TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM ARRL DISTRICT 3
EMERGENCY COORDINATOR WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INC.
WOOD COUNTY ARES BULLETIN NR 20.46 DATE: November 15, 2020
SUBJECT: WHAT IS A RESPONDER ?
When we use the term "responder" in these Bulletins and other emergency services and public safety references, we mean those paid and volunteer people whose primary duty it is to report for duty when required or requested to do so. It may be a frequent, if not a daily, activity. The term responder isn't usually used alone, it's preceded with the word "emergency".
Most communications personnel are not "emergency responders", but they are responders. They may respond to their office, an Emergency Operations Center, an assigned duty station, or to some other assignment in the field. Some communication people may not be considered responders because they may serve in a consultant, maintenance, advisory, home station, or in other non-response roles. All communication personnel should still be trained, equipped, and physically prepared for a response role if needed.
Communication volunteers should not respond in a dangerous manner. If communication personnel are requested for backup and overload communications for a requesting agency, they should not respond as an emergency vehicle. When requested, communication people should not rush to an EOC as are Fire, Rescue, Ambulance, or Police personnel do, but we can hurriedly get their equipment together, dress for the weather, recheck to see if all items needed are ready, and then report to their assignment.
Communications services will most likely be needed later into an incident, which allows them to respond without jeopardizing life or property.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV