National Emergency Communications Foundation. ©Rick Aldom 2005 Disaster Communications AnyTime – AnyPlace National Emergency Communications Foundation

Disaster Communications AnyTime – AnyPlace ©Rick Aldom 2005

National Emergency Communications

Foundation



Foundation

Richard Aldom Founder - National Emergency Communications

Foundation Hold Highest Level FCC Amateur License Participant in Emergency and Public Service – 20+ years Amateur Coordinator - Chesapeake, VA during Hurricane

Isabel ARRL - Arizona Section Emergency Coordinator Operations Director – Maricopa County EmComm Group EmComm Coordinator – Operation Good Neighbor Event Coordinator – Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure ’04/05 Event Coordinator – Tempe Ironman ’05 Maricopa County Emergency Coordinator ’02/03 Event Coordinator Fiesta Bowl Parade ‘05


National Emergency Communications Foundation

Background of Amateur Radio Mission Statement Benefits of Amateur Radio to the

Community Training Programs Standards Program Transportation Factors



Foundation

Amateur Radio has about 700,000 operators in the United States - 70,000 active in EMCOMM

More than 40 Consecutive Days of service in the Gulf Region after Hurricanes Katrina & Rita

Ham Radio played an important part of the 2004 Florida Hurricane Response

Ham Radio is the MOST frequency agile form of emergency communications with THOUSANDS of Channels available.



Foundation

Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service - RACES– Established by FCC at start of Cold War– Primary purpose to provide National Scale

Communications– Is invoked by federal/state/local government– Limited by regulation to 2 hours of

practice/month– Strict limits on Frequencies and Stations

contacted



Foundation

Amateur Radio Relay League - ARRL– 160,000+ Members Nationally– Founded Amateur Radio Emergency

Services - ARES– ARES training time not restricted– ARES Management Structure includes

national/sectional/district to serve community needs



Foundation Volunteer Communication adds much

redundancy & bandwidth during disasters – All Departments in government need communications

Health – Hospital – Fire – Police – Public Works - Transportation

Amateur Radio is INTEROPERABILITY Standardization in procedures and equipment

will result in more utility to associated agencies Dedicated funding for training, equipment and

travel brings additional efficiency to disaster response



Specific Uses of Amateur Radio – EOC to EOC Communications– Logistical Staging Areas (LSA)– Points of Distribution (POD)– Specific Care Facilities internal and EOC– Shelter to EOC & Intra-shelter Comms– Task Force and Strike Team Comms– Health and Welfare Outgoing Messages



Foundation

Our Mission:

Training & Certification of Communications Volunteers

and Provider of Qualified Communicators to Communities

during Disasters



Community Benefits– Community Hospital Coordination

Inter-Hospital & Intra-Hospital

– Public Works Site to Site Communications Task Force Communications

– Transportation Road Condition Reporting

– Direct Community Support Ice & Water Drops Drug Distribution



Rapid Communications SetupRapid Communications Setup– HoursHours – NOT DAYS – NOT DAYS– Systems tailored to NeedsSystems tailored to Needs

Individual NetsIndividual Nets– Management Functions Management Functions – Limited number of StationsLimited number of Stations

Group NetsGroup Nets– Good for Distribution ManagementGood for Distribution Management

““Who’s got water / ice / MRE’s?”Who’s got water / ice / MRE’s?”– Route ConditionsRoute Conditions– Intra-Shelter CommunicationsIntra-Shelter Communications



Foundation

Provide Emergency Communications (EMCOM) training to Volunteer Communicators

Provide Opportunities for Emergency Communications Management Certification

Assist communities in locating and recruitment of Communicators for your Area

Provide Communicators to communities hit by disasters from all areas of the Nation



Foundation Goals

– Training & Certification EMCOM Training Equipment Operation Emergency Mgt

– Equipment Standardization Wide Area Coverage - Repeaters Mobile Communication Facilities Position Locating Equipment

– Transportation Getting Resources to Scene Managing Volunteer Logistics



Foundation Recent fires in Southern

California resulted in the significant failure of the 800 Mhz Communications system leaving local fire resources to utilize short range FRS radios available at Radio Shack

Hurricane Katrina left the Gulf without ANY MEANINGFUL communications capability

Disaster management without adequate communications is difficult if not down right impossible



Foundation

ARCT TEAMS– ARCT Type 1 – Full Field Station and 4 Mobile/Portable– ARCT Type 2 – Field/Base Station Long Range w/Digital– ARCT Type 3 - Field/Base Station Long Range w/o Digital– ARCT Type 4 – 2 Mobile/Portable Tactical Units– ARCT Type 5 – 1 Amateur Radio Operator (ARO)

– Development of ARCT Team Leaders who can build & manage ad hoc teams in the field



Foundation

All levels of certification require active participation and annual review

Certified communicators will require activity reviews annually from host agencies

State, local governments and hosting agencies to participate in the review process



Foundation

NECS will seek to assist local organizations in securing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with local agencies as needed

NECS will use the feedback from these meetings to continuously improve and update training materials



Foundation

Benefits of Amateur Radio to the Community

Cost to Communities nearly ZERO $$ Communications Redundancy in times of Crisis Allows “Paid” Personnel to “DO” what they are

paid to do Incredible existing infrastructure in place TODAY Direct link between County and Community EOC Additional Bandwidth for use as the Community

Needs dictate



Foundation Volunteerism is what makes

our country great Our program will allow

volunteers to reach those in the greatest need from natural disasters or acts of terror

Most communities don’t fully understand the capabilities of volunteer communicators or their infrastructure



Foundation

At the Local Level active participation in emergencies, drills and evaluations is the most effective means to improve efficiency

Volunteers loose interest without participation– Communities have the responsibility for

inclusion– Volunteers have the responsibility to provide

the highest level of service possible– Recognition is the only “PAY” required



Foundation

Questions??



Foundation

Thank you

Contact at:– [email protected]– 480-707-8423


Documents

National Emergency Communications Foundation. ©Rick Aldom 2005 Disaster Communications AnyTime – AnyPlace National Emergency Communications Foundation