[KYHAM] KEN Training for Sept.8: Communications Annex B

[Ron Dodson]

A friend of mine who is retired from a career in the US Army,
once told me that the three key points of an artillary 
unit's operation were the ability to effectively;  
MOVE, SHOOT and COMMUNICATE.  While we may be
MOVING, hopefully not SHOOTING!!!, in a disaster response we most
certainly hinge our response operations on the ability to
COMMUNICATE!
  
KyEM and many county/city governments realize amateur radio's
uses in this respect. Likewise, your understanding 
of county organizational plans for
communications can make you a much better 'team player'.

Therefore, this week, we focus on a typical County Emergency
Operations Plan's ANNEX B covering COMMUNICATIONS.


As we discovered last time in ANNEX A, DIRECTION and CONTROL the
County Judge/Executive/Mayor is the head of local disaster
operations. 
This CJE/Mayor, through the County's EM Director, is ALSO
responsible
for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and the associated
Emergency
Communications Center (ECC).

The County Communications Coordinator is given responsibility for
the operation of the ECC.  Twenty-four hour communication is
provided
in most Kentucky counties now by a 911 Center.  In all situations
the County EM organization has the capability to interface with
other
states and federal disaster organizations via the KyEM Area
Manager.

In most daily situations, State/County/City/Private agencies can
utilize their normal communications systems during a normal
emergency situation.  However, if the county or a region
experiences a
major disaster, serious disruption of normal communications may
be
anticipated, not to mention problems in contacting other response
agencies which may be needed on scene.

The MISSION of ANNEX B is to provide a plan for the rapid and
efficient means of communicating during emergency and disaster
situations.

Let's look at some excerpts from a typical ANNEX B. under Section
IV. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS; 

A.	The Warning/Communication Coordinator is responsible for:
  1.	The security of physical and transmitted form of any
originated or received messages.

  2.	The assignment of personnel to duty stations in the ECC, and
the maintenance of the ECC equipment. 

  3.	Servicing additional communication links in an emergency.

  4.	Keeping an up-to-date list of elected officials, EOC staff,
other emergency workers and their phone numbers. 

B.	Priorities of allocation of emergency communication by KyEM to
affected areas will be:

 1.	Lifesaving - organization essential to survival, health and
safety of the population.

 2.	Essential industry/commerce/transportation --  Organizations
which are needed to maintain 		military operations and economic
stability.

 3.	Others as determined.

C.	Coordination 

  1.	General

	a.	During disaster operations, an ECC Coordinator will be
appointed for each shift in the ECC.  All incoming/ outgoing
messages
will be given to the coordinator before delivery to addressee or
transmission.  The coordinator will reroute all messages and file
a copy.
		
     b.	A reply or confirmation message will include, within the
text, the message number of the original messages to be used as a
reference.***(SOUND FAMILIAR??? :^) )***
		

D.	It is the responsibility of the county EM Director to
establish the communications networks necessary to maintain and
control the EM
organizations' operations within the county. These networks
should provide communications with:

  1.	The county Emergency Operations Center and the field,

  2.	The county EOC and the KyEM Area Office,

  3.	The county EOC and the State Emergency Operations Center.


E.	Increased Readiness Levels will be initiated by the County
Judge/Executive based on information furnished by KyEM.  The
required actions are explained in Annex D of this plan.



APPENDICES to ANNEX B will most likely be on the order of... 

		B-1  Organization Chart

		B-2	Emergency Communication Capabilities

		B-3	County EAS Procedures

		B-4	National Weather Service and Wx Info Providers 

		B-5	Mobile Command Post/Special Facility Communications
Procedures

		B-6	Map of County Radio Network (if applicable)

and last, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST
		B-7	Local Amateur Radio Operations

A few words here on amateur radio operations in EOC's and ECC's. 
If you are working with your local government on plans to have
amateurs
in the communications center during disasters.  Make sure that
plans are
in place to assure that sufficient personnel have been identified
and trained to operate in the ECC communication on a 24 hour
basis. 
As disasters can become fairly long, protracted events this could
well mean bringing in fellow amateurs from OUTSIDE the local
community. 
Prior coordination between your local ARES Asst. EC(s), EC,
neighboring
EC's and the District and Section Emergency Coordinator are
vital. 
Many in setting up in county and city EOC's have discovered HIGH
NOISE
and/or interference problems between amateur radio gear and other
equipment. 

This also makes it essential that drills and other opportunities
serve as a chance to test amateur gear in these locations BEFORE
a real
disaster situation force you into a situation in which your
operations suffer due to poor/NO prior planning. Troubleshooting
NOW can
save a world of grief and lost 'face' when, "push comes to
shove."