A mateur R adio E mergency C ommunications C ourse Level 1

1. Amateur Radio Emergency Communications CourseLevel 1 Version 4 – February 2009

2. Acknowledgements • The presenters would like to thank the American Radio Relay League for permission to use copyrighted ARECC Level 1 course material that is included in this classroom presentation material • In addition, supplemental material has been obtained through various sources including the Citizen Corps CERT website, Seattle Emergency Management, King County Emergency Management, Washington Military Department Emergency Management Division, Washington State ARES/RACES, King County ARES/RACES, Seattle ACS, Western Washington Medical Services Team • Slides for this presentation were developed by Brian Daly, WB7OML, EC - King County (WA) District M - Western Washington Medical Services Team and leadership team of the Seattle ACS. Permission is granted to any amateur radio team to use provided credit is given to the developer. • Presenters: • Brian Daly WB7OML • DeWayne Sennett KE7DXW • Alan Jones KD7KUS

3. Logistics • Activity Sheet • Course Evaluation Sheet • 3 lessons, followed by a short break

4. Overview • Welcome! And Thank You!! • We are here to improve professionalism and effectiveness of our public service efforts • Share a common base of knowledge, skills and procedures • Learn new skills, new ways of thinking about existing skills • Make note of any ideas you may have, and submit on the course evaluation sheet • Share stories of how this applies to your local teams

5. Introduction • Objectives of the course • To provide a baseline level of knowledge and skill in Amateur Radio Emergency Communications for anyone wishing to assist their local emergency communications organizations

6. First, let’s start out with a scenario ….

7. 1,660 dead 24,200 injured 9,700 buildings destroyed 29,000 buildings severely damages and unsafe 154,000 buildings moderately damaged with use restricted 130 fires burn All major highways experience partial closures lasting months Utilities cut in areas with poor soils Port facilities badly damaged Businesses disrupted due to collapsed supply houses, transportation closures, communication outages Property Damage $33B Scenario

8. Scenario – Where? • Katrina? • Tsunami?

9. Scenario • Scenario for a Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake on the Seattle Fault • Seattle Fault M6.7 • Shallow Quake • Fault Rupture at surface in Bellevue • Losses similar to the M6.7 Northridge earthquake • U.S. most costly to date

10. Lesson 1: Introduction to Emergency Communications

11. What is a Communication Emergency? • A Communication Emergency exists when: • A critical communication failure puts the public at risk • Variety of circumstances leads to a communication emergency • Overload or damage to critical day-to-day systems What are some potential causes of a Communications Emergency locally?

12. Western Washington Communications Emergency

13. Arizona Communication Emergencies

14. Other Communication Emergencies Grid Failure Terrorism PSAP Failure Hospital/EMS Comm Failure

15. Which of these may result in a communication emergency? • Pacific Northwest windstorm • Western Washington snowfall of December 2008 • Nisqually earthquake • 9-1-1 center telephone outage • Widespread power outage • Cascadiasubduction zone earthquake • Internal hospital PBX outage • Cable television system outage • Avalanche at Snoqualmie Pass • Western Washington floods of 2007 or 2009

17. Disaster • Disaster  “ill-starred” • “dis” – Latin for “away” • “astrum” – Latin for “stars” • Conversations about disaster  • Typically surrounded by fear and superstition “Why don’t we tell people what to do when the nation is on Orange Alert against a terrorist attack – instead of just telling them to be afraid?” - Amanda Ripley, “The Unthinkable”

18. Exercise • Rank order the following disaster risks for Seattle/King County from highest risk to lowest risk • Consider both: • Frequency & • Effects of the disaster • Tornadoes • Floods • Landslides • Terrorism • Hazmat Incidents • Volcanic Eruptions • Conflagrations • Earthquake • Windstorm • Tsunami/Seiches • Air Crashes • Civil Disorders • Snowstorm • Droughts/Water Shortages

19. Seattle Risks

20. Useful Reading http://www.seattle.gov/emergency/

21. King County Disasters • King County is at risk for a wide-range of natural, technological, and human-caused disasters • Between 1964 and 2005, King County has had 20 presidential declared disasters • most of which were severe weather events • Have the potential for: • severe weather events • floods, ice, wind, and snowstorms • landslide risks • transportation and fixed-site hazardous material issues • could be vulnerable to terrorist activities

22. Earthquakes

23. Pacific Northwest Earthquakes Source: earthquake.usgs.gov

24. Pacific Northwest Earthquakes Source: http://www.pnsn.org

25. Seattle Earthquakes Source: earthquake.usgs.gov

26. A Few Earthquake Resources • The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network • http://www.pnsn.org/ • KING5 Earthquake • http://www.king5.com/quake/ • Washington State Emergency Management • http://emd.wa.gov/hazards/haz_earthquakes.shtml

27. Pacific Northwest Volcanoes

28. Major King County River Systems http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/flooding/documents/flood-hazard-management-plan.aspx

29. King County Flooding

30. 2006 Flooding

31. Winter Weather • King County Snow & Ice Plan • http://www.govlink.org/storm/roads.asp • City of Seattle Snow & Ice Plan • http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/snowandice.htm

32. Emergency Coordination Zones • Emergency Coordination Zone 1 - East King County • was created from former Fire Zones 1 and 2 • Emergency Coordination Zone 3 – South King County • was created from a merger of Fire Zones 3 and 4 in July 2002 • Emergency Coordination Zone 5 - the City of Seattle

33. King County Disaster Plan http://www.metrokc.gov/prepare/programs/regionalplan.aspx • The population density, complex system of governance, and significant risks we face (for both natural and technological disasters) created the need to plan for a coordinated response among public, private, tribal and nonprofit entities in King County

34. Arizona Earthquakes Source: http://www4.nau.edu/geology/aeic/aeic.html

35. What Makes a Good Emcomm Volunteer? • Common Attributes: • Desire to help others without personal gain of any kind • Ability to work as a member of a team • Ability to take direction from others • Think and act quickly • Under stress and pressure of an emergency

36. Where Do You Fit In? • Amateurs bring: • Equipment • Skills • Frequencies • Create expedient emergency communications network under poor conditions • Flexible, expandable • We are licensed & preauthorized for national and international communications However….

37. Where Do You Fit In? • Radios, Frequencies and Basic Radio Skills are not enough! • Without specific emergency communication skills, you can easily become part of the problem • Technical and Operating Skills are critical… • And so is your ability to function as a team player within your organization as well as the organization you are serving

38. What You Are Not • Important to know your limits of responsibility as an emergency communicator • Specifically: • You are not a first responder • You have no authority • Cannot make decisions for others • Cannot make demands on the served agency • You can & should make decisions affecting your own health & safety

39. What You Are Not • You cannot “do it all” • If the served agency runs short of specialized help, it is not your job to fill it • especially if you are not trained for the job! • But you can fill in an urgent need or perform jobs where communication is an integral part, if you are qualified • You are not in charge! Leave your ego at the door!

40. Day-to-Day vs. Emergency Communications • “Day-to Day” Amateur Radio • No pressure to get a message through • Do things at your leisure • No one’s life depends on it • Public Service Events • Scheduled and Planned • Field Day • Plan for 2-day operation

41. Day-to-Day vs. Emergency Communications • Emergency Communications • May involve both Amateurs and non-Amateurs • Happen in real-time • Unplanned, little or no warning • May go on for several days • May have several nets simultaneously • Pass critical messages in a limited timeframe • Portable stations, quickly set up and operational anywhere

42. The Missions • Varies with specific agency served • Example: American Red Cross • Provide communications needed to maintain shelters and other relief efforts • Example: State/Local Emergency Management • Interagency communications • “eyes and ears” of the emergency managers What are some of the missions you might see?

43. Communicating – Job #1 • Important to remember your job is: • “communicating” • Communicating does not automatically imply amateurradios • Be prepared to use any means required

44. Communicating – Job #1 • Our job – GET THE MESSAGE THROUGH • Don’t think about how to use the ham radio to send the message --- • Just think about the best and fastest way to send it • If the best way is a FAX, cell phone, CB or FRS – use it • If an agency asks you to use their radio system, use it Your Operating Skills are just as important as your Ham Radio Resources

45. Anatomy of a Communications Emergency • Early phase of a disaster • Severe storm “watch” or “warning” period • In many cases, no immediate need for emergency communications • Earthquake may be an exception • Monitor developments and prepare to deploy • Some nets may be activated • Hurricane, Skywarn

46. Anatomy of a Communications Emergency • Once need for more communication resources is identified • Served agency puts out call to volunteers • Emergency Operations Center (EOC) • Field locations • “Rapid Response Team” (RRT) • Minimal, quick response in a very short time • Backed up by a more robust response after 1-2 hours

47. Anatomy of a Communications Emergency • “Resource” or “Logistics” net may be established • Handle incoming emcomm volunteers • Direct resources where needed most • Unassigned volunteers check in and monitor Once Operations Begin…

48. Anatomy of a Communications Emergency Message Volume Grows Quickly Confusion Batteries Relief Operators Fuel Replacement Operators Radio Failures Food and Water Antenna Failures Sleeping Accommodations

49. Staffing a Shelter Handle calls for information, supplies, personnel “Shadowing” Communication link for an official Gathering Weather Information Collecting/Transmitting Damage Reports Pass health/welfare inquires Pass messages outside of the disaster area Handle logistical needs for served agency Communication Assignments

50. Need for Flexibility • Nets will be set up, re-arranged, and dismantled as needs change • Remain flexible to meet needs of served agency • Over time, communication needs diminish • Nets closed • Operators released Not long after the operation has ended…