Maine ARES

1
Maine ARES

• The Ready Kit
• What we need to operate
• Prepared by Bryce Rumery, K1GAX
• Maine ARES Section Emergency Coordinator

2
Ready Kit

• What is a Ready Kit?
• Simply defined its
• All the equipment and supplies that an ARES
  emergency communicator would need to accomplish
  his or her deployed mission

3
The Ready Kit

• The last thing you should need to do when a call
  for assistance comes is to think of and locate
  all the items you might need. Any experienced
  emergency responder knows how important it is to
  keep a kit of the items they need ready to go at
  a moments notice. This is often called a Ready
  Kit (a.k.a. Jump Kit, Go Bag or Go Kit).

4
The Ready Kit

• Things to consider in preparing a Ready Kit
• What networks you will join and what equipment
  you will need to do so?
• Will you need to relocate quickly or can you
  bring a ton of equipment?
• Will you be on foot or near your vehicle?
• Is your assignment a fixed location or will you
  be mobile?

5
The Ready Kit

• Things to consider in preparing a Ready Kit
• How long will you be deployed?
• Less than 48 hours, up to 72 hours or even a week
  or more
• Will you be in a building with reliable power and
  working toilets or in a tent away from
  civilization?

6
The Ready Kit

• Things to consider in preparing a Ready Kit
• What type of weather or other conditions might be
  encountered?
• Where will food and water come from?
• Are sanitary facilities available?
• Will there be a place to sleep?
• Do you need a plan for a wide variety of
  scenarios or just a few?

7
The Ready Kit

• Things to consider in preparing a Ready Kit
• Be creative in your thinking and planning
• Try to consider every possible emergency you
  might be involved in, what you might be doing
  and what you would need to accomplish the mission

8
Ready Kit

• Have your Ready Kit
• Planned and packed in advance
• If you are unable to pack your Ready Kit in
  advance
• Have all the items you will need at hand
• When disaster strikes is not the time to go
  shopping
• Have an inventory of the items you will need
• Keep your inventory current
• Know where they are
• Have appropriate containers available for the
  supplies
• You gotta have a place to put your stuff

9
Ready Kit

• There is no stock or standard Ready Kit
• It varies with the assignment
• It is individually planned
• It reflects the needs and capabilities of the
  owner
• It should be adjusted as new needs are realized
  and new equipment and capabilities are added

10
Ready Kit

• The Ready Kit includes four basic categories
• Communications Equipment
• Tools
• Power
• Supplies
• Administrative
• Personal

11
Ready Kit

• Communications Equipment
• Radios
• Basic voice and CW equipment
• Any additional equipment
• Computer
• Digital Mode Equipment
• Adapters
• Basic Test Equipment
• Feedline
• To get the signal to the antenna
• Antennas
• Something to radiate the signal

12
Ready Kit

• Tools
• Those tools that you need to install, operate and
  maintain your equipment in the field (at a
  deployed location)

13
Ready Kit

• Power
• AC Power Supplies
• With power cords (with adapters)
• Battery Chargers
• Batteries
• Generators
• Extension Cords (with adapters)
• Alternate power sources
• Wind
• Water
• Solar

14
Ready Kit

• Supplies
• Administrative Supplies
• The Paperwork To Do Your Job
• Personal Supplies
• Clothing
• Food and Drink
• Personal Needs
• Safety Equipment

15
Ready Kit

• Supplies
• Administrative Supplies
• Personal identification
• Drivers License
• EMA ARES/RACES ID
• Copy of Amateur Radio License
• Logs
• ICS Form 309 suggested
• Message Forms
• ARRL Radiograms
• ICS Form 213 (ICS Message Form)
• ARC Form 4612 (Message Form)
• ARC Form 2079I (DWI Form)
• Pens and Pencils
• Note pads
• Clipboard
• ARES/RACES documents

16
Ready Kit

• Supplies
• Personal Supplies
• Clothing
• Clothing appropriate to the emergency conditions,
  the season and the weather
• Refer to the location you are being deployed for
  appropriate clothing requirements
• Make note of the weather forecast for updates

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Ready Kit

• Supplies
• Personal Supplies
• Food and drink
• Do not depend on our served agencies or those at
  your deployed locations for food supplies
• Plan your supplies to last the duration of your
  deployment
• Keep non-perishable food with you
• Keep about 1 gallon of water per day with you

18
Ready Kit

• Supplies
• Personal Supplies
• Prescription Medications for the duration of your
  assignment
• Spare eyeglasses
• Patent Medicines
• Insect Repellent
• Sunscreen
• Cash ( 20.00 in bills and change)
• Lighting
• Sanitary Supplies

19
Ready Kit

• Supplies
• Personal Supplies
• Sleeping equipment
• Folding Cot
• Sleeping bag
• Blanket
• Pillow
• Ground Pad
• One Man Tent

20
Ready Kit

• Supplies
• Personal Supplies
• Safety Equipment
• Reflective Vest
• Hard Hat
• Work Gloves
• Safety Boots
• Hearing Protection
• Goggles or Safety Glasses
• Particle Masks or Respirator Mask w/spare filters
• First Aid Kit

21
Ready Kit

• Always Remember To Never Depend On Our Served
  Agencies To Provide Us With What We Need To Do
  Our Job Or Provide For Our Personal Needs
• Have What You Need With You

22
Ready Kit

• The following are examples of suggested Ready
  Kits
• Remember, the Ready Kit is a personal thing
• Adjust your Ready Kit to your capabilities and
  needs
• Adjust your Ready Kit as your capabilities or
  needs change

23
Ready Kit

• Example of a 24 Hour Ready Kit
• Communications Equipment
• 2-meter /dual-band HT (preferred)
• Cell phone and /or pager
• HT Gain antenna, telescoping 1/4 wave, wind- up
  J-Pole or "Long" Flexible dual-band
• 25 feet RG-58 coax (with connectors)

24
Ready Kit

• Example of a 24 Hour Ready Kit
• Tools
• Scout Knife or Multi-Tool Leatherman, or Gerber
  (preferred)
• Orienteering compass

25
Ready Kit

• Example of a 24 Hour Ready Kit
• Power
• Spare batteries for Cell Phone or Pager
• Spare rechargeable battery pack for HT
• Alkaline battery shell for HT
• 3 changes of batteries for alkaline shell
• Battery charger for HT/Cell phone
• Small AC power supply for HT
• With power cord and connectors
• Extension cord and power strip w/adapters

26
Ready Kit

• Example of a 24 Hour Ready Kit
• Supplies
• Administrative Supplies
• Personal Identification
• Drivers License
• EMA ARES/RACES ID
• Copy of Amateur Radio License
• Logs
• ICS Form 309 suggested
• Message Forms
• ARRL Radiograms
• ICS Form 213 (ICS Message Form)
• ARC Form 4612 (Message Form)
• ARC Form 2079I (DWI Form)
• Pens and Pencils
• Note pads
• Clipboard
• ARES/RACES documents

27
Ready Kit

• Example of a 24 Hour Ready Kit
• Supplies
• Personal Supplies
• Matches or lighter
• Whistle
• MDOT or City / County road map
• Sunglasses
• Emergency cash ( 20.00 in bills/change)
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent

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Ready Kit

• Example of a 24 Hour Ready Kit
• Supplies
• Personal Supplies
• Clothing appropriate to the season
• Rain Gear (rain suit or poncho)
• Personal medications and hygiene items
• Food, nonperishable, adequate for 24 hours
• Water, total of 1 gallon / day minimum
• Small AA flashlight
• Spare batteries for flashlight
• Spare bulb for flashlight
• Watch or battery clock

29
Ready Kit

• Example of a 24 Hour Ready Kit
• Supplies
• Personal Supplies
• Spare eyeglasses
• Shelter, Space Blanket, military poncho, or
  plastic trash bag, one man tent, etc.
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad, closed cell foam
• Pillow
• Towels
• Mess kit, military canteen w/cup, knife, fork and
  spoon
• Rope, 20 ft. nylon flatline, and 50 feet
  parachute cord
• Personal EPA rated water filter, purification
  tablets

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Ready Kit

• Example of a 24 Hour Ready Kit
• Supplies
• Personal Supplies
• Safety Equipment
• Reflective Vest
• Hard Hat
• Work Gloves
• Safety Boots
• Hearing Protection
• Goggles or Safety Glasses
• Particle Masks or Respirator Mask w/spare filters
• First Aid Kit

31
Ready Kit

• Example of a 72 Hour Ready Kit
• Communications Equipment
• Cell Phone or pager
• Handheld Radio (dual band, if possible)
• Spare battery packs (Rechargeable and battery
  shell)
• Headset and Speaker/Mic.
• Mobile Transceiver (dual band, if possible)
• Ear Phones
• Quarter Wave 2 meter Magnet Mount/Ground Plane
  Antenna (will function on 70 cm)
• Coax jumpers and connectors
• Connector Adapters (bnc/pl259, bnc/so239, some
  radios require SMA)

32
Ready Kit

• Example of a 72 Hour Ready Kit
• Communications Equipment
• 50 feet RG-58 or RG-8x coax w/connectors
• Antenna portable mast (10 feet or more)
• Portable antenna base or tripod
• Guy rope
• Tent pegs for guys
• Transistor radio
• NOAA Weather Alert Radio

33
Ready Kit

• Example of a 72 Hour Ready Kit
• Tools
• Swiss Army - type knife or Multi Tool
• Screw driver (Phillips and flat blade)
• Pliers
• Side cutters
• Crescent wrench
• Electrical tape
• VOM
• Fence pliers (includes hammer)

34
Ready Kit

• Example of a 72 Hour Ready Kit
• Tools
• Soldering Iron w/solder
• Nut Driver set
• Folding set of Allen/Torx wrenches
• Zip Cord
• Crimp tool (includes wire stripper)
• Assortment of crimp connectors, nails, brads,
  tacks
• 4 or more each of the 4", 8" and 12" plastic
  cable ties

35
Ready Kit

• Example of a 72 Hour Ready Kit
• Power
• Spare rechargeable battery pack for HT
• Spare batteries for Cell Phone/Pager
• Alkaline battery shell for HT
• 3 changes of batteries for alkaline shell
• Battery charger for HT/Cell Phone
• AC power supply for Mobile Transceiver
• With power cord and connectors

36
Ready Kit

• Example of a 72 Hour Ready Kit
• Power
• 12V gel cell 75 A/H w/ charger or
• Vehicle w/ 12V battery gas
• Extension cord and power strip w/adapters

37
Ready Kit

• Example of a 72 Hour Ready Kit
• Supplies
• Administrative Supplies
• Personal Identification
• Drivers License
• EMA ARES/RACES ID
• Copy of Amateur Radio License
• Logs
• ICS Form 309 suggested
• Message Forms
• ARRL Radiograms
• ICS Form 213 (ICS Message Form)
• ARC Form 4612 (Message Form)
• ARC Form 2079I (DWI Form)
• Pens and Pencils
• Note pads
• Clipboard
• ARES/RACES documents

38
Ready Kit

• Example of a 72 Hour Ready Kit
• Supplies
• Personal Supplies
• Matches or lighter
• Whistle
• MDOT or City / County road map
• Sunglasses
• Emergency cash ( 20.00 in bills/change)
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent

39
Ready Kit

• Example of a 72 Hour Ready Kit
• Supplies
• Personal Supplies
• Clothing appropriate to the season
• Rain Gear (rain suit or poncho)
• Personal medications and hygiene items
• Food, nonperishable, adequate for 72 hours
• Water, total of 1 gallon / day minimum
• Small AA flashlight
• Spare batteries for flashlight
• Spare bulb for flashlight

40
Ready Kit

• Example of a 72 Hour Ready Kit
• Supplies
• Personal Supplies
• Spare eyeglasses
• Shelter, Space Blanket, military poncho, or
  plastic trash bag, one man tent, etc.
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad, closed cell foam
• Mess kit, military canteen w/cup, knife, fork and
  spoon
• Rope, 20 ft. nylon flatline, and 50 feet
  parachute cord
• Personal EPA rated water filter, purification
  tablets

41
Ready Kit

• Example of a 72 Hour Ready Kit
• Supplies
• Personal Supplies
• Folding cot
• Pillow
• Towels
• Battery or AC desk lamp
• Battery or windup clock
• Portable shack
• Shelter tent
• Table chair

42
Ready Kit

• Example of a 72 Hour Ready Kit
• Supplies
• Personal Supplies
• Safety Equipment
• Reflective Vest
• Hard Hat
• Work Gloves
• Safety Boots
• Hearing Protection
• Goggles or Safety Glasses
• Particle Masks or Respirator Mask w/spare filters
• First Aid Kit

43
Ready Kit

• As you can see, the 24 hour suggested ready kit
  and the 72 hour suggested ready kit are a lot
  alike
• The main difference is that there is more in the
  72 hour suggested ready kit

44
Ready Kit

• Maintenance of the Ready Kit
• The Ready Kit should be inspected quarterly
• Does all radio equipment work properly?
• Is all radio support equipment in good condition?
• Are rechargeable batteries properly charged?
• Rechargeable batteries will self discharge
  without use
• Are alkaline batteries within their wear out
  date?
• Are battery chargers and power supplies working
  properly?
• Are all tools in good condition and working?
• Is all safety gear in good repair?
• Are all personal items working, in good repair
  and within the wear out date?
• Are medications current and within code?

45
Ready Kit

• The Ready Kit
• Is all the equipment and supplies that an ARES
  emergency communicator would need to accomplish
  his or her deployed mission
• Is planned and packed in advance
• Varies with the assignment
• Is individually planned
• Reflects the needs and capabilities of the owner
• Should be adjusted as new needs are realized and
  new equipment and capabilities are added

46
Ready Kit

• The Ready Kit
• Can be used in emergency or non-emergency
  situations (such as public service events)
• Good to exercise your Ready Kit on a regular
  basis
• Should be maintained on a regular basis
• Quarterly is highly recommended
• Is an essential part of any emergency
  communicators response
• You cant accomplish the mission without the
  right stuff.
• Is always flexible depending on the situation

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Ready Kit

• Have fun planning and packing your Ready Kit!
• Presented By
• Maine ARES