[KYHAM] KEN TRAINING for Feb. 18 - KERR Article 3.6; Kentucky ARES Structure

[Ron Dodson]

As promised, this week a close up look at the KERR
Article 3.6 which discusses our Kentucky ARES
Structure.

The Kentucky Division of Emergency Management has
established fourteen (14) area field offices to
administer the emergency management program functions
of the agency. Each area office is staffed by an Area
Manager and an Office Coordinator and services a
geographical area of approximately 7 - 10 counties. 
The Kentucky Division of Emergency Management is
headquartered at Boone National Guard Center in
Frankfort, Kentucky. Under direction of the Adjutant
General, the Executive Director runs the day-to-day
affairs of the agency.  DEM organizations on the local
level are headed by the chief executive of the
jurisdiction. A Manager (could be titled Director,
Coordinator etc.)
conducts the administrative affairs of the local
organization. Each local
government is required to develop its own resources and
plans to cope with emergencies. When these resources
are expended or overloaded, the chief executive may
request state assistance.  The Kentucky Division of
Emergency Management offices are responsible for
coordinating the development and implementation of
local or regional Integrated Emergency Management
System (IEMS) elements in accordance with the State
plan and program. The regionalized positioning of area
offices is of strategic importance to the agency in
carrying out both administrative and emergency response
duties.

The Kentucky Section ARES is organized so that the
fourteen District Emergency Coordinators have
geographical jurisdiction that is exactly the same as
the State Area Managers for KyEM.

Here is a comparison of DEM /ARES Position
Relationships

Executive Director - Section Emergency Coordinator
Area Manager - District Emergency Coordinator
County EM Director - County Emergency Coordinator
Local Area Planning Committee - County EC and their
Assistants

In order that the communications capabilities of the
amateur radio service may be coordinated and utilized
to the fullest advantage during disasters and
emergencies, the Section Emergency Coordinator
maintains liaison with the DEM in Frankfort through
cooperation in emergency communications planning and
coordination of amateur radio facilities in emergency
operations. Cooperation and coordination extends to the
DEM Area level. The ARES District Emergency Coordinator
is encouraged to maintain liaison with the DEM Area
Manager and serve as volunteer for emergency
communications planning and operations.

When a disaster or emergency affects normal
communications systems, the Executive Director,
Director of Operations, Communications Officer or Area
Manager may request that ARES members assist in
response operations. Those operations may include the
establishment of emergency communications between the
Emergency Operations Center in Frankfort and the scene
of disaster and also between DEM units and other
response agencies in the field as needed.

In order for the program to function properly each
person holding an ARES-related position with in the
Section must be completely dedicated to growth and
success. DECs, ECs, OES stations and Assistant EC's
must
work together to form one complete organization. The
successful ARES program is the result of a combined
mutual effort not only on the Local but also on the
Section level.

District Emergency Coordinator
The DEC is the central contact and coordinating
official for the ARES program in their District. It is
the responsibility of each DEC to work with the SEC to
fill all EC positions, oversee training, coordinate
efforts when emergencies exceed county lines. The DEC
is to report monthly to the SEC by the fifth of the
month the achievements and accomplishments as well as
general information about their district. This is done
on form FSD-212.The DEC should participate in both
District and Local level nets as well as Section level
nets. Together this not only ties the Local level to
the District but also ties the District to the Section.
The DEC should work closely with the SEC to develop
training programs for the Local level that is congruent
with Section level to promote a consistent and unified
training program. Additionally, the DEC should see that
training conducted at the Section level is duplicated
at the local level. In larger areas or where situations
justify, the DEC may work with the SEC in coordinating
an Assistant DEC to help administer the ARES program in
a certain District. The Assistant DEC is a coordination
and not an ARRL appointment. The Assistant DEC
coordination may only be done through a mutual
agreement between the DEC and the SEC with
justification shown for the coordination. The DEC may
assign responsibilities to the ADEC much the same as
the EC delegates duties to the AEC.
In situations where the DEC fails to fulfill their
requirements with out just cause, in whole or in part,
as outlined in ARRL FSD-47 and those implemented at the
Section level will be canceled by the SEC or SM.

Emergency Coordinator
The EC is the central contact and coordinating official
for the ARES program at the County/Local level. It is
the responsibility of each EC to work with local
officials to develop a local operational plan with
''served" agency officials in their jurisdiction. All
matters involving recruitment and utilization of ARES
volunteers are directed by the EC, in response to the
needs assessed by the local agency officials.
ECs are responsible for establishing local
communications networks that run on a regular basis and
are periodically tested by conducting realistic drills.
The EC must establish an emergency traffic plan, with
Welfare traffic inclusive, utilizing the National
Traffic System as one active component for traffic
handling. The EC must also establish an operational
liaison with local and section nets, particularly for
handling Welfare traffic in an emergency situation.

The EC should work closely with the DEC to development
training programs for the Local level that is congruent
with District level to promote a consistent and unified
training program. The EC is encouraged to coordinate
Assistants to help administer the ARES program at the
Local level. ECs should work closely with the DEC in
developing flexibility in their local plans where by
they compliment those at the District level.
The EC is required to report by the second of the month
to the DEC the achievements and accomplishments as well
as general information about their operation at the
Local level. This report is done on FSD-212.

The EC should participate in both District and Local
level nets as well as Section level nets. The EC will
assume authority and responsibility for emergency
response and performance by ARES personnel under their
jurisdiction. The EC shall whenever necessary work with
other non-ARES groups to foster an efficient and
effective Amateur Radio response and will respect and
honor any pre-existing lines of authority. In
situations where the EC fails to fulfill their
requirements with out just cause, in whole or in part,
as outlined in ARRL FSD-46 and those implemented at the
Section level will be canceled by the SEC or SM.

Official Emergency Station
Official Emergency Stations are appointed by the SEC at
the recommendation of the EC, or DEC (if no EC) holding
jurisdiction. The SEC may also appoint an OES based on
need or to fill a specific need in a particular area.
The OES must set high standards of emergency
preparedness and operating. The OES appointee makes a
deeper commitment to the ARES program in terms of
functionality than does the rank-and-file ARES
registrant. The OES appointee is appointed to carry out
specific functions and assignments designated by the
appropriate EC or DEC and on occasion, the SEC. The OES
appointee and the presiding EC or DEC, at the time of
the OES appointment, will mutually develop a detailed,
operational function/assignment and commitment for the
new appointee. Together, they will develop a
responsibility plan for the individual OES appointee
that makes the best use of the individual's skills and
abilities. During drills and actual emergency
situations, the OES appointee will be expected to
implement his/her function with professionalism and
minimal supervision.

The OES will regularly participate in the local ARES
organization including drills and tests, emergency nets
and actual emergency situations and carry out the
duties to which they have been assigned. In situations
where the OES fails to fulfill their requirements with
out just cause, in whole or in part, as outlined in
ARRL FSD-108 and those implemented at the Section level
canceled by the SEC or SM.