[CC-ARES-RACES] ARES E-Letter for February 15, 2006

[Tom Abernethy, W3TOM]

The ARES E-Letter
February 15, 2006
=================					   

Rick Palm, K1CE, Editor

===================================
ARES reports, other related contributions, editorial questions or
comments: <k1ce at arrl.net>
===================================

+ The View from Flagler County

Orlando, Florida, February 11, 2006 - In the past, the Orlando
Hamcation was a national-scale event; not quite Dayton, but big. It
still is, judging by Saturday's crowd. The ARES Forum was "Standing
Room Only." A notable guest was John Fleming, WD4FFX, of the Florida
Division of Emergency Management staff. Without his support, it is
likely there would be little or no Amateur Radio involvement with the
state's EOC and its operations. 

It was Fleming, along with Northern Florida Section Manager Rudy
Hubbard, WA4PUP, and former SEC George Thurston, W4MLE (SK), that set
the stage for the modern relationship with the state. Before
Hurricane Andrew in 1992, relations could be summed up by the state's
"Don't call us, we'll call you" policy. But after Andrew, the
Governor and FEMA patently needed new planning. Thurston called
Hubbard about a meeting to be held at Tallahassee. FEMA reps, the
Governor's staff, and several amateurs attended, including Thurston,
Hubbard, and John Hills, KC4N, current State Government Liaison. 

The Governor replaced the staff at the state EOC with professionals
from South Carolina, veterans who had managed the Hurricane Hugo
disaster there in 1989. Hubbard gave the new staffers a copy of the
Northern Florida ARES Plan. They asked if ARES could provide the
communication service depicted in the plan. They were assured ARES
could, and the next meeting with ARES and the SEOC reflected a new
relationship between the two entities, one that has worked
exceptionally well since the mid-1990's. Fleming has been the point
man. 

Fleming lauded amateurs involved in last year's incredible hurricane
season, passed out State Certificates of Recognition, a special
achievement award for Hubbard, and emphasized the importance of the
role of Amateur Radio and ARES at the state EOC. He noted the state's
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program had resulted in the large Brevard
County Amateur Radio Emergency Service van parked on display outside
the building. Fleming emphasized training and preparation for the
upcoming hurricane season, and informed the group of two conferences:
the Governor's Hurricane Conference in Ft. Lauderdale in May, and the
National Hurricane Conference in Orlando in April. Amateur Radio
sessions will be held at each event.

DEC KO4TT--Steve Richbourg's, professional presentation of the
Northern Florida ARES Plan was well received. Hubbard discussed the
state's "tracker" system for matching emergency communication needs
with assets, and emphasized that his ARES organization embraces all
modes as tools for communication, including "two coffee cans and
string, if necessary." The Northern Florida SEC Joe Bushel, W2DWR,
emotionally expressed his appreciation for hurricane efforts. I said
that the excellent response of the field organization was matched by
ARRL HQ staff members who took unprecedented steps to support its
field's efforts. Alabama Section Manager Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, spoke
of his appreciation for the ARES effort as well.

"Orlando" was an opportunity to put faces to call signs, and I was
especially pleased to meet Greg, Hillsborough County RACES Officer
and EC Gary Sessums, KC5QCN, who was another key player in the
Katrina response, and Harold Kramer, WJ1B, the League's Chief
Operating Officer (a former Emergency Coordinator). Harold is a great
guy and supporter of the ARES program. This ARES E-Letter was his
idea originally.

The Orlando Hamcation is held in the East Central District of the
Northern Florida section, and DEC Jay Musikar, AF2C, was on hand to
welcome attendees to his district. The ARES Forum was the highlight
of the weekend for me, and I suspect, many others. -- K1CE 

===================
In This Issue:

+ New ARRL Committee to Evaluate National Emergency Response
+ Red Cross HQ Staff To Meet ARRL HQ Staff in Newington to Discuss
Katrina Issues
+ Hospital Disaster Support Communications System (California) News
+ Jackson Hamfest Hosts Katrina Review
+ Government Perspective of Communication Failures Not to Be Missed
+ NIMS/ICS Training Essential
+ Opinion: ARES Appointment Requirements Should Include FEMA/ARRL
Courses
+ International Beat: Working Group on Emergency Communications
(WGEC) Seeks to Enhance Region 2 Support
+ Collaboration, not Control: An "Outsider's" Perspective on Katrina
Operations
+ In Support of "Plain Language"
+ After Action Review and Reporting Philosophy
+ Delta Recognizes Amateurs
+ ARES Marketplace
+ K1CE For A Final
===================

+ New ARRL Committee to Evaluate National Emergency Response

At its Annual Meeting in January, the League's Board of Directors
established the National Emergency Response Planning Committee. The
rationale was evidence and personal interviews with staff that such a
committee would be necessary.  "The League's national emergency
response to large-scale disasters like Katrina warranted Board-level
understanding and support of such work, and the creation of this
committee takes care of that," said Dave Patton, NN1N, Manager, Field
and Educational Services Department, ARRL Headquarters.

+ Red Cross HQ Staff To Meet ARRL HQ Staff in Newington to Discuss
Katrina Issues

Members of the American Red Cross HQ staff will meet later this month
with ARRL HQ staff in Newington to discuss issues that arose from the
Katrina response. Some of those issues have been discussed in
previous issues of this newsletter. 

In the past, the American Red Cross staff have always been
exceptionally receptive to reviewing what went right and wrong, and
more than cooperative in issuing clarifications and modifications to
the Statement of Understanding the League has enjoyed with the
Congresionally-sanctioned organization since 1949. Many of the Red
Cross staff are radio amateurs themselves. The Red Cross and the ARRL
continue to enjoy a fine relationship at all levels. We will report
meeting results in a future issue.

+ Hospital Disaster Support Communications System (California) News 

HDSCS closed out its 25th year with the North Pole Network at
Children's Hospital of Orange County, capping its most active year
ever with 32 events with hospitals.  There were eight emergency
responses, eight standby operations, seven drills and nine public
service/demo events with hospitals during 2005.  The most active year
previously was 1994 with 31 events.

A "Year End/Year Beginning Finale Meeting" at Kindred
Hospital-Westminster recognized the "Disaster Dozen," the year's top
12 communicators.  To be active in HDSCS, members must earn a minimum
of five points in a year.  Those that made the Disaster Dozen earned
from 65 to more than 100 points.  They participated in drills,
responded to emergencies, helped out in standbys, attended meetings
with hospital representatives, and were regulars on the weekly nets. 
They are: Paul Broden, K6MHD; Allen Bullock, KD6LCL; Bruce Chappell,
KE6TSM; Tom Gaccione, WB2LRH; Dennis Kidder, WA6NIA; Jim McLaughlin,
AB6UF; Joe Moell, K0OV; Dave Mofford, W7KTS; Cheryl Simpson, KD6MWZ;
Ken Simpson, W6KOS; Clay Stearns, KE6TZR; and Fred Wagner, KQ6Q. A
new AEC for HDSCS is Jim McLaughlin, AB6UF, a 15-year veteran of the
group. 

HDSCS was just contacted by Kindred Hospital-Santa Ana requesting
support of that facility.  Thirty-four hospitals now have HDSCS
support for any communications disruption or failure. Please see
<http://www.hdscs.org> -- April Moell, M.A., WA6OPS, Emergency
Coordinator, Hospital Disaster Support Communications System, Orange
County, California 

+ Jackson Hamfest Hosts Katrina Review

The Katrina Relief Review forum at the recent Jackson (Mississippi)
Hamfest was productive and well attended.  ECs, DECs, and a host of
others were present. Positive interaction, valuable suggestions,
comments and lessons learned were discussed.  This was a good group
of amateurs and their dedication and enthusiasm for ARES shown
through. It was good to meet and talk with several of the amateurs
that I worked with during the Katrina relief effort.  Many
Mississippi amateurs passed along their thanks and appreciation.
Additional Katrina Relief Review forums will be held throughout the
coming year. - Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, Alabama Section Manager

+ Government Perspective of Communication Failures Not to Be Missed

The article "Missed Signals" appears in this month's issue of
"Government Executive Magazine." It should be required reading for
anyone involved in emergency communications, but especially ARES
leaders. We can't help solve the problems faced by our served
agencies until we understand them. See
<http://www.govexec.com/features/0206-01/0206-01s2.htm> -- Les
Rayburn, N1LF, ARES, SHARES, SKYWARN, ARRL EmComm Level 3 Certified,
Official Emergency Station
 
+ NIMS/ICS Training Essential

The Department of Homeland Security is requiring all first
responders, including volunteers, to complete training in the
National Incident Management System (NIMS) by 2007. This sounds
formidable, but in reality there is an Independent Study course from
FEMA that covers it. The course is IS-700 - go to
<http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIweb/IS/crslist.asp> and find the
course list. Follow directions and you will get to IS-700. Readers
can take the course on line or download the material and do it at
their own pace. It shouldn't take more than three hours in any case.
There's a final exam on line, but it isn't going to cost much sweat
(or any money - courses are all free). After passing the final, the
student will get notification by e-mail or regular mail. 

Readers are encouraged to look at the rest of the course offerings on
the FEMA training Web site. They represent a wealth of knowledge,
organized so that us real people can get through them and actually
learn something. They aren't rocket science, just good stuff we need
to know! -- John Amos, KC6TVM, ADEC, Hospital Net Coordinator, Santa
Clara County, California. See also IS-100, and IS-200. -- Lloyd
Colston <kc5fm at ureach.com>  K3XO training also available:
<http://www.k3xo.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5> The
ICS course is available free of charge. -- Rip Smith, K3XO

+ Opinion: ARES Appointment Requirements Should Include FEMA/ARRL
Courses

Successful completion of the ARRL Levels 1, 2, and 3 emcomm courses
and FEMA courses IS-100 and IS-700 should be a requirement for all
new SECs, DECs, ECs and Official Emergency Stations (OES). ARRL could
grandfather current appointees with the provision that they complete
the required course work within three years. These courses provide
the basics that every ARES appointee should have if they are to work
effectively with served agencies and each other. There is a need for
a new minimum level of training for ARES operators. - Dennis
Baumgarte, AE2EE, EC Dutchess County, New York; SEC Eastern New York;
and Radio Officer, Orange County, New York 

+ International Beat: Working Group on Emergency Communications
(WGEC) Seeks to Enhance Region 2 Support

Following the first Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
Conference (GAREC 2005) held in Tampere, Finland last year, the IARU
Region 2 Executive Committee formed a Working Group on Emergency
Communications (WGEC) to make recommendations for the IARU Region 2
organization to better support its Member Societies and improve their
capability.

Noel E. Donawa, 9Y4NED, was appointed Chairman of the committee
(WGEC), along with members: Area Emergency Advisors Arnie Coro,
CO2KK, Cesar Santos, HR2P, and Steve Ewald, WV1X, of the ARRL staff;
telecomms expert Fred Kleber, K9VV; and IARU Region 2 Emergency
Coordinator (EMCOR) Rick Palm, K1CE.

The WGEC reviewed the existing EMCOR Terms of Reference and data
available from the EMCOR Web site <http://www.iaru-r2emcor.net>
including reports of operations following disaster events,
preparedness, response capability, mobility and performance, level of
training, ability to respond in rural areas, inventory of equipment,
availability of personnel for rapid response, relations with national
disaster management agencies and levels of certification for
operators. The study was done in light of the recent increase of
hurricane, earthquake, flooding and land slide disasters and the
implementation of ITU recommendations to governments to embrace the
resources of Amateur Radio operators.  

The WGEC agreed that the EMCOR function should include offering
training materials and seminars to improve Region 2 performance.
Further, the WGEC proposed new EMCOR structure to better encourage
the region's Member Societies to set up emergency response assets
that can be deployed nationally into rural areas, and internationally
for purposes of mutual assistance.

The committee concluded that the IARU, the international organization
representing the interests of Amateur Radio globally, needs to foster
these goals across all three regions of the world. The WGEC is
concluding its work and expects to present its recommendations to the
Region 2 Executive Committee soon.

+ Collaboration, not Control: An "Outsider's" Perspective on Katrina
Operations

[The following is from an amateur who deployed from Georgia to the
affected areas, and offers the perspective of the "outsider." - ed.]

I didn't see any steamrolling by us, the non-locals; we were not
trying to take control of the response from local ARES constituents.
But it should be expected that local ECs and EOCs will be impacted by
the disaster effects, and may not be in a position to lead operations
early on. This was the case in several locations. ECs, their local
ARES groups, and EOCs should not be surprised to see outsiders in
"their" area if they have not been in operation and communication. 

When ECs resurface after taking care of their own immediate needs and
concerns, the first step should be to assess what is and is not
working, and then think about integration. Determining who is in
control should come last, and should be collaborative with incoming
mutual assistance responders. In the areas I served, the first action
of the locals appeared to be the "I'm in charge here" type of
commands, followed by control struggles with no attempt to gain
mutual understanding and the need for integration. On the other hand,
external teams should be prepared to be assimilated into local ARES
efforts as they come on line. 

During our Katrina response, while we were able to do significant
good, we were underutilized despite the need and our capabilities. A
Red Cross shelter manager said "the first contact we had with anyone
was when the Army helicopter landed 2-3 days after the hurricane
passed; our second contact was with the Amateur Radio team that
showed up." That team was dispatched via the Montgomery staging area,
not part of the local ARES organization, which legitimately had
problems of their own to deal with. The point is, don't discount the
utility of the outsider ARES operator coming in to assist the local
effort. - Alan Barrow, KM4BA 

+ In Support of "Plain Language"

>From the FEMA NIMS FAQ: The use of plain language in emergency
response situations is a matter of public safety, especially the
safety of first responders and those affected by the incident. It is
critical that all local responders, as well as those coming into the
impacted area from other jurisdictions, know and use commonly
established operational structures, terminology, policies and
procedures. This is what NIMS and the Incident Command System (ICS)
are all about - achieving interoperability across jurisdictions and
disciplines.

The use of common terminology is about the ability of area
commanders, state and local EOC personnel, federal operational
coordinators, and responders to communicate clearly with each other
and effectively coordinate response activities, no matter what the
size, scope or complexity of the incident. FEMA requires that plain
English be used for multi-agency, multi-jurisdiction and
multi-discipline events, such as major disasters and exercises.
Beginning in the fiscal year that starts on Oct. 1, 2007, federal
preparedness grant funding is contingent on the use of plain English
in major incidents requiring assistance from responders from other
agencies, jurisdictions and functional disciplines. It is important
to practice everyday terminology and procedures that will need to be
used in emergency incidents and disasters. NIMS implementation is a
long-term effort and it's probably not possible to persuade everyone
to change ingrained habits overnight. But over time, everyone will
understand the importance of using common terminology, that is, plain
English, every day. See
<http://faq.fema.gov/cgi-bin/fema.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php> --
Submitted by Les Rayburn, N1LF

+ After Action Review and Reporting Philosophy

Having been part of numerous "Lessons Learned" meetings in industry,
there are both public and private aspects of these reviews. The
review itself must be restricted to only those parties that actually
participated. Press, and staff/management more than a level or two
removed should not be present or the necessary honesty will not be
forthcoming.  In addition, the published report should avoid
identifying individuals.  

The report itself must be public within the appropriate community -
in this case the amateur emcomm community.  It is part of the
long-term validation cycle that drives improvement.  Without a public
report that identifies successes and failures, there is no way for
the community to decide what needs to be preserved, fixed, or
discarded.  Entities that did well will not receive the benefit of
their success. Entities that did poorly have no incentive to
demonstrate improvement.

Should the report's information be published to the public at large;
i.e., QST?  Not without serious filtering and judgment. The general
QST readership does not have the background to place all of the
report's information in context. It is entirely appropriate for QST
coverage to identify specific points of organizational failure. 
Wherever possible, the expected response should also be included so
that the readers will know what actions to expect.  If possible,
there should also be follow-up coverage to major events such as
Katrina.

Balancing the public's need-to-know with an organization's need for
accountability and an individual's need for support in his or her job
is very difficult, particularly in a situation where things did not
go well across the board.  All three must be accommodated, however,
if the capabilities of the community are to improve. -- Ward Silver,
N0AX, EC Vashon Island ARES

+ Delta Recognizes Amateurs

Amateur Radio and its contributions in the realm of emergency
communications recognized again, this time by Delta Airlines:
<http://www.delta-sky.com/2006_02/RolePlaying/index.html>  -- Jay
Musikar, AF2C, District EC, East Central District, Northern Florida
Section ARES

+ ARES Marketplace

A handsome all-brass ARES belt buckle is available:
<http://www.ItsUrCall.com>. The company has a marketing agreement
with the ARRL and is producing the belt buckles with an ARES theme.
ARRL receives a portion of each sale. They're not cheap, but I know
I'm going to get one. - K1CE

HAMTHREADS <http://www.hamthreads.com> makes ARES, RACES, and SKYWARN
hats, shirts, jackets and vests, with 3M Reflective Tape for high
visibility. Club discounts provided. - Dave Birdsley, KF8WS, B & B
Embroidery/Ham Threads 

+ K1CE for a Final

Got an ARES Net this week? Try running the net exclusively in plain
language - no jargon! It should be an interesting and fun exercise.
Let me know how it goes: <k1ce at arrl.net>. I'm an RN at the city
hospital in Daytona Beach, and we are also striving to use plain
language instead of medical jargon; for example, "right eye" instead
of "O.D." or "oculus dexter."	 

I am going to take FEMA's NIMS/ICS on-line training before the next
release of this newsletter. I'll let you know how it goes in the next
issue.

======================================================================
The ARES E-Letter is published on the third Wednesday of each month
by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For
Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200;
fax 860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/>. Jim Haynie, W5JBP,
President.

The ARES E-Letter is an e-mail digest of news and information of
interest to active members of the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES). 

Material from The ARES E-Letter may be republished or reproduced in
whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit
must be given to The ARES E-Letter and The American Radio Relay
League.

Editorial questions or comments: Rick Palm, K1CE, k1ce at arrl.net
Delivery problems (ARRL direct delivery only!): ares-el-dlvy at arrl.org