ARES/RACES Plan of Operation

 

I. Introduction

1.1     The Faulkner County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the  Faulkner County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a joint group, composed of FCC-licensed Amateur Radio operators who have voluntarily registered their capabilities and equipment for public service communications duty.
 
1.2    Under Federal regulations, Amateur Radio public service communications are furnished without compensation of any kind.
 
1.3    The Faulkner County ARES/ RACES group function under this Emergency Plan and the direction of the ARES Emergency Coordinators of Faulkner County.
 
1.4    The Faulkner County EC may appoint additional assistant EC's as needed for the ARES/ RACES to function efficiently.

2. Purpose

2.1     The purpose of this plan is to provide a written guide containing the      minimum information that would be needed in an emergency.  Each emergency is different and flexibility to provide an adequate response to each situation is a necessity.
 
2.2     The primary responsibility of the Faulkner County ARES/RACES is to furnish communications in the event of a disaster or communications emergency when other communications fail or are inadequate.
 
2.3     All drills, training and instruction shall be carried out to insure readiness to respond quickly in providing effective amateur emergency communications wherever an occasion may arise.
 
2.4     The following agencies could be served during a communications emergency, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, Faulkner County Office of Emergency Management, City of Conway Emergency Management, Faulkner County Chapter of the American Red Cross, police, fire, rescue squad, Conway Regional Hospital, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security and other disaster response groups that request our assistance.

3. Activation the Plan

3.1    Upon notification from the ADEM, OEM Director the plan will be set in motion.  If no notice is given and it is apparent that a disaster or communications emergency exists, the EC will contact served agencies and put the "action plan" into motion if there is a need from any agency.
 
3.2    Any member of Faulkner County ARES/RACES who for any reason suspects a communications emergency exists should monitor the assigned net frequency (146.970 primary, 145.210 secondary and if no signals are heard, monitor 146.520 simplex) for activity.
 
3.3    If local telephone serve is available, the EC and/or assistant EC's should be notified by telephone.
 
3.4    In an emergency in which Amateur Radio might serve the community, Amateur Radio operators may be alerted by any state, county, city, Red Cross, Civil Preparedness, ES Coordinator or similar official, notifying the Emergency Coordinator or Assist Emergency Coordinator.

4. ARES/RACES Mobilization Procedure

4.1    Local broadcast stations may be contacted by the EC or his representative, if possible, for spot announcements alerting ARES/RACES members.
 
4.2    If telephone service is available a telephone "calling chain" will be utilizes to notify members.
 
4.3    Upon notification, members will check into the net on 146.970 or alternate frequencies for instruction.
 
4.4    Mobile units are then to be dispatched and "Jump Teams" will be directed to where there is a communications need.
 
4.5    The EC will assume net control or will assign net control (NCS) to another person.  Net Control will be operated from the EOC in the state, county or city that has issued the "Call Up".  If that center is not operational the net will be controlled from a neighboring EOC location.

5. Duties of NCS

5.1    The Faulkner County Emergency Net will be called by the NCS.
 
5.2    Members of the Faulkner County ARC will check into the net from their homes stations and mobiles to await further instructions.
 
5.3    Liaison stations to the following Traffic System nets will be assigned.
 
CAREN Weather Net on 146.940 (If emergency is a weather emergency)
State ARES/RACES Net on 3987.5 (If emergency is state wide)
 
5.4    Net control will shift all formal written traffic to a nearby repeater to be passed.  
 
5.5    Mobile stations will be dispatched to the Red Cross Center and shelters as required.  An operator will be assigned to the Conway Regional Hospital and/or the 911 Center if needed.  An operator will be dispatched to the EOC at ADEM if requested.  Stations may be sent to local fire or rescue building to supplement communications at those locations.  In the event of a crisis at remote locations where public service radio communications are not adequate.  ARES members may be dispatched to provide reliable communications to and from that area.

6. Operations

 
6.1    All written messages will be in ARRL Radiogram form.  The exception is the American Red Cross and they may choose their message form for health and welfare information.
 
6.2    All messages must be signed by the official who originates them, with his or her title, taking responsibility for their content.
 
6.3    Message procedure of EMERGENCY, Priority, Welfare and Routine, as defined on ARRL form FSD-3 shall be used on all messages.
 
6.4    Stations do not transmit unless invited to do so by net control.  The only exception to this rule is for stations having EMERGENCY traffic.

7. Drills, Test and Alerts

 
7.1    An Annual test will be conducted in October through December in conjunction with the ARRL Simulated Emergency Test.
 
7.2    The Faulkner County Amateur Radio Club will regularly supply public safety communications in conjunction with local events ( such as walk-a-thons, parades, sporting events and other community events) to test the effectiveness of their operation and to provide a service to the community.
 
7.3    The Faulkner County ARC ARES/RACES Emergency net meets every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. on a frequency of 145.210 with transmit on 144.610 (down 600 KHz) or on the alternate 146.970 with transmit on 146.370 (down 600 KHz)
 
7.4    At the discretion of the EC, the ARES will be activated unannounced via the "phone chain" at least once per year.