[Ares-races] Re: Message Form ?

[Lloyd Colston]

On Wed, 18 Jun 2003 04:01:17 -0400 (EDT) "Charles Jouglard, K5CFJ"
<k5cfj@cox.net> writes:


> After working another Hurricane drill with the local Red Cross 
> chapter we
> are re-visiting the need to develop a better message form.  The 

Let me add a wrinkle to this discussion from the Emergency Management
table.

ALL disasters from September forward will expected to use of the Incident
Command System (Federal funds may not flow, if this is not the case). 
ICS, for those who are not aware, is a standardized method for managing
disasters.

ICS is heavy in forms.  There are forms for logistics, planning,
operations, finance, and, yes, even a message form.  Additionally, there
is a software package (free to download from the Net) that helps the
responders fill out the forms they need.

Now FEMA is going to expect to see some sort of form.  I suspect that the
response community is going to want to use what's learned by them.  While
we can continue to use our forms, we may be placed in a situation where
it is not convenient to use our forms.  So us crusty old NTS operators
may be stressed to adapt.        :)

Now the software package is NOT networked without some costs involved. 
One thought I had was to use packet radio from the IC to the EOC and to
the various other sites that need it.  The forms are exportable to a
file.  The file could be zapped down the radio line and imported at the
other end.  Detractors to that thought are lack of operators (not all
responders are hams), lack of equipment (many are moving away from packet
to APRS or the wireless net), and time it takes to move the file and
import it.

ICS trivia:  ICS uses four deputies under the Incident Commander. 
Deputies of Operations, Logistics, Planning, and Finance deal with issues
in their sphere of influence.  Communications falls under which deputy's
oversight?

Let me know how more I can help.

Lloyd Colston             Mayes County Emergency Management
Pryor, OK USA           http://www.geocities.com/mccem
        Homeland Security begins at HOME.