0 The ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course Level I Edited by Dave Colter, WA1ZCN Preface Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (AREC) is provided by several different types of emergency communications organizations. Level I, II and III courses have addressed some of these groups specifically. Examples are ARES, RACES, ACS, SKYWARN, SATERN, REACT, etc. It is not the intent of this series of courses to promote any specific group over another. The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) sponsored by the American Radio Relay League has the longest history of public service of any Amateur Radio emergency communications provider organizations. It is also the largest group and is found in almost every sector of the country. Many other groups are not. Therefore, specific knowledge of the ARES organizational structure and the duties and responsibilities of key ARES positions is important. Those matters will be discussed in detail in the Level III course. ARRL AREC Courses are specifically intended to provide more emergency communications tools to be used as may be appropriate for any given area. What works well fighting forest fires in Colorado may not work in conjunction with flooding in Pennsylvania. Use this information to benefit your community by adding whatever fits your particular area needs. Local protocol and training always takes precedence. On behalf of all the volunteer efforts to put these courses together, thanks for your participation. Front.pmd 1 7/19/2006, 10:07 AM Table of Contents 1 Introduction to Emergency Communication 2 Amateurs as Professionals – The Served Agency Relationship 3 Network Theory and the Design of Emergency Communication Systems 4 Emergency Communication Organizations and Systems 5 Served Agency Communication Systems 6 Basic Communication Skills 7 Introduction to Emergency Nets 8 Basic Message Handling – Part 1 9 Basic Message Handling – Part 2 10 Net Operating Guidelines 11 The Incident Command System 12 Preparing for Deployment 13 Equipment Choices for Emergency Communication 14 Emergency Activation 15 Setup, Initial Operations, and Shutdown 16 Operations & Logistics 17 Personal Safety, Survival, and Health Considerations 18 Alternative Communication Methods 19 What to Expect in Large-Scale Disasters 20 Hazardous Materials Awareness 21 Marine Communications 22 Other Learning Opportunities 23 Modes, Methods, and Applications Appendix A Quiz Question Answers Appendix B Student Activities Appendix C Reference Links Copyright 2004-2005 ISBN: 0-87259-846-2 Third Edition, Second Printing Front.pmd 2 7/19/2006, 10:07 AM Preface Amateur radio Emergency Communications is provided by several different types of emergency communications organizations. Level I, II and III courses have addressed some of these groups specifically. Examples are ARES, RACES, ACS, SKYWARN, SATERN, REACT, etc. It is not the intent of this series of courses to promote any specific group over another. The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) sponsored by the American Radio Relay League has the longest history of public service of any Amateur Radio emergency communications provider organizations. It is also the largest group and is found in almost every sector of the country. Many other groups are not. Therefore, specific knowledge of the ARES organizational structure and the duties and responsibilities of key ARES positions is important. Those matters will be discussed in detail in the Level III course. ARRL AREC Courses are specifically intended to provide more emergency communications tools to be used as may be appropriate for any given area. What works well fighting forest fires in Colorado may not work in conjunction with flooding in Pennsylvania. Use this information to benefit your community by adding whatever fits your particular area needs. Local protocol and training always takes precedence. On behalf of all the volunteer efforts to put these courses together, thanks for your participation. Front.pmd 3 11/7/2005, 10:15 AM Acknowledgements The following people/groups have been instrumental in providing valuable assistance to the program. This is by no means a complete list of contributors. We’ve gratefully received too many to name them all. Whether all or part of their material was used in the actual course, or if we simply used their material as review or reference in what was needed to be covered, we are sincerely grateful to each and every one for their dedication and willingness to participate. Only with their help, have we been able to complete the best ARRL training tool for Emergency Communications that has ever been put together. Thanks to everyone who assisted! L.B. Cebik, W4RNL Tom McClain, N3HPR Dan Miller, K3UFG Larry Dunn, N9HSW Rick Palm, K1CE Randall Winchester, WD4HVA Pat Lambert, WØIPL Mary Lau, N7IAL Ron Hashiro, AH6RH Ken Akasofu, KL7JCQ Gary Payne N9VE Mark Greene, PhD KD7JNF Greg Jones K3GJ Scott Garrett, W8JSG David Doane KC6YSO Dave Waltrous, WD2K Joe Dorn W5VEX John Hennessee, N1KB Paul Cavnar NN7B Max Soucia, N1KQS Jack Riegel III N5JAK Fred Stone, W8LLY Lyle Meek W6WF Ray Moody, AH6LT Betsey Doane K1EIC Suzy Price, N2LZR Terry Dettman WX7S Dave Patton, NT1N David Lane KG4GIY Ruben Kafenbaum, WA2NBL Harry Lewis W7JWJ Jim Andrews, WAØNHD Rich Slover, ND4F Nick Leggett, N3NL Rob Foshay, W9VK F. Dale Williams, K3PUR Eldon McDonald, KE4OCW Dennis Bodson, W4PWF Taylor Davidson, N4TD Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO Jeff Stidham, KC7FUY John Evans, N2QCE Richard Werner, K7UK Brennan Price, N4QX Ed Harris, KE4SKY Len Koppl, KDØRC Randy Long, WØAVV T.S. Bell, N2RSI Dave Tuttle, NC4DT Ken Goetz, N2SQW Tuck Miller, NZ6T Rosalie White, K1STO Stan Kaplan, WB9RQR Paul Drothler, WO4U Jim Cluett, W1PID Robert Lunsford, KB8UEY Jerry Boyd, K6BZ Rich Werner K7UK Peter Laws, N5UWY ARECC Contributors Mike Manes, W5VSI Jim Weslager, K3WR Patrick Taber, W5ABQ Steve Ewald, WV1X Terry Busby, W5ARS Ed Bixby, AKØX Art Feller, W4ART David Doane KC6YSO Perry Lundquist, W6AUN Dave Colter WA1ZCN Randy Allen, KAØAZS Paul Cavnar, NN7B Organizations that we have received input from. Kelly Bersch, KC7CSB (Please note that the names are in alphabetic sequence.) Mark Jewell, KC6CUB Colorado Section ARES Ben Green, WD8CZP Erie County, PA, SKYWARN Margie Bourgoin, KB1DCO Fairfax County, VA, RACES Brian Fernandez, KE6HKJ Front.pmd 4 11/7/2005, 10:15 AM Level 1 Learning Unit 1 5 Introduction to Emergency Communication Objectives: This unit will introduce you to the general concepts of emergency communication and how you, as volunteers, can best help. Student preparation required: You should have a sincere interest in improving your skills as an emergency communication volunteer. IIIIInnnnnfffffooooorrrrrmmmmmaaaaatttttiiiiiooooonnnnn::::: What is a Communication Emergency? Welcome! A communication emergency exists when a As you begin this series of courses, let us critical communication system failure puts the first thank you for choosing to expand your public at risk. A variety of circumstances can knowledge of Amateur Radio emergency overload or damage critical day-to-day communication, or “emcomm” as it is often communication systems. It could be a storm that called. Our professionalism and the knocks down telephone lines or radio towers, a effectiveness of our public service efforts will massive increase in the use of a communication be greatly improved if we all share a common system that causes it to become overloaded, or the base of knowledge, skills, and procedures. failure of a key component in a system that has In this course, you will learn new skills, and widespread consequences. new ways of thinking about existing skills. Examples are easily found. Violent storms and Sometimes the way we have always done earthquakes can knock down communication something is no longer useful or appropriate. facilities. Critical facilities can also be damaged in We hope that this course will challenge you to “normal” circumstances: underground cables are become the best emergency communicator dug up, fires occur in telephone equipment possible. buildings, or a car crash knocks down a key You may have ideas and material that could telephone pole. Hospital or 911 telephone systems add to the base of knowledge presented here. can fail. Even when no equipment fails, a large- Do not send these comments to your mentor as scale emergency such as a chemical or nuclear you take the course. Simply make a note of accident can result in more message traffic than them and include them in the course evaluation the system was designed to handle. Some form you will fill out at the end of the course. emergency operations occur in areas without any Since our methods and techniques must existing communication systems, such as with continually change to meet the needs of the backcountry searches or fires. communities we serve, so must this course. The ARECC curriculum committee will make What Makes A Good Emcomm Volunteer? changes after making careful periodic reviews Emcomm volunteers come from a wide variety of the course, and all student and mentor of backgrounds and with a range of skills and comments. A refresher course including these experience. The common attributes that all changes and other material will eventually be effective volunteers share are a desire to help offered to keep everyone up-to-date. others without personal gain of any kind, the Chap1.pmd 5 11/4/2005, 11:22 AM 6 Level 1 Learning Unit 1 ability to work as a member of a team, and to take cases, beyond reporting the situation to the proper direction from others. Emcomm volunteers need authorities, hams have little usefulness as to be able to think and act quickly, under the communicators at the onset of an emergency. stress and pressure of an emergency. You have no authority. In most cases, you cannot make decisions for others, or make Where Do You Fit In? demands on the agency you serve or any other Amateur Radio operators have been a agency. The only decisions you can make are communication resource in emergency situations whether to participate or not, and those affecting ever since there has been radio. Someone once your own health and safety. described hams as “communication commandos.” You cannot do it all. When the agency you are To the agencies they serve, Amateurs are their helping runs short of doctors, cooks, or traffic immediately available communication experts. cops, it is not your job to fill the void. In most Amateurs have the equipment, the skills, and cases, you are not trained for it. That does not the frequencies necessary to create expedient mean you cannot lend a hand to fill an urgent emergency communication networks under poor need when you are qualified to do so, or perform conditions. They are licensed and pre-authorized other jobs for the served agency of which for national and international communication. communication is an integral part, and for which Hams have the ability to rapidly enlarge their you are trained and capable. communication capacity to meet growing needs You are not in charge. You are there to in an emergency, something commercial and temporarily fulfill the needs of an agency whose public safety systems cannot do. Many of the communication system is unable to do its job. skills are the same ones used in everyday ham They tell you what they need, and you do your activities. best to comply. However, just having radios, frequencies, and “Day-to-Day” Versus “Emergency” basic radio skills is not enough. Certain Communication emergency communication skills are very different from those you use in your daily ham In your daily ham radio life, there is no radio life. Courses like this one help fill that need, pressure to get any particular message through. as do local training programs and regular You do things at your leisure, and no one’s life emergency exercises. Without specific emergency depends upon you. In an emergency all that communication skills, you can easily become part changes. Here are some differences you may see: of the problem rather than part of the solution. (cid:122) Unlike general Amateur Radio activities, As you might expect, technical and operating which involve primarily Amateur Radio skills are critical. Just as important, though, is operators, emergency communication involves your ability to function as a team player within both Amateurs and non-Amateurs. your own organization, and the organization you (cid:122) Unlike regular activities, emergency are serving. Those critical skills will also be operations happen in real time. Important covered in this course. activities cannot be delayed for convenience. (cid:122) Instead of one leisurely net a day, emergency What You Are Not communicators are often dealing with several As important as what you are, is what you are continuous nets simultaneously to pass critical not. There are limits to your responsibilities as an messages within a limited timeframe. emergency communicator, and it is important to (cid:122) Unlike public service events that are know where to draw the line. scheduled and planned, emergency You are not a “first responder.” Except in rare communicators are often asked to organize and cases of serendipity, you will seldom be first on coordinate field operations with little or no the scene. You do not need flashing lights and warning. sirens, gold badges, or fancy uniforms. In most Chap1.pmd 6 11/4/2005, 11:22 AM Level 1 Learning Unit 1 7 (cid:122) Unlike public service events where the could be assisting all the agencies listed above, communicators serve primarily under the and more. direction of one lead organization, emergency Communicating – Job #1 communicators may need to interact with several key organizations simultaneously. While you are proud of your skill as a radio (cid:122) Unlike typical home installations, emergency operator, and the impressive equipment and stations must be portable and able to be set up systems you have in place, it is important to and operational anywhere in a very short time. remember that your job is “communicating.” If an agency asks us to deliver a long shelter supply list (cid:122) Unlike contesting, which involves contacting to headquarters, you should be prepared to use any station for points, emergency communicators any means required – including the fax machine need to contact specific stations quickly to pass if it is still working. important messages. Teamwork is important, not Our job is to get the message through, even if it competition between stations. means using smoke signals. Do not think about (cid:122) Unlike Field Day, where you can plan on a how to use ham radio to send the message – just two-day operation, emergency operations have no think about the best and fastest way to send it. If schedule and are likely to continue for at least that means using ham radio, so much the better. If several days. all you have is CB or Family Radio, use it. If an (cid:122) Unlike commercial communication solutions, agency asks you to use their radio system, do it. where there is no reserve capacity for handling a Your operating and technical skills are just as sudden and massive increase in communication important as your ham radio resources. volume, Amateur Radio emergency communicators have the equipment, skills, and Anatomy Of A Communication Emergency knowledge to create additional capacity in a very In the earliest phases of many disasters, there is short time. no immediate need for emergency communication services. (An obvious exception The Missions would be a tornado or earthquake.) This phase The job you are asked to do will vary with the might occur during a severe storm “watch” or specific agency you serve. If that agency is the “warning” period. You should use this time to American Red Cross, you will be providing the monitor developments and prepare to deploy communications needed to maintain a system of when and if a request for assistance comes. Some shelters and other relief efforts. If it is a state or nets, such as the Hurricane Watch Net or local emergency management agency, you could SKYWARN, may be activated early in the storm be handling interagency communications, or watch or warning phases to provide the National serving as the eyes and ears of the emergency Weather Service and other agencies with up-to- managers. When a hospital’s telephone system the-minute information. fails, you might be handling the “mechanics” of Once a potential or actual need for more communicating so that doctors and nurses can communication resources is identified, a served concentrate on patients. In a large forest-fire or agency puts out the call for its volunteer search and rescue operation, you might be setting communicators. Depending on the situation, up personal phone patches for firefighters or operators and equipment might be needed at an rescuers to their families, or assisting with Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or to set up logistical communications to insure that food, in field locations, or both. supplies, personnel and materials arrive when and In some areas, a “Rapid Response Team” where needed. For the National Weather Service (RRT) or similar small sub-group might deploy a you will be reporting storm locations and weather minimal response in a very short time, to be conditions so that they can better inform and backed up by a second, more robust response in warn the public. In any widespread disaster, hams an hour or two. Chap1.pmd 7 11/4/2005, 11:22 AM 8 Level 1 Learning Unit 1 A “resource” or “logistics” net might be set up Reference links: to handle incoming communication volunteers ARRL Public Service Communications and direct resources where they are needed most. Manual: www.arrl.org/FandES/field.pscm/sec1- Any volunteer not presently assigned to a specific ch1.html net or task should check into and monitor this net. Once operations begin, all kinds of things can Review: happen. The volume of messages can grow Communication emergencies can result from a quickly, and confusion is common. In addition to variety of situations, including storms, handling messages, your organization will need to earthquakes, fires, and equipment damage or think about relief or replacement operators, food failure. Normal communication systems are and water, sleeping accommodations, batteries, rapidly overloaded by the increase in usage fuel, and other logistical needs. Radios and caused by an emergency, and most have little or antennas will fail and need to be replaced. Some no reserve capacity. operators will need to leave early for personal Amateur Radio operators are a national reasons. resource in a communication emergency, and Communication assignments might include your mission will vary with the agency you serve. staffing a shelter to handle calls for information, Hams have the skills, equipment, and frequencies supplies, and personnel, “shadowing” an official to rapidly expand the message carrying capacity to be their communication link, gathering weather of their networks. Specific emcomm skills are information, or collecting and transmitting also required to meet the special needs of a damage reports. Some nets might pass health and communication emergency. welfare inquiries to refugee centers, or pass messages from refugees to family members Student Activities: outside the disaster area. Other nets might handle 1a. List three ways in which emergency logistical needs for the served agency, such as communications are similar to day-to-day those regarding supplies, equipment, and communications. personnel. 1b. List six ways in which emergency Nets will be set up, rearranged, and dismantled communications differ from non-emergency as needs change. Volunteers will need to remain communications. flexible in order to meet the changing needs of 2. In an emergency situation, a served agency the served agency. Over time, the need for asks you to forward an urgent message. Which emergency communication networks will one of the following methods would you NOT diminish as the message load decreases, and some employ? In one or two sentences, tell why you nets will be closed or reduced in size. Operators selected your answer. will be released to go home one by one, in small CB radio groups, or all at once as the needs dictate. Family radio Not long after the operation has ended, the Informal, conversational grapevine emergency communication group should review The served agency’s own radio system. the effectiveness of its response, either alone or with the served agency. This might be done on the Share your responses to both activities with air in a formal net, by email, or in a face-to-face your mentor. meeting. However it is done, it should occur as soon as possible after operations have ended to be sure that events are fresh in everyone’s mind. Critiques, done properly, can greatly improve your organization’s – and your own – effectiveness. Chap1.pmd 8 11/4/2005, 11:22 AM Level 1 Learning Unit 1 9 Questions: 1.When does a communication emergency 4. Which of the following describes the exist? function of a Rapid Response Team (RRT)? a. Whenever the public is at risk. a. To handle large-scale emergencies over an b.When there is an earthquake in your area extended period. and the public is inconvenienced. b.To deploy a quick response in a very short c. When a critical communication system time. fails and the public is inconvenienced. c. To establish and operate a storm watch d.When a critical communication system prior to any emergency. fails and the public is put at risk. d.To review of the effectiveness of an emergency communication group. 2.Which of the following is it most important for an emcomm group to do at the end of an 5. In an emergency situation — when a served emergency communication operation? agency asks you to forward an urgent a. Review the effectiveness of its response. message — which one of the following b.Take photos of the activity. methods would you NOT employ? c. Call the local newspaper to schedule a. CB radio interviews b.Family radio d.Review the activities of the first c.Informal, conversational grapevine responders. d.The served agency’s own radio system. 3.Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of emergency communicators? a. Making demands on the agency being served. b.Having radios, frequencies and basic radio skills. c. Being licensed and preauthorized for national and international communications. d.Possessing emergency communication skills. Chap1.pmd 9 11/4/2005, 11:22 AM 10 Level 1 Learning Unit 1 Chap1.pmd 10 11/4/2005, 11:22 AM