Emcomm via Amateur Radio

1
Emcomm via Amateur Radio

• Information for Served Agencies and Organizations
  in King Co.
• Kirk Bellar 4-20-08

2
Why Amateur Radio?

• Hams are (just about) everywhere
• Ham populace dispersed throughout King Co.
• Over 500 hams presently active in emcomm in King
  Co.
• 25 local teams within the county
• Hams are flexible
• Hams can go where theyre needed
• They can set up and maintain their own equipment,
  or use pre-installed equipment
• Hams are disciplined
• During actual events, teams function only at the
  behest of their served agencies
• No wannabes or cowboys (except for the hams
  who are also professional responders)
• Hams are there to augment, not replace, the pros,
  and to free them to do their jobs
• Most teams are already vetted and credentialed

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Why Amateur Radio?

• Hams are self-sustaining
• Have their own radio equipment, supplies, backup
  power
• Multiple frequency bands and modes
• Bands HF through microwave bands, frequency
  agile
• Modes FM, SSB, digital, TV (and yes, Morse code
  is still around)
• Amateur repeaters extend effective coverage
• Training and exercising
• ARRL online courses three levels
• FEMA IS-100, 200, 700, 800 (ICS, NIMS)
• SKYWARN, CERT, Red Cross training
• Local, state-wide, and national exercises
• Participation in exercises with their served
  agencies (Sound Shake, TOPOFF)
• Public-service events (parades, fun runs, etc.)
  provide practice opportunities
• Communications Academy

4
Who Do Hams Talk To?

• Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs)
• State EOC Camp Murray
• County EOC (RCECC) Renton
• Other county EOCs in Washington
• Local EOCs Seattle, Bellevue, etc.
• Local fire and police stations
• NGOs Red Cross, Salvation Army, hospitals,
  churches
• National Weather Service
• Port of Seattle (maritime operations)
• Corporations PSE, Boeing, Microsoft, Safeco
• All of these entities have dedicated ham teams

5
What Happens in an Emergency?

• We activate only at the request of our served
  agencies were not first responders
• Not every emergency is a communications emergency
• Hams check in on pre-arranged frequency, get
  assignment or go to pre-assigned location
• Typical assignments
• Staff EOC ham radios, exchange tactical and
  formal messages with other agencies
• Shadow served-agency leadership
• Support fire and police stations
• Support emergency shelters, exchange messages
  with EOCs or NGOs
• Related tasks
• Stealth damage assessment
• Severe weather spotting (Skywarn)
• Operate public-safety radios, phones, fax
  machines
• Block watch (CERT and similar teams)
• SAR and CAP teams use ham radio as a tool to
  talk among themselves

6
Getting Ham Help in King Co.

• You may already have a ham team supporting your
  municipality or organization, see
  www.aresofkingcounty.org/contact.php
• If not, contact Kirk Bellar, DEC/RRO
  kbellar_at_earthlink.net or 206-465-2873
• State leadership contacts are available at
  www.wastateares.org

7
Legalities and Caveats

• Hams are licensed by the FCC, must pass exam
• By law, hams cant be paid specifically to
  exchange messages
• However, employees who are also hams can legally
  operate on-the-clock if their amateur activity is
  incidental to their normal duties
• Messages must not concern normal operation of a
  business, must relate to safety of life and
  property or be of an unimportant nature
• Transmissions are unencrypted anyone can listen
  in
• Non-hams can talk on a ham radio only if a
  licensed ham is controlling the transmissions,
  unless theres an immediate threat to life or
  property
• Insuring emcomm volunteers is an ongoing issue

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How Can I Get Ham Support?

• In an emergency, there are never enough hams to
  go around
• FDs, PDs, municipal governments, and hospitals
  get priority
• Best way to assure yourself of ham support Grow
  your own hams!
• Technician-class license is sufficient for most
  emcomm needs
• Morse code proficiency is no longer needed for
  exams
• Calendar of upcoming ham classes and exams is
  available at www.mikeandkey.org/education.htm
• Self-study materials are available at
  www.arrl.org/catalog or www.w5yi.org
• Online study materials Too numerous to mention!
  Start with www.ac6v.com/help.htm

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Equipment Needs

• Hams pride themselves on self-sufficiency, but
  pre-installing ham equipment can save valuable
  time in an emergency
• Priorities for equipment
• Dual-band (2m and 75cm) vertical antenna 150
• Dual-band FM mobile radio power supply 530
• NVIS antenna for 75, 60, 40 meters 100
• HF transceiver power supply 1650
• Terminal Node Controller (TNC) and PC for packet
  (digital) radio 200 (not including PC)
• 6m vertical antenna for FM 150
• 6m mobile transceiver power supply (if HF
  transceiver doesnt include 6m) 450

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Affiliations

• Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
• An arm of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL)
• Started as Amateur Radio Emergency Corps in the
  mid-30s
• Supports NGOs (Red Cross, Salvation Army) and
  corporations
• Teams are headed by Emergency Coordinator (EC) or
  Assistant EC
• Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)
• Started by FEMA in early 50s
• Supports government entities (fire, police, etc.)
• Local Emergency Manager appoints RACES Radio
  Officer (RO), who heads the team and selects its
  members
• RACES members are registered state emergency
  workers
• Some liability and property-loss protection under
  WAC 118 if state EMD issues a Mission Number or
  Training Number for the event
• Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS)
• Big tent encompassing ARES, RACES, MARS, CAP,
  REACT, other emcomm organizations

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Thanks for your Interest!

• King Co. ARES/RACES contact info
  www.aresofkingcounty.org
• Seattle team www.seattleacs.com
• Medical Services Team http//www.ww7mst.org/
• Questions??