Lamorinda Community Emergency Response Team 01/01/2017 Lamorinda Community Emergency Response Team Unit 9: Communications Released: 1 January 2017 Lamorinda CERT

Community Emergency Response Team Personal safety is ALWAYS the number one priority Work as a team Wear personal protective equipment…gloves, helmet, goggles, N95 mask and boots The CERT goal is to do the Greatest Good for the Greatest Number Hope for the best but plan for the worst Lamorinda CERT Visual 9.1

Landlines, Cell Phones and Internet We use these every day but we can’t count on them after a disaster All of these technologies depend on wires or fiber optics and electricity After a disaster these may be out for days, weeks or even months! Visual 9.2 Lamorinda CERT

Neighborhood Communications If landline phones work, use them but expect them to be very busy Cell phones may work but will be very busy also Text messages use less bandwidth and may work better Walk around and talk to each other Keep an AM/FM radio handy Use something that does not depend on wires, fiber cables or electricity Visual 9.3 Lamorinda CERT

CERT Data What is expected to be communicated by CERT members? Immediate – Big picture: life safety, fire, collapse, etc. Soon after – Damage assessments Medical requirements Staffing requirements Emergency announcements Water, power and communications utility status How long are you going to do this without technology? Visual 9.4 Lamorinda CERT

Disaster Communications Communications for CERTs Face-To-Face: verbal Within Sight: signs and signals Beyond Sight: runners and two-way radio Visual 9.5 Lamorinda CERT

Basic CERT Disaster Radio Communications Team CERT Team CERT Incident Command EOC Visual 9.6 Lamorinda CERT

Sample Disaster Communications Plan Neighborhood Homes Neighborhood Homes Captains / CERT Teams Captains / CERT Teams GMRS repeater Hams GMRS repeater Citizens Professionals EOC County Dispatch Law Enforcement Fire & Rescue Medical & Relief Visual 9.7 Lamorinda CERT

What is FRS? Family Radio Service (FRS) is an FM walkie-talkie radio service designed for short distance (<5 miles) personal communications. Uses channelized frequencies around 462 and 467 MHz in the UHF band There are 14 simplex channels available Sub-channels, also known as CTCSS or PL tones, are available on all models Can only operate with 0.5 watt of power Antenna must be permanently attached Visual 9.8 Lamorinda CERT

About FRS Radios Very low power, ½ watt ERP (Effective Radiated Power) Very low cost No license required Personal and business use OK Channels 1-7 are shared FRS / GMRS Channels 8-14 are FRS only Channels 15-22 are GMRS only (OK to listen) No external antennas allowed Typically 0.5 to 1 mile communication range Visual 9.9 Lamorinda CERT

What is GMRS? General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a land-mobile FM UHF radio service designed for short distance two-way communications. GMRS radios are typically handheld portable devices much like FRS radios. They share the FRS frequencies. There are 22 simplex channels available on all radios and 8 repeater channels on some radios CTCSS sub-channels are available on all models Mobile and base stations are permitted to 50 watts of power Visual 9.10 Lamorinda CERT

About FRS/GMRS Radios Handi-talkie radios that have both FRS and GMRS channels Most common radios available Manufacturer range claims not to be believed Use low power channels without a license Household GMRS licenses at http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls, $70 for 5 years, effective Aug 26, 2016 GMRS repeaters are in Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda Visual 9.11 Lamorinda CERT

Selecting FRS/GMRS Radios Repeater capable FRS/GMRS Radios with Amazon prices as of December 2016 Motorola makes 3 models: MR355R – Not waterproof hard to find MS350R – Waterproof $64.99 / pair MS355R – Waterproof, Camo $84.99 / pair Olympia has 1 model: R500 $74.99 / pair Radios have rechargeable batteries and charger; may also use AA alkaline cells Ignore “mileage” claims. Battery life is more important than transmit power. Visual 9.12 Lamorinda CERT

FRS/GMRS Radio Features & Functions Off-On / Volume Antenna Ear Phone Jack Channel Push To Talk Switch Subchannel Ring Tone Monitor/Scan Key Function Down Key Function Up Key Menu Key Speaker/Microphone Motorola MR355R Visual 9.13 Lamorinda CERT

FRS/GMRS Radio Features & Functions Off-On Antenna Ear Phone Jack Channel Push To Talk Switch Subchannel Ring Tone Function / Volume Up Key Monitor/Scan Key Function / Volume Down Key Menu Key Speaker/Microphone Motorola MS350R / MS355R Visual 9.14 Lamorinda CERT

FRS/GMRS Radio Features & Functions Off-On Antenna Ear Phone Jack Channel Push To Talk Switch Subchannel Ring Tone Function / Volume Up Key Monitor/Scan Key Function / Volume Down Key Menu Key Speaker/Microphone Olympia R500 Visual 9.15 Lamorinda CERT

FRS/GMRS Radio Batteries “AA” alkaline cells Rechargeable Rear cover Visual 9.16 Lamorinda CERT

FRS Channels Channel Frequency (MHz) Notes 1 462.5625 FRS/GMRS Shared 2 462.5875 FRS/GMRS Shared 3 462.612 FRS/GMRS Shared 4 462.6375 FRS/GMRS Shared 5 462.6625 FRS/GMRS Shared 6 462.6875 FRS/GMRS Shared 7 462.7125 FRS/GMRS Shared 8 467.5625 FRS Only 9 467.5875 FRS Only 10 467.6125 FRS Only 11 467.6375 FRS Only 12 467.6625 FRS Only 13 467.6875 FRS Only 14 467.7125 FRS Only All channels are “simplex”. Radios transmit and receive on the same frequency. 1-7 FRS shared with GMRS, no license if low power 8-14 FRS Only ½ Watt Low Power - NO LICENSE REQUIRED Visual 9.17 Lamorinda CERT

GMRS only Channels Channel Frequency (MHz) Notes 15 462.550 16 462.575 17 462.600 18 462.625 simplex 19 462.650 20 462.675 21 462.700 22 462.725 15R 462.550 input 467.550 16R 462.575 input 467.575 17R 462.600 repeater input 467.600 18R 462.625 input 467.625 19R 462.650 input 467.650 20R 462.675 (Moraga) input 467.675; tone = 77Hz 21R 462.700 (Orinda) input 467.700; tone = 77Hz 22R 462.725 (Lafayette) input 467.725; tone = 77Hz Visual 9.18 Lamorinda CERT

Selecting a Channel To select a channel: Turn on radio Note channel number in window Press “Menu” once – BRIEFLY Use + and – keys to move up or down to desired channel. Wait for blinking to stop or tap “Push to Talk” button. Visual 9.19 Lamorinda CERT

Selecting a Sub-Channel To select a sub-channel: Note sub-channel number under channel in window Lamorinda CERT normally uses sub-channel 0 To change sub-channel, press “Menu” twice, quickly. The sub- channel number will blink. Use + and – keys to move up or down to desired sub-channel. Wait for blinking to stop or tap “Push to Talk” button. Your radio is now ready for communications. Visual 9.20 Lamorinda CERT

FRS / GMRS Range GMRS Repeater “line of sight” Lamorinda CERT Visual 9.21 Lamorinda CERT

Using the radio Select a channel – your team leader will tell which to use Test the radio before you venture out Make sure you can communicate with your team It is not a cell phone To talk: hold radio 2”-3” from mouth, press “PTT” button To listen: let go of “PTT” button Visual 9.22 Lamorinda CERT

Communicating Listen ! Think what you are going to say before you press the “PTT” button Speak clearly, calmly, carefully Get the message across without a lot of words Visual 9.23 Lamorinda CERT

Radio Protocols Talking Calling another station Use agreed-upon identifiers “Team 3 this is Team Leader. Over” Wait for response which should be: “Team Leader this is Team 3. Over” Or just “Team 3. Over” Speak in a normal tone of voice and speak clearly! Visual 9.24 Lamorinda CERT

Radio Protocols You have made contact. Exchange questions and answers in brief, clear language understandable to all who may be listening NO police “10” codes or “11” codes ! NO CB jargon ! NO slang or ethnic / gender slurs ! You are conveying important information to people you may neither know nor have worked with in the past Visual 9.25 Lamorinda CERT

Radio Protocols - Exchange Sample exchange “Team A this is Team Leader - Over” “Team A - Over” “What is your location? - Over” “Corner of Moraga Way and Moraga Road - Over” “Check Safeway for damage and injuries. Over” “Will check Safeway for damage and injuries.” “Team A out” Visual 9.26 Lamorinda CERT

Examples of FRS Channel Allocations Ch. 8, 10-14 Neighborhood channels Ch. 9 Emergency messages for relay Message passing between CERT and EOC/Hams Is it a life-threatening emergency? Is it a major calamity emergency? Is it a Rapid Needs Assessment report? Visual 9.27 Lamorinda CERT

CERT FRS Communications Non-Disaster FRS Communications Channel allocations: 8 - 14 Sub-channel (PL Tone, Privacy Code) as directed by the team leader Remember that all team radios need to be set to the same channel and sub-channel. Test them ! Visual 9.28 Lamorinda CERT

CERT Radio Communications GMRS Repeater Communications Moraga GMRS Repeater Ch 20R Sub 4 Orinda GMRS Repeater Ch 21R Sub 4 Lafayette GMRS Repeater Ch 22R Sub 4 Use these repeaters for out-of-neighborhood communications. Use FRS channels for in- neighborhood communications. When you get your new repeater-capable radio, we’ll help you program it! Visual 9.29 Lamorinda CERT

Unit Summary Standard forms of communication may not be available but radio is always available FRS requires no license FRS has short range GMRS requires license, has longer range potential Listen first, then speak clearly, calmly, carefully without using a lot of words Use plain English, no codes All team members must use the same channel Visual 9.30 Lamorinda CERT

Questions ? Visual 9.31 Lamorinda CERT