disaster communications amateur radio and the medical reserve corps national leadership conference,...
TRANSCRIPT
Disaster Disaster CommunicationsCommunications
Amateur Radio Amateur Radio
and theand the
Medical Reserve CorpsMedical Reserve Corps
National Leadership Conference, Dallas Texas - 2006
WelcomeWelcome
Jeffrey T. Reilly – Westchester Jeffrey T. Reilly – Westchester County, NYCounty, NY Program Specialist - EMSSProgram Specialist - EMSS MRC Training CoordinatorMRC Training Coordinator
GoalsGoals
Walk away with a basic understanding Walk away with a basic understanding of Amateur Radioof Amateur Radio
Understand how Public Service Groups Understand how Public Service Groups can augment your infrastructurecan augment your infrastructure
Start you thinking about Start you thinking about communication shortfalls in your MRCcommunication shortfalls in your MRC
Setting Realistic and Workable Setting Realistic and Workable PartnershipsPartnerships
Amateur RadioAmateur Radio
Commonly known as “Ham” RadioCommonly known as “Ham” Radio Humble beginnings to a Humble beginnings to a
sophisticated, multi-medium sophisticated, multi-medium communications “hobby”communications “hobby” Hams can talk across the street, or Hams can talk across the street, or
around the worldaround the world
All Hams are not created equally All Hams are not created equally
Federally licensed through the FCCFederally licensed through the FCC Rigid testing of different “classes”Rigid testing of different “classes” Some use Morse Code (... --- …)Some use Morse Code (... --- …) Some don’t and aren't required to Some don’t and aren't required to
know it.know it. Some use low power, some much moreSome use low power, some much more Some can and do use computersSome can and do use computers Some can’t stand the use of computersSome can’t stand the use of computers
All Hams are, howeverAll Hams are, however
Curious!Curious!
Types of CommunicationsTypes of Communications
Digital – much like the internet with Digital – much like the internet with written messageswritten messages
VoIP – Echolink / eQSOVoIP – Echolink / eQSO Audio – Voice communications – plain Audio – Voice communications – plain
EnglishEnglish Video – SSTVVideo – SSTV Satellites and the ISS are used as Satellites and the ISS are used as
wellwell
Organized groups (NETS)Organized groups (NETS)
ARES – Amateur Radio Emergency ARES – Amateur Radio Emergency ServiceService
RACES – Radio Amateur RACES – Radio Amateur Communication Emergency ServicesCommunication Emergency Services
SKYWARNSKYWARN MARSMARS ARDSARDS SATERNSATERN Hurricane Watchers NETHurricane Watchers NETTo name a very few……
Organized groups (NETS)Organized groups (NETS) ARES – Amateur Radio Emergency ServiceARES – Amateur Radio Emergency Service RACES – Radio Amateur Communication Emergency ServicesRACES – Radio Amateur Communication Emergency Services SKYWARNSKYWARN MARSMARS ARDSARDS SATERNSATERN Hurricane Watchers NETHurricane Watchers NET
ALL of these established groups are powerful stakeholdersand partners
Hurricane WatchersHurricane Watchers
Salvation Army (SATERN)Salvation Army (SATERN)
Health and welfare Information Request FormHealth and welfare Information Request Form Please use this form to submit your inquiry. Please use this form to submit your inquiry.
Your inquiry will be sent to the disaster Your inquiry will be sent to the disaster area, where SATERN personnel will attempt area, where SATERN personnel will attempt to locate the person or persons about whom to locate the person or persons about whom you are inquiring. While there is no you are inquiring. While there is no guarantee, we will make every effort to guarantee, we will make every effort to locate your friend or loved one. Please locate your friend or loved one. Please supply as much information as possible. supply as much information as possible.
Enter your personal information in this Enter your personal information in this section:section:
First Name (Required) Last Name First Name (Required) Last Name (Required)Address CityState/Province Zip/Postal(Required)Address CityState/Province Zip/PostalCodeCountry Tel. Number (Required)Email CodeCountry Tel. Number (Required)Email Address (Required) Address (Required)
Some “buzz” wordsSome “buzz” words
TrafficTraffic Health & welfareHealth & welfare
NETNET NCSNCS
RadiogramRadiogram ARRLARRL
Ham InfrastructureHam Infrastructure
Natural disasters won’t disable amateur Natural disasters won’t disable amateur radio as it will cell phones, land line radio as it will cell phones, land line phones and other conventional means of phones and other conventional means of communications. Why?communications. Why?
Because Ham Radio Stations, in many cases, are stand alone entities
Ham InfrastructureHam Infrastructure
Many many hams Many many hams have generation, have generation, back up power, back up power, back up antenna back up antenna systems and systems and alternate means of alternate means of communications - communications - REDUNDANCYREDUNDANCY
Ham InfrastructureHam Infrastructure
More MRC units are utilizing amateur radio More MRC units are utilizing amateur radio in the communications branch of ICSin the communications branch of ICS
Hams are becoming active members of Hams are becoming active members of the MRC, lending expertise, enthusiasm the MRC, lending expertise, enthusiasm and equipmentand equipment
How do messages get TransmittedHow do messages get Transmitted
Stations in the field act as the initial Stations in the field act as the initial messengermessenger
The Organized NETS meet at a The Organized NETS meet at a specific time and frequencyspecific time and frequency
Members of the NETS pass trafficMembers of the NETS pass traffic Traffic is deliveredTraffic is delivered
How is the MRC NET differentHow is the MRC NET different
Most all other NETS pass traffic into Most all other NETS pass traffic into and out of an affected area for the and out of an affected area for the services of the general population services of the general population
The primary function of the MRC NET The primary function of the MRC NET is to facilitate traffic between MRC is to facilitate traffic between MRC leaders “back home” and deployed leaders “back home” and deployed MRC members “in the field”MRC members “in the field”
Medical Reserve Corps NETMedical Reserve Corps NET
Brand new, but not a new conceptBrand new, but not a new concept Approximately 20 hams across the Approximately 20 hams across the
USA, Working as NET CONTROL USA, Working as NET CONTROL Stations (NCS)Stations (NCS)
These stations act as liaisons These stations act as liaisons between the field and the MRCbetween the field and the MRC
The Bottom LineThe Bottom Line
An MRC Unit, or MRC members are An MRC Unit, or MRC members are deployed to a disaster area. deployed to a disaster area.
They need to be aware of the They need to be aware of the communications options available to communications options available to them to get messages “back home”them to get messages “back home”
FEMA & RACESFEMA & RACES
Guidance For Radio Amateur Guidance For Radio Amateur Civil Emergency ServiceCivil Emergency Service
Civil Preparedness Guide Civil Preparedness Guide Federal Emergency Management Federal Emergency Management AgencyAgencyWashington, D.C. 20472Washington, D.C. 20472CPG 1-15 CPG 1-15
How you can get involvedHow you can get involved
Contact local ARES / RACES Contact local ARES / RACES organizations in your service areaorganizations in your service area
If they aren’t familiar with the Medical If they aren’t familiar with the Medical Reserve Corps, educate themReserve Corps, educate them
Give them information about the MRC Give them information about the MRC NET and how it’s function is different NET and how it’s function is different from their NETS, and won’t encroach from their NETS, and won’t encroach upon their much needed function.upon their much needed function.
How you can get involvedHow you can get involved
Get ARES / RACES team members on Get ARES / RACES team members on board as active participants in your board as active participants in your local MRC or CERT teamslocal MRC or CERT teams
Utilize them for POD drillsUtilize them for POD drills Use them for public educationUse them for public education Have them give you a demo on how Have them give you a demo on how
their particular infrastructure is set their particular infrastructure is set up.up.
Karen E. JohansenKaren E. Johansen
I wish to thank and recognize the Amateur Radio Operators I wish to thank and recognize the Amateur Radio Operators that gave of their time to travel to the hurricane Katrina that gave of their time to travel to the hurricane Katrina stricken area. These people from different backgrounds and stricken area. These people from different backgrounds and parts of our country came to Southeast Louisiana provide parts of our country came to Southeast Louisiana provide emergency communications to whatever organization emergency communications to whatever organization needed their services. These operators did not care what needed their services. These operators did not care what job they were assigned, nor did they complain about the job they were assigned, nor did they complain about the living conditions. If anyone ever needs to be reminded of living conditions. If anyone ever needs to be reminded of the spirit of America will only need to read this page.the spirit of America will only need to read this page.
Karen E. Johansen - WB5GEOKaren E. Johansen - WB5GEOCommunications OfficerCommunications OfficerSt. Tammany Amateur Radio ClubSt. Tammany Amateur Radio [email protected] [email protected]
MRC Unit LocationsMRC Unit Locations
To learn more about HamsTo learn more about Hams
www.arrl.net
Training should include everyoneTraining should include everyone
HAMS as part of the teamHAMS as part of the team
HAMS as part of the teamHAMS as part of the team
Hurricane frequencies to monitorHurricane frequencies to monitor
Now we are beyond "Alpha" - time to listen to those Now we are beyond "Alpha" - time to listen to those unsung heroes of Ham Radio who tirelessly help out unsung heroes of Ham Radio who tirelessly help out with these emergencies.with these emergencies.
Please Please click hereclick here for a listing of frequencies to for a listing of frequencies to monitor thanks to Hugh Stegman / NV6H.monitor thanks to Hugh Stegman / NV6H.
Please Please click hereclick here to make a donation to the Red Cross to make a donation to the Red Cross for Hurricane relief efforts.for Hurricane relief efforts.
How Ham Radio Operators can volunteer to help with How Ham Radio Operators can volunteer to help with Hurricane disaster relief efforts - please Hurricane disaster relief efforts - please click hereclick here..
This how Ham Radio operators help in emergency This how Ham Radio operators help in emergency conditions ! Please conditions ! Please click hereclick here to view a short video to view a short video about helping with Hurricane Katrina.about helping with Hurricane Katrina.
Some interesting Ham Radio Some interesting Ham Radio websites to visit:websites to visit:
The ARRL "Getting Started" Page" The ARRL "Getting Started" Page" http://http://www.arrl.org/hamradio.htmlwww.arrl.org/hamradio.html
The W5YI group at The W5YI group at www.w5yi.comwww.w5yi.com The QRZ Ham Radio callsign lookup service at The QRZ Ham Radio callsign lookup service at
www.qrz.comwww.qrz.com The Tucson Packet Amateur Radio group at The Tucson Packet Amateur Radio group at
www.tapr.orgwww.tapr.org The Electronic Ham Radio operators at The Electronic Ham Radio operators at
www.eham.comwww.eham.com The Ham Radio Magazine "CQ" at The Ham Radio Magazine "CQ" at
www.cq-amateur-radio.comwww.cq-amateur-radio.com.. Nuts and Volts Magazine at Nuts and Volts Magazine at http://http://www.nutsvolts.comwww.nutsvolts.com// The Radio Amateur Information Network (R.A.I.N.) at The Radio Amateur Information Network (R.A.I.N.) at
http://http://www.rainreport.comwww.rainreport.com//
Question TimeQuestion Time