... Make a copy of each map. It's always good to have a backup and maps are a cheap, yet vital, investment.
You may wish to talk to either your service group or EC to do this as a project with all the members in your group. Creating these maps is a great training project. This way, everyone will have their own map and in doing so it will also aquaint everyone with the terrain they might be traversing. DO NOT leave it to a committee as they never get anything done. Remember, it's your butt out there, so GET IT DONE even if you have to do it yourself!
After posting this webpage, I received an email from an EmComm volunteer in South Central Texas who was told by their ARES AEC that they should "pick up a map from a store on the way to their deployment location". WHAT??? You've got to be kidding! I had to read that email twice to believe it. This, from an AEC??!! That person should be fired! How dangerously lazy and stupid a concept! Sure... It's not their butt out there, it's yours. Still another email outlined a serious problem when, in California, a large CERT group was asked to deploy during a large scale event and map supplies at every store were depleted. How, even if you could get your hands on maps, would they be as useful, being void of all hazard locations, as that map you should have which outlines flood plains, low areas, possible shelters, etc? Don't wait until you're on your way to a site or at the end of "hurricane season". DO IT NOW!.
By the way.... You might also need to consult your map to get back home as the route you chose to get to an area may become impassable later due to continued rains or flooding. And for all you techies... GPS may tell you where you are, but not where all the flooded routes are. To shorten a quote from another emailer: "A map with a hole through it is still a map, a GPS with a hole through it is a piece of junk!"
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Your emergency communications organization will not be the one who opens shelters. That determination will be made by other people. Your radio organization WILL support each shelter that opens by supplying trained communicators. Once you have looked into the emergency communications organizations in your area, pick one that will allow you to grow, train you a bit, is active in tests and drills, welcomes new volunteers and responds the best to the community's needs. Don't pick a poorly organized group, one that lacks the ability or time to become productively involved or attempts to instruct you using old techniques that are no longer valid in today's world. Some of these groups seem like ghosts and are merely used to inflate egos. Pass them by. Take a good look at each organization's "track record". Do not rely on making a decision based upon their propaganda. The team you choose to be a part of will determine how the radio world and the public will see you, ie: "You're known by the company you keep."
For example, let's say you've chosen to enroll in the "Emergency Messaging Amateur Radio" or EMAR group. You've heard some nice things about them, such as their ability to effectively handle communications on behalf of the "International Community Support Services" during the last major hurricane in your area. After speaking to the EMAR's Radio Training Officer, he's invited you to join them at their next general meeting. The meeting will run along the lines of the radio club meetings that you've attended, so there won't be that much of a surprize. However, instead of the normal speaker that might be lined up to talk at a radio club meeting, you will have someone speak about training, such as how to assemble a "go bag", build a "J"pole antenna or perhaps review emergency on-the-air procedures. Then you might be asked to participate in a round-robin of simple traffic handling..... The moderator will whisper some information in the first member's ear. He will write down the information, then relay the information, via whispering, to the next person who will do the same, and so on down the line for about 4 people. The last person, who has written down the information he received, will then compare his information with the original traffic. This might just be a list of supplies for a shelter. After the comparison has been made, a critique of the procedure will take place. Although very crude, this is a great way to learn how to pass information exactly as heard and get to know the members of this group. Then they might talk about any emergency equipment they have "on the ready" or perhaps an actual radio room that is at their "command center" or EOC, Emergency Operations Center. An Emergency Operations Center is usually located near, or with, other agencies and has access to local governmental officials who make decisions during emergencies..
Hopefully, your emergency communications group will start to supply you with handouts about how they operate and a quick synopsis of what they do during an event. If you decide to actually join, they will have you fill out some paperwork, giving them information about you, your phone contact numbers in case you need to be "called out", and a list of the equipment you have on hand and other equipment you know how to operate. I'm sure that if they are an efficient group, they will also have a local repeater that they use during most events. PROGRAM IT IN YOUR RADIO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. They probably will wish to give you some sort of introductory training on exactly how they operate. Hopefully, you will "turn out" for any "test drills" they have. Treat any drill as a REAL EVENT. These drills will uncover any weakenss in their system or your own operation. They are learning events, so don't worry if you aren't perfect. All anyone can ask is that you do your best. By you being involved, they will soon see that you are going to be a sincere and dedicated radio operator. It will be at this point that you will be issued an official ID card or laminated badge with your picture on it that identifies you as a member of that group. This ID will help you get through any "off limits" areas or routes when you do your emergency communications duty. DO NOT ABUSE THIS. The way you conduct yourself will be a reflection on the entire communications group and ham radio operators in general.
At some point, you might be issued a shirt "uniform", with a distinctive patch that will also identify you as a communicator and will make you easier to spot by other officials. Some of the more effective emergency radio organizations allow you to rent one of their "pagers" that will beep during a "callup". It is ONLY used for this purpose, so you know that if it signals, there is an emergency or drill, and you will be required to check into their emergency net for further details.
After taking part in disaster drills and training, you will get to know the personalities of the other radio operators, how they talk and what any inflections in their voices might tell you. This is very important to learn, as their "stress level" might give you some indication of the seriousness of the event.
You might notice that NO WHERE in this discussion have I mentioned any of the "official" traffic handling procedures that might be drummed into the heads of radio operators with this junk being professed in other emergency lessons. Those old-fashioned traffic handling procedures might be fine for Aunt Tilly sending birthday greetings via amateur radio. They fall far short of relaying VITAL information to and from a Net Control Operator and radio operators out in the trenches during emergencies. I have NEVER used any of that format garbage during any local emergency communications, not even back during the earthquake in Alaska. It makes me both laugh and cringe when I hear groups dwelling on this during training. My guess is they dwell on this because they really have no idea what emergency communications is all about or what to teach you. The MOST important truth is that you get the right information to the Net Control Operator. From there, it will remain up to the Net Control Operator, and others, to decide it's next destination and format. It is up to YOU to send the information just as requested. Do not add any personal comments or opinions. Most of the communications you will be transmitting during an emergency event will involve re-stocking of a shelter, reporting the number of people in the shelter, requesting a nurse or social worker or some other similiar request. These do not need to be in any official "formatted" plan, they just need to be passed accurately.
REVIEW of this section:
Investigate all the emergency communications groups in your area and try to find one that has a record of efficient communications during past emergency events. Join one that trains and is active in a productive way using current communications procedures and not out-dated techniques. Forget about that NTS rubbish a "national" organization tries to ram down your throat, you'll never use it in a local emergency. Be involved in as many tests and drills as possible. Make sure you program into your radio their most often used frequencies. When you are issued an ID, do not abuse it's privilages. Be a professional at all times, both on the air and off, as it reflects on the entire ham radio community.
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Optional assignment: After contacting them, investigate and list the similarities of the various emergency communications groups in your area, such as ARES, RACES, SATURN and REACT. List the differences. Which one has an active, proven track record in your area? What agencies do they support by providing emergency communications? Which one(s) support new hams with official memberships, IDs and training? Check out your local Red Cross chapter and see if they offer training courses and find out what is covered in each course. Take one or two courses so you can be familiar with how Red Cross operates. Take the CERT Training when it is available in your area and be kept up-to-date by periodic CERT drills.
SECTION SEVEN : Before "IT" Hits (A NATURAL DISASTER)
Time to take a break in the sequential list of training and education. Before you dive into an emergency communications operation, you have to make sure that you will have on hand all the necessary equipment and other vital supplies to carry out your duty in an efficient and timely manner. Therefore, I have included the following section on a "List Of Essentials". Read it carefully. It will help you in choosing the proper equipment and supplies.
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