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

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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 are GMRS only (OK to listen)
No external antennas allowed
Typically 0.5 to 1 mile communication range
Visual 9.9
Lamorinda CERT

10. 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

11. 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 $70 for 5 years, effective Aug 26, 2016
GMRS repeaters are in Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda
Visual 9.11
Lamorinda CERT

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. FRS Channels Channel Frequency (MHz) Notes
FRS/GMRS Shared FRS/GMRS Shared
FRS/GMRS Shared FRS/GMRS Shared FRS/GMRS Shared FRS/GMRS Shared FRS/GMRS Shared FRS Only FRS Only FRS Only FRS Only FRS Only FRS Only 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

18. GMRS only Channels
Channel Frequency (MHz) Notes
simplex
15R input R input R repeater input R input R input
20R (Moraga) input ; tone = 77Hz 21R (Orinda) input ; tone = 77Hz 22R (Lafayette) input ; tone = 77Hz
Visual 9.18
Lamorinda CERT

19. 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

20. 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

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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. Examples of FRS Channel Allocations
Ch. 8, 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

28. CERT FRS Communications
Non-Disaster FRS Communications
Channel allocations:
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

29. 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

30. 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

31. Questions ?
Visual 9.31
Lamorinda CERT