1. Frank Piper KI8GW John W. Tipka W8UL
ARRL National Emergency Response Committee Findings and Recommendations
Frank Piper KI8GW
John W. Tipka W8UL
11/28/2018

2. If “lessons learned “are not followed by “behaviors changed” then the lessons have not been learned at all.
11/28/2018

3. How Did We Get Here? Terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001
Florida hurricanes in 2004
Gulf coast catastrophe 2005 – Katrina and Rita hurricanes
Earthquake and tsunami in Indian Ocean
Forest fires in western United States
Major flooding in numerous US rivers
11/28/2018

4. Where We Need To Be!
Eliminate the weaknesses in our ability to respond effectively and efficiently to any size disasters.
Use all available infrastructures for routine operations.
Keep technical training and proficiency in step with new technological developments.
11/28/2018

5. Where We Need To Be!
Establish, improve and maintain coordination and liaison with organizations and agencies.
Recruit and train more volunteers to become qualified communicators.
11/28/2018

6. Facing the Facts
We are not first or even second responders and the “big dog” in emergency communications.
Sophisticated emergency telecommunications have been speeded up by public service agencies.
We need to catch up with technological developments and become better organized, more capable, and quicker on the scene after our help is requested.
11/28/2018

7. Facing the Facts
Forget about how we have always done it and begin thinking outside of the box.
Timeliness is the key issue. We must arrive before our window of usefulness closes.
Our perceived dependency on emergency communications as a reason for amateur radio to exist means that we must now perform more quickly and smarter with new techniques and new leadership.
11/28/2018

8. Committee Recommendations
Develop a tutorial for installation, configuration, and use of Winlink2000 for .
Create a national volunteer database.
Investigate use of universal nationally recognized credentials.
11/28/2018

9. Committee Recommendations
Improve working relationships with national-level served agencies.
Train staff in the Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Look at disaster vulnerabilities of Sections outside of the continental United States.
Initiate a Major Disaster Emergency Coordinator (MDEC) function.
11/28/2018

10. Let’s Get Started in the Ohio Section NOW!
11/28/2018

11. Messaging Implementation
High perpetual priority to enhance training in basic message handling and voice procedure.
Establish semi-automatic networks alongside of voice and CW nets.
Nets use all frequencies and modes of message transport available – NTS-D, Winlink 2000, WiFi, RTTY, CW, etc..
Continuing education course for installation, configuration, and use of Winlink 2000 system.
11/28/2018

12. Formal Written Messaging
Tactical vs Formal : Examples: voice on VHF/UHF FM vs written lists of shelter occupants.
Three components needed– origination, transport, and delivery.
Networks – manual vs semi-automatic
11/28/2018

13. Messaging Networks
Manual – at least two operators, but for long distance, additional operators needed for transport phase.
Semi-automatic – manual origination but automatic systems for transport and delivery phases.
Semi-automatic – high speed, greater accuracy, specific and detailed addresses, and need equipment at origination phase.
11/28/2018

14. Messaging Networks
NTS-Digital and Winlink 2000 are examples of automatic and semi-automatic networks.
Semi-automatic networks should be a priority for surviving and mutual assistance resources, but not to the exclusion of voice networks.
High priority real-time communications require use of real-time mode networks, such as voice.
11/28/2018

15. Suggested Messaging Improvements
Message priorities – set outgoing priority higher than incoming priority for inquiry messages into the affected area.
Add addresses to radiograms.
Shelter occupants be permitted full use of health and welfare messaging.
Where available, use Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Vehicles (ECV) or trailers outfitted with high speed communications equipment.
11/28/2018

16. Validate Message Handling
Committee recommended that ARRL Hq staff work with NTS Area Staff to design and implement nationwide messaging drills and exercises to measure accuracy, efficiency and efficacy of the National Traffic System.
Message accuracy is the key objective to be reached.
11/28/2018

17. Winlink 2000 Tutorial
A locally developed tutorial for Winlink 2000 installation and configuration in text format is available at:
A locally developed Powerpoint tutorial that parallels the text-based tutorial is also available at the URL above.
11/28/2018

18. National ARES Database
Be prepared to send large numbers of well-qualified communicators to affected areas.
Listing of ARES operators who are trained, equipped, and prepared for immediate deployment outside of their home Sections.
To be used only when disaster requires more communications than can be provided by the local resources in the affected area. Does not undercut Section ARES.
Funded by a Corporation for National and Community Service grant.
11/28/2018

19. National ARES Database
Volunteers listed through Field Organization chain-of-command.
Listing in database from recommendation of home Section Manager (SM). SM may choose to delegate to SEC or STM.
Volunteers must be self-reliant and self-sufficient as persons and as Amateur Radio operators.
11/28/2018

20. National ARES Database - Benefits
Timely and orderly alerting and deployment of experienced, well-trained operators.
Quick response to served agencies need
Eliminates “make it up as you go along”
Reliance of a single database rather than those created by individuals or other entities.
11/28/2018

21. National ARES Database-Creation
Volunteers listed through Field Organization chain-of-command.
Listing in database from recommendation of home Section Manager (SM). SM may choose to delegate to SEC or STM.
Volunteers must be self-reliant and self-sufficient as persons and as Amateur Radio operators.
Formal training is required.
11/28/2018

22. National ARES Database Training Requirements
ARRL ARECC Level I (online w/fee)
ARC Adult CPR/First Aid Basics combined course
ARC Introduction to Disaster Services (online)
FEMA IS-100 (Introduction to Incident Command System)
FEMA IS-200 (ICS for Single Resource and Initial Action Incidents)
IS-700 (National Incident Management System)
All courses except first two are free
11/28/2018

23. ARES Mutual Aid/Mutual Assistance Teams
Formal, written agreement with adjacent Sections
Build and maintain relationships with adjacent Sections before disasters occur.
A paper on mutual aid agreements included as Appendix 3 to the NERPC report.
11/28/2018

24. Served Agencies at the Section Level
Who serves governmental agencies? RACES or ARES?
EMA
American Red Cross, Salvation Army
VOADs-Southern Baptist, Mennonite, REACT, etc
NWS Skywarn
Local police, fire, and hospitals
CERT
Adversaries or not?
11/28/2018

25. Training/Recruitment Issues
Personal time investment in NIMS requirements of FEMA training and ARRL training.
Meet our formal requirements or else attitude on part of served agencies
Need to insure the “McGyver” approach to amateur radio is not lost if we conform to the establishment.
Public information presentations at club meetings, hamfests, and conventions.
Effective universal training materials such as video aimed at the Amateur Radio operator not active in emergency communications.
11/28/2018

26. Section-level Suggestions
Swiss Army Knife” electronic publication for ARES and NTS – links to documents and resources.
Tips and Tricks – Hints and Kinks
Handbooks for Emergency Coordinators and District Emergency Coordinators that apply locally.
Appointments for Assistant SEC, Assistant DEC, and Assistant EC’s vice Official Emergency Station (OES)
11/28/2018

27. Action Items at ARRL HQ Level
Credentialing and Chain-of-Command
Regional Coordination
Assistance to Distant Sections
International cross-border coordination
Relationships with Served Agencies
Served Agencies and Unified Command
Spectrum Protection
11/28/2018

28. Disaster Preparedness A Moving Target
Nothing is set in stone – no permanent
answers for all circumstances and hazards.
Our professional expertise in emergency
communications is growing.
We need top-notch leadership and guidance
11/28/2018

29. “If lessons learned are not followed by ‘behaviors changed’ then the lessons have not been learned at all.”
11/28/2018