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 Clubwww.no5la.orgwww.no5la.orgkaren@ares.org karen@ares.org

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