TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 15.36 DATE: September 6, 2015
SUBJECT: GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Here are some general considerations which should be observed during emergencies or disasters.
When using the ARRL RADIOGRAM, the use of precedence designations of (EMERGENCY), (P)priority, (W)welfare, and (R)routine are recommended for handling traffic during emergencies.
Use your receiver more, and your transmitter less. The tendency to transmit rather than listen causes excessive noise and interference.
IN AN EMERGENCY
- Monitor your local call channel or emergency net frequencies.
- Make contact with your RACES Radio Officer, ARRL Emergency Coordinator, or the Command Post and get instructions.
- Take immediate steps to follow any prearranged emergency of disaster plans.
- Stay off the air until you are SURE you can be of assistance.
- In disasters or widespread emergencies, monitor HF state-wide and national emergency frequencies.
- Amateur communications are point-to-point communication, not broadcast. Our purpose is to supply communications with as much secrecy, and as little public excitement as possible.
- Do not originate Public Safety messages yourself. Let the officials originate and sign them. Our part in the emergency is to supply the communications, it is up to the agencies we sponsor or assist to supply its content. Be sure that all official messages are properly authenticated.
- Good advance amateur planning, by RACES and/or ARES groups ordinarily develops efficient communications through; Designating certain places or stations as key points; Providing operators and relief operators; Reducing interference levels by asking voluntary cooperation in standing by, and following the Net Control Stations authority.
- Analysis of station frequencies and equipment, through registrations, has an important bearing on these plans. Plans may involve; Local VHF links; HF nets for distant work, putting skilled operators on circuits having heavier loads, use of CW or digital modes for communications requiring hard copy and to reduce congestion on voice frequencies, and use of voice frequencies for information and direction where secrecy is less important.
- Facilities from RACES, ARES, and all Emergency Services, should be pooled for best results with minimum interference, and divided among the different agencies that are served. {Some of this information has taken from ARRL Field Organization Manual FSD 300}
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV