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Duval County Amateur Radio Emergency Service |
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Duval County Amateur Radio Emergency Service |
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PERSONNEL
Leadership
The following job descriptions outline the duties of various ARES personnel during routine (non-emergency) operations. Each team member who is mobilized during an activation will have a second responsibility for the duration of his assignment, and this mobilization billet may vary from activation to activation, depending on the nature of the activation and the manpower available.
Job Descriptions
Emergency Coordinator (EC) The County EC is primarily responsible for managing all ARES communications within the specific jurisdiction. The EC is also charged with promoting ARES for the benefit of the public as a voluntary non-commercial communication service through:
Assistant Emergency Coordinators (AEC) The EC may appoint assistants who are responsible for managing specific activities necessary to establish and develop a viable ARES unit. AECs consist of individuals who have advanced preparation for the assignment and local knowledge.
The Duval County ARES Assistant EC's include:
Agency Liaison Personnel An agency liaison is appointed by the EC to coordinate ARES activities with each major served agency. The Duval County ARES Agency Liaisons currently include:
Teams
QRT
A Quick Response Team (QRT) comprised of roughly 25 Duval County area amateur radio operators has been established. The purpose of the QRT is to quickly mobilize select emergency communications operators as soon as possible after receiving an official request from a served agency. QRT members have made advanced preparation, including the availability of portable radios, battery back-up and personal gear appropriate to sustain themselves for several days of emergency operations.
Individual personal initiative motivates development of emergency communication skills which are demonstrated in disciplined radio "networks". In any large-scale emergency there will be many participating amateurs who will not have the benefit of such advance preparation. For this reason, QRT members are placed in critical positions requiring specialized ability and proficiency.
QRT members are able to construct "field ready" stations to suit virtually any communica-tions need, in practically any environment. A variety of methods are available to generate and provide the electrical power necessary to sustain prolonged radio communications in remote areas. Lengths of wire are measured, cut to size, and within minutes are fashioned into antennas.
On-going training, often provided by served agencies, assures continuity of operations and keeps interest levels high. This has an added benefit in that it assists with the retention of qualified operators who remain available for deployment in emergencies. Frequent testing of emergency equipment, antennas, and other related communications gear is performed prior to an actual event. Weekly training "nets" conducted on the air, allow this to be accomplished.
ARES Reserve Team
A second list has been established of 25 radio amateurs who have indicated a willingness to assist with emergency communications, some lacking the training, experience or time commitment of the QRT members
Hams at-large
In any real emergency, there are always a number of radio amateurs who step forward to volunteer who have no current formal commitment to ARES. In some cases these are Hams who have previously been active with ARES, and in others these are those with little or no previous experience, but who have a sincere desire to help. Since a real emergency taxes the limits of any organization, there will always be more jobs than personnel. These volunteers are gladly accepted, and given meaningful assignments for as long as they are willing to serve within the framework of ARES procedures.
Frequently, they are paired with a more experienced member so that they may receive on-the-job training. In the most pressing times, they are given written instructions and dispatched to a site on their own. Careful after-action follow-up ensures that those who perform well are invited to become regular members of and ARES team
TRAINING & DRILLS
Obviously, having a cast-of-thousands to operate during an emergency does little good if the cast members are not familiar with emergency operations. Since there is a periodic turnover of ARES personnel, training must not only cover the major facets of the Emergency Communications Plan, but it must be repeated on a regular basis.
The following material is quoted from the Section Emergency Communications Plan:
Nothing is more beneficial for long-term planning than real ARES activations, but since these can't be arranged in advance, the next best planning tool is frequent well-designed training sessions. They should be carried out frequently in each County and District to familiarize ARES members with the needs and personnel of served agencies and with local emergency plans. Participation by ARES members in regular Section traffic nets is excellent emergency training and should be encouraged by ARES officials at every opportunity.
These simple training exercises, useful and necessary as they are, can do only half the job. The DEC and each EC should design specific test operations to identify weak points in their systems, and then devise ways to eliminate them or work around them.
Each session of any ARES net should be regarded as a training exercise. Frequent "repeater down" drills should be run to familiarize ARES members with hot spots and holes in simplex coverage and to devise work-arounds when the repeater goes off the air.
Local Drills and Exercises
At least once each month, each EC should conduct a one or two-hour test of emergency readiness among his members. They can test any phase of the group's capabilities, e.g.:
- Check the range of a portable repeater in a temporary location.
- Install and test a permanent antenna at an agency HQ.
- Survey the County to find dead spots in the ARES repeater coverage.
- Run a local net session exclusively on emergency power or on simplex or both.
- Start and run every emergency generator owned by the ARES group. Repair the defective ones.
- Hold a surprise net session at an unusual time to see how many stations check in.
After every exercise and every actual operation, the ARES officials involved should conduct an intensive debriefing session. Local and District plans should be updated to take advantage of the experience.
====== This marks the end of the quote from the Section Emergency Plan ==========
Weekly Nets
The Duval County Emergency Net is conducted each Wednesday night by the Duval County ARES. The net starts at 7:07 p.m. local time and typically runs between 15 and 60 minutes. Occasionally, equipment operation drills are incorporated into the net format.
Some of the drills performed in the last year include:
Weekly Net Script
THE DUVAL COUNTY EMERGENCY NET
AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE
NOTE: INSTRUCTIONS ARE IN LIGHT PRINT - VERBAL FORMAT IN BOLD
(AT 18:50 HOURS: PAGE THE DUVAL COUNTY ARES GROUP PAGER & KEY IN ACTIVATION CODE: " 70 * 70 * 70 " OR "76 * 76 * 76". START NET AT 19:00.)
DURING HURRICANE SEASON, USE THE W4RNG REPEATER ON 146.76 MHz AND KEY IN " 76 * 76 * 76 ".
OUTSIDE OF HURRICANE SEASON, USE THE W4IZ REPEATER ON 146.70 Mhz. AND KEY IN " 70 * 70 * 70 "
BEGINNING ON MAR 6, 2002, THE NET START-TIME WILL CHAGE TO 19:30 HRS LOCAL TIME
QST - QST - THIS IS ______ ACTIVATING THE DUVAL COUNTY EMERGENCY NET.
PUNCH IN TONE ALERT BY HOLDING MIKE OPEN AND PRESSING APPROPRIATE CODE
CQ, CQ, CQ: CALLING CQ THE DUVAL COUNTY EMERGENCY NET. MY PERSONAL CALL IS __________ AND MY NAME IS ______. THE PURPOSE OF THIS NET IS TO PREPARE OUR MEMBERS AND THEIR EQUIPMENT, FOR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AND TO RELAY INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES TO THE AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY. IF THIS REPEATER FAILS DURING THIS NET, OUR FIRST BACK-UP REPEATER WILL BE _________.
READ ON THE FIRST NET OF THE MONTH ONLY: *************************************
NET CONDITIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
AS YOU CHECK IN, PLEASE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
(If there is severe weather during the net, you may also ask stations to give a BRIEF report)
PACKET STATIONS MAY CHECK IN ON 145.77 BY CONNECTING TO "JXEOC", THEN TYPE "C" AND THEN "S N4RYX". PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGES OR TRAFFIC OF NET INTEREST IN THE MAILBOX. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO CHECK-IN ON PACKET OR APRS, PLEASE NOTIFY NET CONTROL AS YOU CHECK IN BY VOICE TONIGHT.
PLEASE DO NOT BREAK THE NET UNLESS YOU HAVE EMERGENCY OR PRIORITY TRAFFIC. YOU SHOULD BREAK THE NET AT ANY TIME IF YOU DO HAVE SUCH TRAFFIC.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, CONTACTS, VOLUNTEER REQUESTS AND QUIRIES WILL BE HANDLED AS YOU CHECK IN DURING THE NET.
WHEN MOVING A STATION TO ANOTHER FREQUENCY, TO SAVE TIME, THE STATION ORIGINATING THE TRAFFIC CHOOSES AND ANNOUNCES THE ALTERNATE FREQUENCY.
ARE THERE ANY STATIONS HOLDING EMERGENCY OR FORMAL WRITTEN TRAFFIC FOR THE NET AT THIS TIME? (IF SO, HANDLE NOW.)
THE "ARES" EMERGENCY OFFICIAL ROLL-CALL FOLLOWS:
ARE THERE ANY OTHER EC'S OR AEC'S FROM SURROUNDING COUNTIES OR OTHER JURISTICIONS, OTHER THAN DUVAL? YOUR CALL SIGNS PLEASE.
DUVAL COUNTY ASSISTANT EMERGENCY COORDINATORS;
AGENCY LIASON OFFICERS:
******************************************************************************************
GENERAL CHECK-INS: (ONCE EACH MONTH) Just a reminder, if you are mobile please advise your present location to assist us in gauging the coverage of the repeater. Fixed stations please announce your geographical area by ZIP Code as you check in.
******************************************************************************************
ROLL CALL WILL BE DONE BY THE FIRST LETTER OF THE SUFFIX OF YOUR CALL SIGN.
FOR EXAMPLE, W4ABC WILL CHECK IN UNDER THE "ALPHA" DESIGNATION. AS YOU CHECK IN, PLEASE STATE YOUR CALL PHONICIALLY FOLLOWED BY YOUR NAME.
ROLL CALL FOLLOWS;
ARE THERE ANY LATE CHECK-INS?
ARE THERE ANY VISITORS TO THE AREA WHO WISH TO CHECK IN TO THE NET?
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCMENTS, BULLETINS OR TRAFFIC ?
AT THIS TIME, WE ENCOURAGE ANY COMMENTS YOU WISH TO MAKE ABOUT ARES OR DISCUSSION OF GENERAL INTEREST TO THE HAM RADIO COMMUNITY. IF YOU NEED INFORMATION OR HAVE ARES RELATED QUESTIONS, THIS PORTION OF THE NET IS DEDICATED TO SUCH TRAFFIC. PLEASE GIVE YOUR CALL SIGN NOW. (PAUSE 5-10SEC)
THE DUVAL COUNTY ARES NET MEETS EACH WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 1900 HOURS ON THIS REPEATER. ALL STATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CHECK IN AND THANKS TO ALL WHO DID SO TONIGHT.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE, PLEASE CALL N4RYX ON THE HAM RADIO HOT LINE AT 350-9193`
THIS IS ___________ CLOSING THE ARES NET AT ________ LOCAL TIME.
(INPUT CODE TO RETURN REPEATER TO NORMAL USE)
ARESnet Revised 0/08/01
Network Operator's Workstation
The minimum equipment necessary to participate in a 2m net is simply a Handie-Talkie (H/T), and at times this is all that is desirable. However, when dependable communications over the long haul is the goal, a number of other factors come into play.
The following resources are recommended for use at any ARES base or Gateway station:
2m/ 70cm Radio
Antenna
Work Area
Shack Computer
Building
In addition, Gateway Stations will require the following
Use FRS radios to supplement ham tools and as intercom to family members.
SCHEDULED DRILLS
The Duval County ARES participates in a Mass-Casualty Incident (MCI) drill on a regular basis in cooperation with the Duval County Emergency Operations Center and the First coast Disaster Council. This drill is normally held annualy during October. ARES normally provides operators for the communications and transportation sectors at the scene, the EOC, and operators at each participating hospitals.
PUBLIC SERVICE FUNCTIONS
Non-emergency communications exercises are conducted during the River Run, festivals, parades, and similar functions where many participants and extremely large crowds gather. Ham radio operators are requested to provide communications by the organizers of these events, primarily for the purpose of reporting medical emergencies and injuries, or other incidents requiring emergency-service personnel. In addition to the PR value of these public-service activities, these functions provide excellent training opportunities. As much as possible, the same procedures are used to provide public service communications as those used during real emergencies.
INSIGNIA
Since emergency communications is normally needed at the scene of an emergency, there is frequently a problem with team members crossing the police lines and barricades which law enforcement officials tend to set up around emergency scenes. Once on scene, instant recognition as a radio operator is necessary when dealing with a multitude of incident command personnel. Even in non-emergency situations, public recognition is still an important factor.
For this reason, the Duval County ARES has set up a variety of identification devices which are useful in dealing with law-enforcement officials and the public.
ARES Operator Insignia
QRT Insignia
<Picture of ID badge goes here>
<Picture of decal goes here>
May 24, 2000
Re: Amateur Radio Personnel Identification Badges
Dear
In the event of a natural disaster or mass casualty incident, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department utilizes the Quick Response Teams (QRT) of the Duval County Amateur Radio Emergency Services to enhance communications during the incident. They provide ham radio operations in the JFRD Command Van, the Emergency Departments of local Medical Centers, and the Emergency Operations Center.
The Emergency Preparedness Division of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department has issued identification badges to those ham operators who have successfully completed the extensive training required for membership on the QRT.
I have enclosed a sample of the authorized Identification Badge. I would appreciate your dissemination of this information to all Law Enforcement personnel within your organization responsible for scene security. This information and sample badge will assist them in understanding the purpose of the QRT and in identifying its members as they travel through secured perimeters.
Please direct any questions to Robert "Chip" Patterson, Division Chief/Emergency Preparedness at 630-2472.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Ray Alfred
Director/Fire Chief
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS DECALS
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the decal is to identify you and your vehicle as an official part of the emergency response program sponsored by the Duval County Office for Emergency Preparedness.
ACTION EXPECTED:
It is anticipated that all law enforcement officers in Duval County will respect the official letter sent to their superiors by Fire Chief Ray Alfred on October 25, 1999, requesting that ham radio operators displaying proper identification will be admitted to a scene when called by Fire/Rescue and/or the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to serve in a communication capacity.
RESPONSIBILITY:
As officially appointed representatives, it is imperative that members of ARES conduct themselves in a most professional manner at all times when and where ever this decal is displayed. This includes in the conduct of your daily activities even when not serving during an emergency. Please be aware of the display of your decal at all times when you are in your vehicle, avoiding any appearance of conflict with the driving public. Consider it, if you will, a "badge of honor" issued by a high public official in our city.
DISPLAY OF DECAL:
It is important that we display the decals in a uniform manner for easy identification by the authorities responsible for the security of an emergency scene. The decal should be displayed in the lower left front corner of your windshield or, optionally, in the lower corner of the rear window behind the driver of the vehicle, or both. These are the only authorized positions at this time .
QUALIFICATIONS FOR OBTAINING THE DECAL:
You are qualified to display the decal if you have been issued a QRT Identification Card. QRT members should carry their ID cards with them at all times.
SALE OF YOUR VEHICLE:
In the event you sell your vehicle, promptly remove the decal prior to delivery to the new owner. The decal may be reused, however, a new decal will be made available if you cannot salvage the old one. The new decals (which may or may not be reflective) can be obtained from the Duval County Emergency Coordinator for ARES cost of $5.00.
Miller Norton, N4RYX,
Emergency Coordinator, Duval County, FL. 5/22/00
Northern Florida Section Insignia
ARES volunteers who have received annual training in Section and State Emergency Operations are issued one of two picture ID badges, depending on the date of issue.
These are labeled as follows:
1) SERT (State Emergency Response Team) with white background, or
2) ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) with yellow background
Page maintained by Frank H. Ingle, kg4cqk@arrl.net. Copyright(c) 2002 by Frank Ingle. Created: 1/12/02 Updated: 05/29/02
