ARES Training July 11, 2006 Stephen Clark WE5K

The ARES E-Letter; February 15, NIMS/ICS Training Essential The Department of Homeland Security is requiring all first responders, including volunteers, to complete training in the National Incident Management System (NIMS) by This sounds formidable, but in reality there is an Independent Study course from FEMA that covers it. The course is IS go to and find the course list. Follow directions and you will get to IS-700. Readers can take the course on line or download the material and do it at their own pace. It shouldn't take more than three hours in any case. There's a final exam on line, but it isn't going to cost much sweat (or any money - courses are all free). After passing the final, the student will get notification by or regular mail. Readers are encouraged to look at the rest of the course offerings on the FEMA training Web site. They represent a wealth of knowledge, organized so that us real people can get through them and actually learn something. They aren't rocket science, just good stuff we need to know! -- John Amos, KC6TVM, ADEC, Hospital Net Coordinator, Santa Clara County, California. See also IS-100, and IS Lloyd Colston ; K3XO training also available: The ICS course is available free of charge. -- Rip Smith, K3XO

The ARES E-Letter; February 15, 2006  We need a plan to incorporate outside volunteers into our ARES group if our area is hit.

Resource Manuals  Public Service Communications Manual  ARES FIELD RESOURCES MANUAL

ARES E-letter  ARES E-letter -- Katrina Wilma review ARES E-letter -- Katrina Wilma review ARES E-letter -- Katrina Wilma review

Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Defining the Amateur Radio Response Chippewa County, Michigan Chippewa County, Michigan March 4, 2006

Post Katrina and Rita Issues  Department of Homeland Security established by now  FEMA downsized as “duplicate functions” assumed by other DHS agencies  Timely and accurate warnings  First test of National Incident Management system  Failure to recognize the potential devastation and loss of life

Post Katrina and Rita Issues  Massive loss of virtually all infrastructure  Few HF stations left in operation  VHF, UHF networks destroyed  VoIP links maintained via satellite  Many trained and properly equipped operators turned away, even in areas with light or moderate damage  No deployment plan or pre-staging of amateur radio resources

Post Katrina and Rita Issues  Still no national amateur radio emergency response plan  Poor use of basic Incident Management System concepts: Staging AreasStaging Areas Management of ResourcesManagement of Resources Damage AssessmentDamage Assessment  Attempted use of amateur radio resource database (after the fact)  ARES/RACES structures do not reflect DHS mandated training

Post Katrina and Rita Issues  Other organizations worked tirelessly to assist emergency responders that, due to the storm, did not have the equipment and means to effectively carry out their duties. Amateur Radio Operators from both the Amateur Radio Emergency Service and the American Radio Relay League, monitored distress calls and rerouted emergency requests for assistance throughout the U.S. until messages were received by emergency response personnel. A distress call made from a cell phone on a rooftop in New Orleans to Baton Rouge was relayed, via ham radio, from Louisiana to Oregon, then Utah, and finally back to emergency personnel in Louisiana, who rescued the 15 stranded victims.11 Ham radio operators voluntarily manned the amateur radio stations at sites such as the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Watch Net, Waterway Net, Skywarn and the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network  - from “The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina”, The White House

A Quick Analysis  Both ARES and RACES are outdated  “Required” training and equipment are determined at the local level  Some counties have no program at all (“We don’t need any amateurs in an emergency!”)  Some counties have outstanding resources, but are unwilling to share  Some reluctance still exists to integrate NTS with EmComm  No procedures exist for deployment

Training and Certification From the ARRL Letter: “The Board also resolved to establish an ad hoc ARRL National Emergency Response Planning Committee "to appropriately prepare for future large-scale disasters." The panel will develop a comprehensive recommendation for ARRL responses to national, regional and international disasters. The Board will consider the recommendations at its 2007 annual meeting next January.” “The Board also resolved to establish an ad hoc ARRL National Emergency Response Planning Committee "to appropriately prepare for future large-scale disasters." The panel will develop a comprehensive recommendation for ARRL responses to national, regional and international disasters. The Board will consider the recommendations at its 2007 annual meeting next January.” Our issues are being addressed!

Training and Certification  ARRL Certification and Continuing Education courses: Level 1, 2 and 3Level 1, 2 and 3 Digital CommunicationsDigital Communications VHF/UHF Beyond the RepeaterVHF/UHF Beyond the Repeater  IS-100, 200, 700, 800  ARES Handbook  Public Service Communications Manual  Section and local products

Training and Certification  National Incident Management System resource typing How do we identify an “Amateur Radio Type 1 Unit”?How do we identify an “Amateur Radio Type 1 Unit”? How do we ensure that each unit reflects common training, equipment, duty cycle and interoperability?How do we ensure that each unit reflects common training, equipment, duty cycle and interoperability? Much banter on the subject, many are concerned.Much banter on the subject, many are concerned. We must attempt to conform to nationally accepted standards once they are approved.We must attempt to conform to nationally accepted standards once they are approved.

Training and Certification  Credentials Must be earned through training, testing and demonstrated abilityMust be earned through training, testing and demonstrated ability Must be accepted by local, state and federal authoritiesMust be accepted by local, state and federal authorities Must allow access to appropriate sites and disaster areas, based upon need and approval of a central controlling authority (DHS?)Must allow access to appropriate sites and disaster areas, based upon need and approval of a central controlling authority (DHS?) Should optionally show resource typingShould optionally show resource typing Should be used with written orders to report, signed by requesting authorityShould be used with written orders to report, signed by requesting authority

Chippewa County  We should continue as a combined ARES/RACES organization  We should accept the training requirements that may be imposed  We should “get ahead of the power curve” by seeking training above that which is merely required  We should closely coordinate and cooperate with Mr. McKee  We should advocate a state and federal plan for amateur radio

Brazoria County Texas  We should follow suit to develop Mission (local, regional, national)Mission (local, regional, national) Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles VisionVision ValuesValues