Emergency Communications By Amateur Radio In Louisiana

Agenda

• Why Amateur Radio ?• Amateur Radio Capabilities• ARES and RACES• Louisiana ARES Organization• GOSHEP ARES/RACES Contact• Communications and the ICS System• Path Forward

Effect of Katrina On Communication SystemWashington Parish

None operational for 2 weeksNewspapers

None operational for 2 weeksBroadcasters

Local repeater down for days due to un-accessible roads and lack of generators. Simplex operation with high power and directional antenna connects to Louisiana EOC on day 3.

144 mhz

Hand carried messages to Louisiana EOC, 100 miles away, only means to communicate for 3 days until 144 mhz link to State EOC is established.

Courier

One in EOC – Does Not Operate due to programming issues. Two additional phones acquired during first week with intermittent problems due to programming issues and satellite overload.

Sat Comm

Telephone circuits go down taking VoIP with it. Wireless VoIP circuits erected in 7-10 days for EOC.

VoIP

Main Public Service Band, 6 Repeaters. All down for days due to un-accessible roads and lack of generators. Simplex operation only during this period. Poor simplex coverage due to antenna height. After generator installation - Frequent downtime due to generator fueling issues .

155 mhz

Not in operation for approx 1 week due to T1 issues.800 mhz

All carriers go down due to loss of T1 links for 1 - 2 weeks. Satellite COW at EOC in week 2.Wireless

CO’s/EO’s lose connection to each other and rest of the world for 1 - 2 weeks.Landlines

OPX voice , 3465 data, and T1’s go down early during storm. Tandem in New Orleans fails. No 9-1-1 for 1 week since CO’s/EO’s can’t reroute. Calls re-routed to 10D in second week.

9-1-1

Typical Hurricane Wind Damage

One Ham Tower That Survived Katrina(Tower Cranked Down Prior to Storm)

Amateur Radio Capabilities

– Digital

– Analog

– Simplex– Duplex

– Tactical Nets– Command Nets

– Intra Parish– Intra State– Inter State

• ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) is a part of amateur radio sponsored by the ARRL (American Radio Relay League). ARES provides communications for both civil preparedness as well as non-emergency events such as parades, foot and bicycle races, and other community events

• RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) is a part of amateur radio sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). RACES provides emergency communications for civil preparedness purposes only.

• Using the same operators and the same frequencies, an ARES group also enrolled as RACES can "switch hats" from ARES to RACES and RACES to ARES to meet the requirements of the situation as it develops. For example, during a "non declared emergency," ARES can operate under ARES, but when an emergency or disaster is officially declared by a state or federal authority, the operation can become RACES with no change in personnel or frequencies.

ARES and RACES

ARES OrganizationLouisiana Section Manager, Gary Stratton, k5gls@arrl.org, (318) 286-1601

Louisiana Section Emergency Coordinator, Jim Coleman, ai5b@arrl.net, (985) 516-2632

• REGION 1 - DEC Robert J McBride, AE5RN, frobe438@bellsouth.net

• REGION 2 - DEC Roger J Farbe, N5NXLn5nxl@bellsouth.net

• REGION 3 - DEC Kenneth D Standard, AD5XJad5xj@arrl.net

• REGION 4 - DEC Jaclyn L Price, KA5LMZjelprice@atvci.net

• REGION 5 - DEC Ronald K Phelps, KC5FGO kc5fgo@arrl.netADEC Dick Rogers, WB5TUG wb5tug@arrl.netADEC Alan Levine, WA5LQZ wa5lqz@arrl.net

• REGION 6 - DEC James E Molan, KD5IGG, kd5igg@bellsouth.netADEC Scott B Wren, KD5DFL, kd5dfl@cox-internet.comADEC Jessie C Tilghman, W5JZQ, w5jzq@arrl.net

• REGION 7 – DEC Edwin Higginbotham, KL7EMH, edwinh@bellsouth.netADEC Robert A Turner, KG5YK, robertkg5yk@hotmail.com

• REGION 8 – DEC William M Redmond, KA5JNL, ka5jnl2@bayou.com

• REGION 9 – DEC James M Coleman III, AI5B, ai5b@arrl.net, ADEC Earl E Creel, N5ZD, n5zd@i-55.com

Louisiana ARES Website– State Staff– Regional Staff– Parish Contacts– ARRL Info– FEMA Info– FCC Info– Misc Info

GOHSEP Regional Directors• REGION 1 – Jerry Sneed

NOOEP@cityofno.com(504) 658-8700

• REGION 2 - Brian Fairburndirector@lpoep.org(225) 686-3066

• REGION 3 - John Boudreauxjohnboudreaux@assumptionoep.com(985) 369-7351

• REGION 4 - Lisa Vidrinelvidrine24@charter.net(337) 948-7177

• REGION 5 - Dick Gemilliiondgremillion@cppj.net(337) 721-3800

• REGION 6 - Sonya Wileysyw911@suddenlinkmail.com

(318) 445-5141|• REGION 7 – Sandy Davis

sdavis@cbohsep.org(318) 425-5351

• REGION 8 – Butch Beckhambbeckham@ohsep.org(318) 322-4129

• REGION 9 – Thomas Thiebaudtthiebaud@wpgov.org(985) 839-0434

GOSHEP ARES/RACES Contact

Roger Farbe Communication SpecialistRACES / ARES LiaisonGovernor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness 7667 Independence Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 Phone: 225-358-5252 Cell: 225-456-0540 Fax: 225-925-7501

ALL-HAZARDS TYPE III COMMUNICATIONS UNIT LEADER (COML) COURSEShawna Warneke

Administrative Assistant - Public Safety Programs SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics

7311 Greenhaven Drive, Suite 145Sacramento, CA 95831(916) 392-2550, ext.219

shawna@search.org

Communications in the ICS System

Incident Radio Communications Plan ICS 205

Path Forward• Acquire Knowledge of ICS System.• Develop Parish ARES Emergency Communications Plan Utilizing Inputs

From All Hams, Ham Organizations, and Served Agencies.• Help Parish and Regional OHSEP Director, Police Chiefs, Sheriff, Fire

Chiefs, Mayors, and Police Jury/Parish Council Members Understand the Capabilities and Values of Amateur Radio.

– Develop Operating Proficiencies by ARES Nets and SETs.– Assist Communications Within Agencies Such As American Red Cross, Southern

Baptists, Salvation Army, MARS or Coast Guard Flotillas.– Sponsor Ham Radio Activities Within Youth Organizations Such As Boy Scouts,

and High School Science Clubs. – Present Ham Radio Topics to Organizations Such As Rotary, Masonic Lodges,

Knights of Columbus, Church Groups, American Legion, and “Ham Radio” Day at the Local Library.

– Follow Up With Public Training Classes.– Follow Up With Discussions With OHSEP and Parish Leaders.

• Once OHSEP and Parish Leaders Realize That You Are Part of the Solution Support Will Follow.

• Assist Local OHSEP Personnel in the Preparation of ICS Forms 217 and 205 to Include Amateur Radio Capabilities.

• Participate in emergency communications at OHSEP as COML, INCM, COMT, RADO or THSP.