Bluffdale Emergency Communications KF7CLY 2018

Methods being used Land Lines Cell Phones Texting Email Fax Ham Radio on 438.100 and 438.125 FRS/GMRS Runners

remember Especially when texting, emailing, faxing or using runners. Never assume the message got there until you have a confirmation. It is important to keep track of all messages and the expected response and follow up on them. BUT be patient You only know what is happening to you. There could be more pressing matters somewhere taking there attention.

At the beginning of a disaster First Things First Upon A disaster of any kind, radio operators should take care of their own needs first, then your families, then your neighbors, then check your radio equipment and either check in to the Bluffdale City ECC or respond to your assigned area then check in.

Second goal Have functioning HAM radio at the Bluffdale City ECC with in the first hour.

Third goal Have functioning HAM radio communications to all sections with in four hours.

Why the time frame Cell towers without power, boy that's a good question. I don't think there is any regulation on battery back up for cell towers the way there is for land lines. For land lines it depends on the size of the office and if it has a standby generator. If it's has no on site generator then the site then, it has to have eight hours of battery back up. If it has a generator then it has to have four hours of battery and fuel for 24 hours of generator time.  We also have tow in generators and priority fuel distribution if it becomes an extended outage. I don't know a lot about the legal requirements for cell towers. Usually my involvement is linking the tower to the switch over fiber.  Having said that most of the cell sites I am familiar with have about four hours of battery back up. Some of the larger ones have tow in generators more or less permanently attached. The others have hookups for tow in generators. So, depending on the ability to bring in a generator after a disaster and the availability of fuel it might be days....or only hours. No way to really predict it. But, I would think you would have about 4 hours on most of them at a minimum. The other problem is that a cell tower is not independent like a ham radio repeater. Each tower is connected back to a switching office via a fiber optic cable. If the fiber is stretched or broken or if the switching office is damaged the site is down from that moment until those are repaired. There are some cell towers that are connected back to a switching office via a microwave radio link but, generally they are ones in remote locations. They are also dish aligned radios meaning that if the tower is tilted or twisted in the earthquake, tornado or whatever, the radio link will be lost and they go down at once regardless of the amount of batteries or generators. hope that helps Dale

How do we do this Be prepared, if you are not prepared you will be no help to others. Have a family emergency plan Food storage Personal go kits for all family members These kits should change for the time of year Practice your emergency plan regularly

Participate in trainings provided Be HAM ready Have equipment organized Equipment should be operating properly HAM personal go kit Radio go kit Participate in trainings provided Bi monthly meetings Sunday NETs Organized City drills and Field Day

When you are available If you are preassigned to the City ECC or a section go there and setup If at a section, check into the City ECC and tell them your section identification and that you are ready to start transmitting messages If you are at home check in to the City ECC and tell them where you are and if you can go mobile or only transmit from home If there are any changes in you availability let the ECC know Recheck in regularly so we know you are there and can still transmit

Send and receive messages until you are replaced Send and receive messages until you are replaced. If a need arises or you are having any equipment issues tell the ECC. That includes needing food or sleep. It could get chaotic elsewhere and you may be forgotten. Remember even if you are at a section you work under the control of the ECC. You are radio operators only and are assigned by the ECC to be there not the section leadership or any other city organization. If it doesn’t come from the city ECC don’t do it or ask permission first.

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