1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. About FRS Radios
Very low power, ½ watt ERP (Effective Radiated Power) on Channels watts on 1-7 and
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 are shared FRS / GMRS
No external antennas allowed
Typically 0.5 to 1 mile communication range
Visual 9.9
Lamorinda CERT

11. 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

12. 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

13. FRS / MURS / GMRS Range
Visual 9.12
Lamorinda CERT

14. FRS / MURS / GMRS Range GMRS Repeater “line of sight” Lamorinda CERT
Visual 9.13
Lamorinda CERT

15. 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 10 years, effective September 28, 2017
Visual 9.14
Lamorinda CERT

16. 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

17. FRS Channels (as of May 18, 2017)
Channel Frequency (MHz) Notes
FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed
FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed FRS Only – ½ watt FRS Only – ½ watt FRS Only – ½ watt FRS Only – ½ watt FRS Only – ½ watt FRS Only – ½ watt 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

18. FRS/GMRS Channels
Channel Frequency (MHz) Notes
FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed simplex FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed FRS/GMRS 2 watts if unlicensed 15R input – licensed only 16R input – licensed only 17R repeater input – licensed only 18R input – licensed only 19R input – licensed only
20R (Moraga) input ; tone = 77Hz 21R (Orinda) input ; tone = 77Hz 22R (Lafayette) input ; tone = 77Hz
Visual 9.17
Lamorinda CERT

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. Examples of FRS/GMRS Channel Allocations
Ch Neighborhood channels
Ch 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

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

31. Personal FRS Communications
Non-Disaster Personal FRS Communications
If you have Motorola or other radios that have easy sub- channel configurators:
Channel allocations:
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

32. 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

33. 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

34. Questions ?
Visual 9.33
Lamorinda CERT