ARES

1
ARES Informational Overview Wes Boyd
W8IZC Mahoning County ARRL Emergency
Coordinator Assistant Emergency
Coordinators Dave Brett
KD8NZF (Training) Dotti
ONeil-Meleski KC8SYF
(Planning) Frank Sole WB8YHD
(Ops Logistics) Robert Webster
KD8OXJ (Ops Logistics)
2013
2
FEMA NIMS Incident Command
3
Amateur Radio Emergency Service Structure
Level Role
Mahoning County Emergency Coordinator Wes
Boyd W8IZC Assistant Emergency
Coordinators Training Dave Brett
(KD8NFZ) Planning Dotti ONeil-Meleski
(KC8SYF) Operations and Logistics
Frank Sole (WB8YHD)
Robert Webster (KD8OXJ)
Ohio
Ohio
Multiple Counties
County
County
4
2013 Mahoning County ARES Operational Objectives

• 100 of registered Mahoning County ARES
  volunteers
• Trained and proficient in clear, effective, and
  professional emergency communications network
  operations
• Successfully deploy to emergency or disaster
  scenes within timeframes specified in Memos of
  Agreements with served agencies
• Trained and proficient in the use of radio
  equipment using VHF repeaters or simplex
  frequencies (including simplex relay)
• 30 of registered Mahoning County ARES
  volunteers
• Trained and proficient in the use of FLDIGI on HF
  and VHF frequencies
• 25 of registered Mahoning County ARES
  volunteers
• Trained and proficient in the role of Net
  Control and Net Logger

5
Who We Are
Primary Mission Emergency Communications in
support of and in collaboration with served
agencies ARES is An organization chartered by
the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) that
includes all licensed Amateur Radio Operators who
are willing to serve our communities with
emergency communications ARES serves
Government agencies, disaster relief groups in
emergencies and disasters, and our community at
public service events as chartered by the FCC
(CFR 97.1) ARES members Receive training in
message handling, communications technologies,
administrative procedures and disaster
preparedness
6
USE YOUR AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY !

• No DUES or Membership fees
• Learn Emergency Communications skills
• Learn different modes of communications
• Learn Message handling skills
• Fellowship with other Amateurs
• Learn from each other and improve our skills
• Participate in drills and public service events.

7

• When an emergency occurs and
• Telephone land line cell phone systems are
  overloaded or out of service
• Commercial electric power is not available due
  to mass outages
• Cable television and internet providers are
  inoperative
• What Can We In Amateur Radio Do?
• Provide emergency communications needed skills

We are called AMATEURS because FEDERAL (FCC)
REGULATIONS mandate we receive NO payment for
use of our skill and equipment!
8
ARES Who We Serve
The Mahoning County EMA

• We also serve
• Local fire and emergency services agencies
• Local disaster relief organizations (public and
  private)

9
Amateur Radios Role
Amateur radio provides important communications
when normal public service systems are overloaded
!
We support the emergency management community
We dont provide first aid We
dont transport We dont provide traffic
control We dont provide any function normally
provided by public safety
10
.  
We do not self-deploy ! There are no exceptions
!!
Self-deployed volunteers become part of the
problem and not part of the solution
Self-deployment only adds unnecessary stress to
an already chaotic incident and drains allocated
resources.
REMEMBER Legal safety risks exist with self
deployment
If volunteers are needed the EMA or a served
agency will contact ARES which in turn contacts
the volunteers which are trained, prepared and
available for the situation.
Volunteers should be proactive and contact their
Emergency Coordinator to confirm and verify they
have the correct contact information for you. 
Volunteers should inventory their Basic
Deployment Equipment Checklist, and be prepared
for Extended (72-Hour) Deployment
11
Protecting Yourself As An ARES Volunteer

• Ray Fallen (ND8L) Insurance and an ARES
  Volunteer
• Ray has been a State Farm Agent in Hubbard, Ohio
  since February 1988. Rays call is ND8L. He has
  been a ham since 1964 and an Extra since 1983.
  He is a member of the North Coast Contesters and
  the K8AZ Multi-Op team. Ray is a confirmed
  appliance operator, contester and DXer, he has
  earned 5 BDXCC and DXCC Honor Roll (Mixed).
• You can contact Ray at his office in Hubbard on
  330.534.8600 or by E-mail at ray.fallen_at_gmail.com
• See Rays most recent article in QST February
  2009 Homeowners Insurance and Your Antenna
  System

12
Average volunteers with local non ICS training
13

• Rapid Response Team 1
• Should be prepared to be activated on short
  notice
• Be available on site ASAP, typically 30 to 60
  minutes
• Be prepared to operate upwards of 24 hours
• Will most likely be older, retired, and capable
  volunteers
• Rapid Response Team 2 (will when necessary)
• Relieve TEAM 1
• Be prepared for extended operations of as much
  as 72 hours
• Team members will have a minimum of NIMS 100 and
  700,  (ARRL EC 001 is suggested)
• Recruitment of team members will be a shared duty
  of the Mahoning County ARES Planning Committee,
  and Mahoning County ARES designated OES
  station(s) or operators

14
N8GO 147.000 No PL
W8QLY 146.745 PL 110.9
W8IZC 146.910 No PL
KD8DWV 145.270 PL 110.9
W8GMM 146.775 No PL
15
NTS (National traffic System)

• Systematic methods for handling messaging
• Two objectives
• Rapid and accurate movement of messages
• Training amateurs to handle written traffic
• through participation in nets

16

• Challenges For Amateurs When An Emergency Is
  Declared
• Activation with little or no prior warning
• Supporting several key organizations
  simultaneously
• Dealing with multiple nets and a limited time
  frame
• Portability and ability to be operational in a
  short amount of time
• Identify / look for specific stations to contact
  NOW to pass traffic
• Operations that could continue for days
• Situations that happen in real time
• Ability to work with amateurs and non-amateurs
• Need to improvise / think on your feet

17

• Primary responsibility for an event or emergency
  situation
• Amateurs are there to help, that is the reason
  ARES exists
• Incident Command System
• Model for operations
• Standardized structure
• Responsibility for Public Information
• Never make a statement to the media or public
  about an emergency
• Rather refer to Public Information Officer
  PIO
• If pressed, you can talk about amateur radio and
  its role

18
What Is an Incident?
West, TEXAS
An incident is . . .an event, natural or
human-caused, that requires a response to protect
life or property.
19

Recognized Potential Incident Sources
Beaver Valley Nuclear Facility
Ice Storms and Other Weather Events

Massive Regional Power Grid Outages
Niles, Oh
May 31st, 1985
20
This IS NOT the image ARES wants to show the
public!
If this is what we see from a volunteerthe
volunteer will be asked to leave return home
21
Equipment Checklist
Essentials ?Amateur Radio license (COPY),
Personal medications Radio Related ?Hand-held
radio (dual-band preferred), Mobile Radio (if
needed), Small Power Supply (for Mobile Radio),
Spare Batteries and charger, Headset / Speaker
Mic, Mag-mount antenna ground plane, Coax
jumpers and connectors, Assorted adapters (coax /
power), Message forms Site Related ?Folding
chair small table Computer Related ?Laptop
computer (with FLDIGI), FLASH drive,
Electrical extension cord(s), (AC and DC),
Electrical power strip, Small DC to AC
inverter Personal Needs ?Duct tape and trash
bags, Notebook, pen pencil, Watch or clock,
Light Flashlight, Small toolkit, Maps, Compass
/ GPS, Food, water (and a thermos), Clothing
(jacket, hat, rain gear), Safety Vest - Extra
socks, Blanket and tarp, Toilet tissue, Soap,
Personal grooming items
22
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS


SMALL to LARGE




23
ARES Informational Overview Wes Boyd
W8IZC Mahoning County ARRL Emergency
Coordinator Assistant Emergency
Coordinators Dave Brett
KD8NZF (Training) Dotti
ONeil-Meleski KC8SYF
(Planning) Frank Sole WB8YHD
(Ops Logistics) Robert Webster
KD8OXJ (Ops Logistics)
2013