TO: ALL WEST VIRGINIA ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM WV SECTION EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WV ARES BULLETIN NR 10.24 DATE: June 13, 2010
SUBJECT: MUTUAL AID COMMUNICATIONS
Emergency communications and warnings are the keys to response, recovery and survival, and are indeed the fabric that ties all of our efforts together following an emergency or disaster, to save lives, and reduce property damage. Amateur Radio, like all jurisdictions, city, county, and state agencies must maintain emergency communication systems and provide plans and procedures for their maintenance, through the use of Mutual Aid.
In order to provide for timely response to disasters with adequate command and control of the response personnel and resources, two major communications categories have been identified. One is the warning effort which provides for the exchange and dissemination of information regarding potential emergencies on a continuing basis. The second is the actual communicating between units and agencies.
It's important to have and maintain mutual aid and back-up communications between all public service organizations, as well as other Amateur Radio emergency communications groups. To maintain communications with other Amateur Radio groups is to be familiar with all of the Nets, voice repeaters and digital radio networks, in the area, and their Net times.
Two Meter voice nets are held almost every night of the week in different locations. If you participate in a voice net try to find out where and when other nets are being held. If the Net Control Station of a net doesn't announce a net that you know of, then make the announcement yourself.
Try to participate in as many nets as you can, and get to know other Amateurs Radio operators. The time may come when you will need to work with them and, it will make for a better operation.
(Reprint, with modification of, WV District 3 Bulletin NR 06.50)
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV
WV ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
WV ARES District 3 Emergency Coordinator