[PBARC] ARES/RACES/SKYWARN - HOW ALL THIS WORKS

[E. Glenn Wolf, Jr.]

An excellent write up by Dale Temple
 
glenn
n5rn 


	 
	 
	 
	 

	HOW ALL THIS WORKS

	ARES/RACES/CAREN/SKYWARN

		 

	This is an attempt to inform, clarify and review the chain of
command, contact points and Emergency Response authority in Arkansas. The
Arkansas Constitution dictates that each County Judge in Arkansas has the
sole authority and responsibility in each of the 75 Arkansas Counties, with
one exception, Pulaski County which has three political jurisdictions,
Little Rock, North Little Rock and Pulaski County. County Judges generally
appoint an Emergency Director or Emergency Manager who represents and speaks
with the authority of the County Judge. The appointed Emergency Director or
Emergency Manager appoints numerous assistants as needed. One of those
assistants frequently is a Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service, RACES,
Radio Operator.

	RACES is the arm of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, now
under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security. RACES rules of
engagement are somewhat restricted when compared to the operational rules of
engagement of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, ARES. Since the Central
Arkansas Radio Emergency Net, CAREN and ARKANSAS SKYWARN, operational rules
of engagement are outside the RACES rules of engagement, much of the Amateur
Radio activities in Arkansas use ARES rules of engagement. Also, since most
of the Amateur Radio Operators volunteering for Emergency Communications
response in Arkansas are the same Amateur Radio Operators for ARES, RACES,
CAREN, SKYWARN, through a gentlemen's agreement with the Arkansas Department
of Emergency Management and the State of Arkansas American Radio Relay
League Organization, ARRL, State of Arkansas RACES appointments are also
State ARES appointments. This agreement not only makes sense, but also has
improved the operational rules of engagement for everyone. Amateur Radio
Operators can wear both ARES and RACES hats, as well as participate in
public service events including ARKANSAS SKYWARN. Additionally,
ARES/RACES/CAREN/SKYWARN Amateur Radio Operators can serve agencies such as
The American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Arkansas Volunteers
Organizations Active In Disasters, ARVOAD, various State of Arkansas
Agencies and numerous Non-Profit Charitable Organizations. In other words,
it is a win, win organizational agreement. 

	Activation of Amateur Radio Operators is accomplished through a
point of contact system. Emergency Management has plenty to do during an
emergency and if communications fail, they need back up communication,
immediately if not sooner. Emergency Managers do not have sufficient time to
contact numerous Amateur Radio Operators individually. Therefore Points of
Contact for Emergency Managers have been established. Once the Point of
Contact has been reached, the Point of Contact assumes the responsibility of
contacting and/or alerting the ARES/RACES/CAREN/SKYWARN Amateur Radio
Operators as needed. This is usually accomplished using a local
pre-determined Emergency Radio Frequency. Through training,
ARES/RACES/CAREN/SKYWARN Amateur Radio operators monitor these Emergency
Radio Frequencies.

	The subject of a Statewide ARES/RACES/CAREN/SKYWARN picture
Identification card or badge has been discussed and misunderstood for
several years. Because County Judges have the responsibility and authority
dictated by the Arkansas Constitution for Emergency Response, each County
Judge determines who and what is needed and what identification will be
recognized for access. The Identification for one county will not
necessarily be recognized by another county. When the political winds of
fortune changes County Judges, the recognizable identification of authority
may also change with the appointment of another Emergency Manager by a new
County Judge. Any agency inviting or activating ARES/RACES/CAREN/SKYWARN has
the responsibility of access wherever Amateur Radio Operators are needed. If
access instructions are not offered, any Point of Contact, should
immediately request access instructions.

	ARES/.RACES/CAREN/SKYWARN Identification cards or badges are useful
and sometimes necessary for access. How can that be if they are not
recognized statewide. When an Emergency Manager request or activates
ARES/RACES/CAREN/SKYWARN, at that point in time, the
ARES/RACES/CAREN/SKYWARN cards or badges can be made acceptable by the
activating agency and perimeter law enforcement can be made aware these card
or badges are authorized entry. Your picture Arkansas Drivers license can be
used for positive Identification. Frequently, Emergency Managers will
request ARES/RACES/CAREN Emergency Communications Responders report to a
staging area for access, screening, instructions and assignments. The Point
of Contact needs to know exactly who is responding and has been authorized
to respond. Only by having a list of responders and relief responders can a
Point of Contact manage.

	Points of Contact can be the Arkansas ARRL Section Manager, the
Arkansas ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator, a State or Local RACES Radio
Officer, County Emergency Coordinators, District Emergency Coordinators.
Mainly, the local County Races Officer and/or County ARRL Emergency
Coordinator are the local County points of Contact. The State RACES Radio
Operator and the Arkansas ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator are the Points
of Contact for the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. 

	State of Arkansas Emergency Frequencies are 3.987.5, 7.260, 146.52
simplex and your local two-meter emergency repeater.

	ARES/RACES/CAREN/SKYWARN are not alone regarding the need to be
activated, invited or contacted for Emergency Response. If the County Judge,
a City Mayor or a County Sheriff does not request assistance, none should be
offered and generally will not be accepted. The requesting agency generally
has to pay for the services requested, except for Amateur Radio Operators,
Red Cross, Salvation Army and Faith Based Relief Organizations. As an
example, the recent explosion and fire at the DETCO plant in Conway was
handled entirely by the City of Conway. The evacuation shelters were Red
Cross assisted, but all other emergency services were handled locally
without outside assistance.

	A general announcement that Amateur Radio Operators are needed on a
repeater or low band frequency does not carry the weight of activation,
invitation from an authorized Emergency Manager speaking with the authority
of a County Judge, City Mayor, or County Sheriff and as such should be
generally ignored except for the need to monitor Emergency Frequencies for
activation.

	Amateur Radio Operators are Communicators. Site access can be
obtained by radio communications, if you are indeed needed and authorized.
If you are not needed or authorized, you don't need access. Amateur Radio
Operators who show up unannounced and unneeded do more harm than good. You
will be considered a loose cannon, a wannabe, untrained, unprofessional and
probably deleted from the rolls of ARES/RACES/CAREN/SKYWARN Amateur Radio
Responders. As communicators, we should stick to what we know and what we
do. Our radios should never be left unattended, unless an emergency
evacuation is declared. Stations should never leave a net unattended. There
is nothing more frustrating for a Net Control, to have traffic for a station
who does not respond. This should never happen except in the event cited
above.

	Certainly ARES/RACES/CAREN/SKYWARN Amateur Radio Operators should
never attempt anything above their level of training. Unauthorized Search
and Rescue is a good way to get shot. Medical treatment above your level of
training can get you sued. Issuing request for supplies or equipment must be
authorized by responsible officials, in writing and preferable signed, to
protect us from possible financial responsibility for unauthorized requests.

	Amateur Radio Operators should be self alerted by news media reports
and accounts. Such preparatory measures such as charging batteries, loading
a grab and go bag in your vehicle, all necessary equipment, supplies and
creature comforts should be located, placed in the vehicle or where they can
be quickly obtained.

	Generally speaking, two meters will be used out of a disaster area,
especially if the repeaters are operational, if not on simplex, to a home
station capable of 75 meter and 40 meter operations, if statewide
communications is needed. The cardinal rule of Emergency Responses is
listen, listen, and then listen some more. How many times have you heard
station occupy an Emergency Frequency or Repeater with idle chit chat
knowing full well that Emergency Response Stations are monitoring for
potential future developments of a Emergency Situation. I personally think
that is rude, unthinking and call it to everyone's attention, in case you
are one of those chit Chatting stations and are unaware. 

	Points of Contact need a list of Stations reporting as requested for
Security Purposes. If you are not on the list and wish to volunteer, contact
your local Emergency Coordinator.

	Do Not, I repeat Do Not, just show up at a shelter, EOC, Red Cross
site, disaster site, staging area, unless requested to do so by the
Emergency Coordinator. These "rules" are not made lightly, these "rules" are
what professional Emergency Managers expect of professional Emergency
Responders. Years of practical experience has developed these rules of
engagement and are widely accepted.

	Self training for Emergency Communication Responders is available
from FEMA and the ARRL Emergency Communications Course. Training Nets are
held Sunday mornings at 7:00 AM and on Monday evenings at 7:00 PM or
immediately following the Arkansas Razorback Net, which meets at 6:30 PM 365
days a year on 3.987.5 and on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM on the linked
CAREN CLUB repeaters. Self training is encouraged and deemed necessary. 

	Dale Temple, W5RXU

	Emergency Coordinator, City of Little Rock

	ARRL Emergency Communications Course Level 3