[Wma-ares] ICS 213 forms continued

[Gary Roy]

Thank you

Gary Roy KB1AKU
groy773 at gmail.com
KB1AKU at arrl.net
(413) 530-8527
President of FCARC
D.E.C. For Franklin/Hampshire Counties


On Mon, Sep 8, 2025 at 17:42 Chuck Chandler via WMA-ARES <
wma-ares at mailman.qth.net> wrote:

> A few days ago we looked at the header of an ICS 213 form, which contains
> the Incident Name, To, From, Subject, Date and Time fields.  Today we will
> look at the message body. which only has two blocks:  The Message block and
> the Approval block.  Here is an example:
> [image: image.png]
> As you can see, the ICS message does not use the familiar ARRL Radiogram
> format.  It uses normal written language including punctuation.  This is an
> example of the kind of message we will be sending during our Simulated
> Emergency Test.  Replace the term "North Adams" with your specific shelter
> location, the number of operators and the bands and modes on which you are
> operational with your own information.
>
> Obviously, if you can establish a data mode connection using something
> like WinLink standard forms, you can send this message form as an
> electronic copy with just a few key strokes.  But, what if all you have is
> VHF simplex voice?  How would you transmit this message?
>
> Here is an example.  In this case the shelter site at Plainfield cannot
> reach Agawam MEMA on simplex.  They will send their message through the
> relay site at Jacob's Ladder, which can reach Agawam on simplex. Note that
> Tactical IDs are used except at the close of each transmission, when FCC
> callsigns must be given.
>
> "JACOB JACOB THIS IS PLAINFIELD OVER"
>
> *"PLAINFIELD THIS IS JACOB OVER"*
>
> "JACOB THIS IS PLAINFIELD ONE MESSAGE OVER"
>
> *"PLAINFIELD THIS IS JACOB SEND YOUR MESSAGE OVER"*
>
> "JACOB THIS IS PLAINFIELD MESSAGE FOLLOWS BREAK
> BLOCK ONE ARES 2025 SET
> BLOCK TWO WAYNE MEMA REGION 3/4 AGAWAM
> BLOCK 3 GARY PLAINFIELD SHELTER
> BLOCK 4 SITUATION REPORT
> BLOCK 5 10/4/2025
> BLOCK 6 1030
> HOW COPY OVER?"
>
> *"PLAINFIELD THIS IS JACOB GOOD COPY OVER"*
>
> "JACOB THIS IS PLAINFIELD MESSAGE CONTINUES
> BLOCK 7 PLAINFIELD SHELTER COMMUNICATIONS ESTABLISHED WITH ONE OPERATOR
> PERIOD VHF FM AND WINLINK CAPABILITIES PERIOD
> BLOCK 8 GARY KB1AKU RADIO OPERATOR
> MESSAGE ENDS HOW COPY?"
>
> *"PLAINFIELD THIS IS JACOB ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR MESSAGE.  KC1ZZZ."*
>
> "KB1AKU."
>
> So, now Plainfield Shelter's message is sitting in Beckett, on KC1ZZZ's
> clipboard on the side of Route 20.  Not where it needs to be yet.  The next
> part of the relay chain begins with:
>
> "AGAWAM AGAWAM THIS IS JACOB OVER"
>
> *JACOB THIS IS AGAWAM OVER"*
>
> AGAWAM, THIS IS JACOB ONE MESSAGE OVER"
>
> And so on, as was done above.
>
> Is this more time-consuming and error-prone than using a digital mode like
> WinLink?  You bet it is!  However, if this is all you have, it can be
> done.  Make sure you speak slowly and clearly, or if receiving write
> legibly and ask for any repeats as needed to ensure clean copy.
>
> I hope you found this to be of some help in understanding how the ICS 213
> form is used for messages.
>
> 73 de Chuck, WS1L
> Amateur Radio Emergency Service ®
> Section Emergency Coordinator
> Western Massachusetts
> chandlerusm at gmail.com
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