Lamorinda Community Emergency Response Team Unit 9 - Communications 08/03/2018 Lamorinda Community Emergency Response Team Unit 9: Communications Released: 3 August 2018 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 Texts are “store and forward” so they may be delayed 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 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 (<2 miles) personal communications. Uses channelized frequencies in the UHF band There are 14 simplex channels available Sub-channels, also known as CTCSS or PL tones, are available Antenna must be permanently attached FRS only radios Visual 9.8 Lamorinda CERT

About FRS Radios Very low power, ½ watt ERP (Effective Radiated Power) on Channels 8-14. 2 watts on 1-7 and 15-22. Very low cost No license required Personal and business use OK Channels 1-7 are shared FRS / GMRS Channels 8-14 are FRS only – ½ watt limit Channels 15-22 are shared FRS / GMRS 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 is an FCC licensed service. A household license must be obtained to use the radios. 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 many models Mobile, base stations and repeaters are permitted to 50 watts of power Visual 9.10 Lamorinda CERT

What is MURS? Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS) is a land-mobile FM VHF radio service designed for short distance two- way communications that falls between FRS and GMRS in capability. MURS is an unlicensed service. MURS radios are typically handheld portable devices much like FRS radios but they operate on different frequencies. There are 5 simplex channels and no repeaters. Radios are permitted to 2 watts of power on all channels and may have external antennas. Visual 9.11 Lamorinda CERT

FRS / MURS / GMRS Range Visual 9.12 Lamorinda CERT

FRS / MURS / GMRS Range GMRS Repeater “line of sight” Lamorinda CERT Visual 9.13 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 10 years, effective September 28, 2017 Visual 9.14 Lamorinda CERT

Simplex and Repeaters Simplex means that the radio sends and receives on the same frequency. Simplex is limited to a single “hop” to the other radio. Repeaters operate on two frequencies simultaneously. Your radio has a “send” frequency and a “receive” frequency that match those of the repeater. You send to a repeater and it rebroadcasts immediately so everyone within range of the repeater can hear. Anyone can then reply to the repeater and you will hear. GMRS repeaters are in Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda Visual 9.15 Lamorinda CERT

FRS Channels (as of May 18, 2017) Channel Frequency (MHz) Notes 1 462.5625 FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed 2 462.5875 FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed 3 462.612 FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed 4 462.6375 FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed 5 462.6625 FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed 6 462.6875 FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed 7 462.7125 FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed 8 467.5625 FRS Only – ½ watt 9 467.5875 FRS Only – ½ watt 10 467.6125 FRS Only – ½ watt 11 467.6375 FRS Only – ½ watt 12 467.6625 FRS Only – ½ watt 13 467.6875 FRS Only – ½ watt 14 467.7125 FRS Only – ½ watt All channels are “simplex”. Radios transmit and receive on the same frequency. 1-7 FRS shared with GMRS, no license if low power (2 watts max) 8-14 FRS Only ½ Watt Low Power - no license Visual 9.16 Lamorinda CERT

FRS/GMRS Channels Channel Frequency (MHz) Notes 15 462.550 FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed 16 462.575 FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed 17 462.600 FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed 18 462.625 simplex FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed 19 462.650 FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed 20 462.675 FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed 21 462.700 FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed 22 462.725 FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed 15R 462.550 input 467.550 – licensed only 16R 462.575 input 467.575 – licensed only 17R 462.600 repeater input 467.600 – licensed only 18R 462.625 input 467.625 – licensed only 19R 462.650 input 467.650 – licensed only 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 9.17 Lamorinda CERT

CERT Radio Communications GMRS Repeater Communications Moraga GMRS Repeater MORGMR 20R Orinda GMRS Repeater ORIGMR 21R Lafayette GMRS Repeater LAFGMR 22R Use these repeaters for out-of-neighborhood communications. Use FRS or FRS/GMRS channels for in-neighborhood communications. When you get your radio and your GMRS license, we’ll help you program the radio! Visual 9.18 Lamorinda CERT

Remember the radio ABCs Radio Procedure Remember the radio ABCs Accuracy Brevity Clarity Think about what you will say before getting on the air Use phonetic alphabet for spelling out words Say “FIGURES” and follow with individual numerals “FIGURES WUN, NINER, AIT, FOWER” not “nineteen eighty-four” Visual 9.19 Lamorinda CERT

Names and Tactical Call Signs Each CERT person has a role or position People change but positions don’t It’s like asking to speak to the “manager”. It doesn’t matter the manager’s name, it’s the position. Assigned by Net Control Operator Based on function and/or location Names are not needed Tactical call signs do not change for duration of assignment Visual 9.20 Lamorinda CERT

Radio Call Signs To use a licensed radio frequency (GMRS or HAM) you must have an FCC issued Radio Call Sign HAM call signs are in the form of KX6ABC GMRS call signs are in the form WQJJ957 The FCC assigned call sign must be transmitted at the end of each communication block and at least every 10 minutes during a communication. This is in addition to the Tactical Call Sign. Visual 9.21 Lamorinda CERT

Pro-Words To make communications more clearly understood, use “Pro-Words” (Procedure Words) that are universally understood by radio communicators: BREAK AFFIRMATIVE THIS IS (Your station ID) NEGATIVE GO AHEAD CONFIRM OVER SAY AGAIN STAND BY I SAY AGAIN WAIT END CLEAR COPY (Your station ID) OUT (NO) MORE Refer to your Field Operations Guide (FOG) Visual 9.22 Lamorinda CERT

Using the radio Select a channel – your team leader will tell which to use Use sub-channel 0 (zero) (CTCSS=none) 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 9.23 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 Remember: EMERGENCY (BREAK-BREAK) messages are matters of life and death, or imminent damage to property or the environment and always go first. They can interrupt anyone. You must STOP TALKING immediately and yield the frequency to the EMERGENCY traffic. Visual 9.24 Lamorinda CERT

Radio Protocols Talking Calling another station Use agreed-upon Tactical Call Signs “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 9.25 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 9.26 Lamorinda CERT

Radio Protocols - Exchange Sample exchange “Team A this is Team Leader - Over” “Team A - Over” “What is your location? - Over” “Lost Valley Neighborhood - Over” “Check Lost Valley for injuries and damage. Over” “Will check Lost Valley for injuries and damage.” “Team A out” Visual 9.27 Lamorinda CERT

Examples of FRS/GMRS Channel Allocations Ch. 1-7 Neighborhood channels Ch. 15 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 9.28 Lamorinda CERT

CERT FRS Communications Non-Disaster CERT FRS Communications Channel allocations: 16-22 Sub-channel (Privacy Code, CTCSS) = 0 Remember that all team radios need to be set to the same channel. Test them ! Visual 9.29 Lamorinda CERT

Personal FRS Communications Non-Disaster Personal FRS Communications If you have Motorola or other radios that have easy sub- channel configurators: Channel allocations: 8-14 Sub-channel (Privacy Code, CTCSS) as desired Remember that all radios need to be set to the same channel and sub-channel. Test them ! Visual 9.30 Lamorinda CERT

Networks and Net Control Net Control Operator Radio “traffic cop” Coordinates radio traffic Duties: Direct you to call Direct you to stand by Prioritize calls based on nature of message Direct you to a different channel Visual 9.31 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 GMRS can utilize repeaters 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 9.32 Lamorinda CERT

Questions ? Visual 9.33 Lamorinda CERT