Williamson County ARES, TX
Williamson County ARES
August 2013 Meeting
Williamson County ARES, TX
MANAGING A RESPONSE
Being ready when the call comes
Initial Notification
Served agency requests response.Notification to EC and designees.Decision on resources needed.
Williamson County ARES, TX
Alerting Members
STX paging system likely first alert.When you get an alert, go to the 146.64 repeater.
Net will be activated.
Williamson County ARES, TX
Cellphone
Exploring the possibility of using Group Me to alert members.
Cellphone is a supplementary notification vehicle.
Williamson County ARES, TX
Self-Activation
Do Not confuse with self-deployment!
If you become aware of an incident, notify your EC and activate a net on the repeater.
Williamson County ARES, TX
Family First
Secure your home and family.Let family know where you are going if you activate.
Before an incident, discuss your plan with your family.
Williamson County ARES, TX
Resources
Most local operations will take place on VHF or UHF repeaters.
Primary : 146.64 PL 162.2Secondary: 146.70 PL 110.5Third: 147.080 PL 100.0
Williamson County ARES, TX
Repeaters
Time-out timers.Know the “dead spots” in County Operting Area.● San Gabriel Park in Georgetown● Other dead spots
Linked repeaters
Williamson County ARES, TX
En Route Response
Make sure your vehicle is fueled up. Drive off the top-half of the tank.
Pick up your jump-kit (clothing)Pick up your go-kit (radio)Let your family know where you are going
Williamson County ARES, TX
First Steps
Program your radio!● Suggest programming the repeater output as a simplex frequency into memory channel.
Check in to the Net● Wait for instructions.
Williamson County ARES, TX
Know Your RadioLearn how to manually program your radio before an incident.
Make sure the frequencies in our Emergency Communications Plan are programmed into your radio.
Program neighboring county frequencies.
Williamson County ARES, TX
Comm Plan
WILLIAMSON COUNTY ARES
RADIO
RESOURCE TYPE NAME USERS RX FREQ. TX FREQ. TONE USE/REMARKS
VHF Repeater WCARES PRIMARY
ARES/RACES
146.640 MHz. W
146.040 MHz. W
162.2 PL
Resource Net
VHF Repeater WCARES BU 1
ARES/RACES
146.700 MHz. W
146.100 MHz. W
110.9 PL
Backup 1 Repeater/Tactical
Net
VHF Repeater WCARES BU 2
ARES/RACES
147.080 MHz. W
147.680 MHz. W
100.0 PL
Backup 2/Tactical Net
VHF Simplex Simplex 1 ARES/RACES
147.430 MHz. W
147.430 MHz. W
Simplex Tactical Net
VHF Simplex Simplex 2/Call
ARES/RACES
146.52 MHz. W
146.520 MHz. W
Simplex Tactical Net
VHF Simplex Simplex 3 ARES/RACES
147.500 MHz. W
147.500 MHz. W
Simplex Tactical Net
Williamson County ARES, TX
Shared Tactical FrequenciesVHF
Simplex"V50S"* ARES/CCG/
TF/RACES145.500
MHz.CSQ 145.500
MHz. CSQ Common
ARES VHF Tactical Simplex
VHF Simplex
"V43S"* ARES/CCG/TF/RACES
147.430 MHz.
CSQ 147.430 MHz.
CSQ Common ARES VHF Tactical Simplex
VHF Simplex
"V79S"* ARES/CCG/TF/RACES
145.790 MHz.
CSQ 145.790 MHz.
CSQ Common ARES VHF Tactical Simplex
VHF Simplex
"V53S"* ARES/CCG/TF/RACES
147.530 MHz.
CSQ 147.530 MHz.
CSQ Common ARES VHF Tactical Simplex
*TO AVOID MUTUAL
INTERFERENCE VHF SIMPLEX
TAC CHANNELS SHOULD
BE ASSIGNED FOR USE IN THIS ORDER V50S, V43S, V79S, V53S.
UHF Simplex
"U25S"** ARES/CCG/TF/RACES
446.025 MHz.
CSQ 446.025 MHz.
CSQ Common ARES UHF Tactical Simplex
UHF Simplex
"U50S"** ARES/CCG/TF/RACES
441.050 MHz.
CSQ 441.050 MHz.
CSQ Common ARES UHF Tactical Simplex
UHF Simplex
"U75S"** ARES/CCG/TF/RACES
446.075 MHz.
CSQ 446.075 MHz.
CSQ Common ARES UHF Tactical Simplex
Williamson County ARES, TX
Packet Frequencies
RESOURCE TYPE
NAME USERS RX FREQ. TX FREQ. USE
PACKET 1 ARCHES1D
ARES/CCG/TF/RACES 145.730 MHz.
145.730 MHz.
HOSPITAL NET PRIMARY
PACKET 2 ARCHES2D
ARES/CCG/TF/RACES 145.070 MHz.
145.070 MHz.
HOSPITAL NET SECONDARY
PACKET 3 ARCHES3D
ARES/CCG/TF/RACES 144.910 MHz.
144.910 MHz.
Digital County North
PACKET 4 ARCHES4D
ARES/CCG/TF/RACES 145.030 MHz.
145.030 MHz.
Digital County East
PACKET 5 ARCHES5D
ARES/CCG/TF/RACES 145.610 MHz.
145.610 MHz.
Digital County West
Williamson County ARES, TX
Who Is In Charge
EC will appoint a “station manager” Check in with station managerFill out necessary paperworkGet position assignmentReport to position
Williamson County ARES, TX
FEMA Events
On FEMA events, volunteer hours are tracked and the community is reimbursed toward their obligation for “matching funds.”
Williamson County ARES, TX
Always Be a Good Guest
Whether local or out-of-area response, strive to leave the community better than you found it.
We go home, hosts have to live there!
Williamson County ARES, TX
Initial Setup
Set up radio and check antennaCheck for possible interferenceCheck for working phones, faxes, Internet, etc.
Learn host’s operation and needs. ID alternative message paths
Williamson County ARES, TX
Personal Needs
Find sanitary facilitiesDetermine water and food sources and eating arrangements
Review overall conditions and how they affect your operation
Find a place to get some rest
Williamson County ARES, TX
Message Relays
When one station can’t hear another, a third station may have to act as a relay
Use other frequencies for relays
Williamson County ARES, TX
Radio Room Security
Only on-duty operators will be allowed in the radio room
Avoid distractions in radio areasDo not leave equipment unattended
Host agency will clear authorized personnel
Williamson County ARES, TX
Recordkeeping
Maintain a log● Arrival and departure times● Net check-ins● Critical events● Staff changes● Equipment problems and issues
Williamson County ARES, TX
Stress and Egos
Leave your ego at homeDelegate responsibilities among operators
Prioritize your actionsDo not take comments personallyTake a few deep breaths
Williamson County ARES, TX
Stress and Egos
Get adequate food, water, rest and medical attention
Do not work longer than your shift If you are losing control of a situation, bring in someone else
Watch out for your colleagues
Williamson County ARES, TX
Stress and Egos
Always RESPOND, never REACTLook for ways to help your fellow operators
Do not be offended if someone offers to help in a situation
If you need a SAFETY BREAK take it!
Williamson County ARES, TX
Long Term Operations
Shift should be no longer than 8 hours
Staffing schedules will be developed
Food, water and shelter
Williamson County ARES, TX
Large-Scale Disasters
Normal infrastructure is down or overloaded
Public Safety frequencies become overloaded
Agencies are reluctant to let other agencies use their radio system, or to use others
Williamson County ARES, TX
Large-Scale Disasters
May need handheld radios if deployed in vehicles
Mobile go-kits with higher power radios, mag-mount antennas, and battery clip power leads
Williamson County ARES, TX
Large-Scale Disasters
Need to set up rapidly to provide service
Communication area may exceed 50-350 miles
Voice is primary modePacket for non-critical or data intensive transmissions
Williamson County ARES, TX
Ending Operations
Restore equipment and area to its arrival state
Finalize all paperwork and get it to documentation
Check out with Demob ClerkLeave a GOOD impression
Williamson County ARES, TX
Make Notes for AAR
All deployments will have an After Action Review to note the following:● What worked● What didn’t work● What can we do better
Williamson County ARES, TX
Questions / commentsThanks for your attention
Williamson County ARES, TX