QRZ! Ham Radio 1/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - December 1993.iso/arrl/cal_qu.ake

Text File | 1993-11-21 | 13KB | 247 lines

TO: Interested Radio Amateurs
FROM: N6MWD (@K3MC)
DATE: 16 January 1990
RE: Recommendations from the Earthquake

After the Loma Prieta Earthquake (17 October 1989), several critiques were
held discussing the role of amateur radio in the relief efforts.  Based on
the critiques, the written material from the SVECS newsletter, and the
material from the Emergency Response Institute, the following represents a
compilation of the recommendations made.

(Since this material represents items from a variety of sources, they do
not necessarily reflect my personal views.)

         RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNED WITH EQUIPMENT/PHYSICAL LAYOUT
hams should be kept aware of the current field requirements before
  accepting a field assignment
use simple to operate radios for all primary functions
all equipment must be tested and ready to operate at all times
HF equipment must have a broad-band antenna (10-80 M)
separate power supplies must be available for each 12 volt equipment setup
each power supply must be capable of running more than one setup, if
  necessary
cables with plugs in the line must be permanently installed and be
  interchangeable
extra antennas, with permanently installed cables, preferably broadband
  (discone type) should be available for all band operations
need office-type chairs for each operating position
physical & acoustic barriers between operating positions are needed
a water marker/grease board should be provided at each position to show
  status of all activity on the frequency being used (which call at which
  site, shelter, etc.)
a board should be assigned to show status of overall operations
computer must have turn-key software for all operations, packet, work
  processing, etc.
We need SIMPLE to use forms to log resource needs and reports
install grab-bars at strategic locations to hand onto during EARTHQUAKE and
  aftershocks!
double check antenna drops for efficiency and continuing proper working
  conditions

        RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNED WITH HEALTH AND WELFARE TRAFFIC
H&W concerns should have been addressed more pointedly as an important
  interface with the public
after first few days, communications are essentially performed by
  commercial services again--hams can play an important role by handling
  H&W
operators at shelters could originate some traffic without impacting their
  primary purpose
packet radio is tailor-made for dealing with concerns re:  written traffic
  and H&W; packet turned out to be the most efficient means of delivering
  H&W traffic

         RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNED WITH INTERAGENCY COMMUNICATION
communications provided were absolutely essential, but not always the radio
  kind--it would have helped if more coordination and planning between Red
  Cross Chapters were to occur before, not during, an event
pre-arrange nets before the disaster (e.g., set up nets with agencies such
  as hospitals, Salvation Army, etc.)

                  RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNED WITH JAMMERS
develop contingency plans to cope with frequency jammers
get organized T-hunters in your area

     RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNED WITH THE ROLE OF LEADERSHIP OFFICIALS
confusing to hams in the field to see a "leader" not doing leadership roles
  so clarify who is in charge
managers need to make decisions with consultation of those in the field
when ECs ask for mutual aid, they need to accept level of guidance from DEC
  and staff above in order to get the big picture
we should accept the fact that a small number of highly trained individuals
  will become the teachers/leaders for the rest
ECs should monitor other ECs--don't turn off your radio just because your
  city isn't affected
identify before a disaster a list of people able to serve as supervisors or
  managers (they are often leadership folks, but not always)--it is
  necessary to rotate managers through shifts in order to avoid overtaxing
  any particular individual
supervisors should oversee an entire operation during a particular
  shift--someone focusing on the overall operation can see what portion can
  be terminated (and how), which projects are problem areas, and ensure
  coordination between projects
those overseeing the operation must also consult with, or be in touch with,
  those on the line--people working in the field are often more aware than
  management of issues such as under/overstaffing, equipment needs, etc.,
  but the information provided by those working in the field must be
  balanced with the views of those more distant to the operation
people don't have to like each other in order to work with each
  other--parties with disagreements should wait until after the disaster to
  resolve them since it is likely that the strain of being involved in the
  disaster is affecting their perceptions
if disagreements are interfering with the running of the operation and the
  parties involved can not reach resolution on their own, then leadership
  must help them devise a solution (it may be short-term) with the good of
  the group or the operation in mind
include more than ECs and AECs in decision making before the disaster such
  as OES, repeater sponsors, etc.

            RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNED WITH THE ROLE OF PACKET
put out QSTs on packet about what frequencies are being used for H&W, for
  Resource, for Tactical, etc.
put out QSTs on packet in the form of status updates
hard to decipher manuals for packet during a disaster--have drills
  involving packet with other people's system
cities need more information about our skills--statistical information
  desired by many cities would have been great to go via packet on a
  pre-set form
ARES/Data would have been useful for keeping track of personnel and
  resources
set up a packet network at all EOCs, RC Chapters, and other key
  locations--should operate 24 hours/day
network would operate with dedicated computers, software, printers, TNCs,
  radios, and antennas--most would have emergency power
a standard needs to be written such that each location will have the same
  familiar equipment for ease of operation by a variety of Ops
software should be written to provide printed messages automatically, w/o
  operator intervention
when we have such a network running, we can let it run itself to a large
  extent, thus saving our Ops for duty on the critical voice nets
much of the time and hassle of setting up and debugging a packet network
  would be avoided if the packet hardware was in place and ready to go at
  all times
in an emergency, we can make good use of written message traffic in
  addition to the function that ARES/Data provides
packet is wonderfully adapted to handling very high volumes of H&W during
  emergencies, but probably should be used for tactical information
  handling
we must have more drills using packet
packet has definite use in a disaster mode but we need to better determine
  the time that it should be put into effect
there should be "universal" software in an AUTOEXEC.BAT file for
  "idiot-proof" setup
there should be battery powered laptop computers, TNCs (TAPR II only), and
  transceivers (cables are essential)
a perfect portable packet station will have a 12V plain-paper printer
  connected using standard 8.5" x 11" paper
BB, a multiple connect bulletin board, could be used for tactical message
  traffic

        RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNED WITH THE USE OF REPEATERS/RADIOS
we need more emergency repeaters put into the field
the use of portable repeater systems would allow us to put a repeater back
  on the air in a shorter period of time
need a back up battery at repeater sites
confirm that the area where the radios are located in EOC are attached to
  the building's backup generator
maybe have MOU with other repeater groups so other groups understand
  what/how we do stuff in a disaster
the ability of the amateur community to respond to these events lies in
  separating repeater sites enough so that several might survive another
  quake

           RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNED WITH RESOURCE NET CONTROL
we need to train members to keep mouth shut unless reporting serious injury
  after earthquake
say three things at beginning of net--urge ARES members to follow city
  emergency plan, encourage all to go to city simplex frequency, and do
  damage assessment survey around your area after checking that you are
  safe
resource net control or resource manager should give a status QST on the
  hour, cutting back to even numbered hours as traffic decreases--the
  subject is ham radio resource needs, not broadcast news
imperative that a resource net is activated and that other high level
  repeaters should be canvassed for their availability
either give Resource Net Control a back up person or designate someone else
  to periodically go out on various repeaters to announce resource needs
  and the frequency to which volunteers should tune
each operation must make sure to designate a couple of hams to go out
  periodically on some of the repeaters to give a status update on
  conditions
prepare a grid sheet before a disaster that enables a Resource Net Control
  to fill in the blanks--marked it off into time slots, with numbered blank
  lines on which to put names and phone numbers of the volunteers, and with
  space for any additional information

     RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNED WITH OBTAINING/DISTRIBUTING RESOURCES
better coordination of housing for hams coming out of area needed
may need two hams at each station--one to serve as runner and one to serve
  as the ham--yet some complained that two hams were overkill
if hams knew where they were going, equipment needs could be defined
don't "roll over" hams without telling resource--if hams are staying
  another shift, tell resource
if using 220 as tactical, helpful to have resource with a 220 frequency
  available so novices can volunteer
hams should be provided to commercial radio stations operating the
  Emergency Broadcast system
hams should be provided to power company's corporation yard dispatch and
  local water company's dispatch
hams should be provided to schools if the disaster strikes during class
  hours
EC pulling telephone tree should be given specifics about what is needed in
  terms of resources
a shadow should be dispatched to USGS to pass crucial information--may or
  may not be used by the cities but those in the mountains of the area are
  very dependent upon information concerning aftershocks, slides, etc.
anytime a request is made for hams, the party accepting the request must
  clarify what the job entails--requesting resources means defining what is
  needed in terms of equipment, clothing, and time
hams should be told to bring whatever is known to be required and to meet
  in a staging area--an on-scene coordinator will then make specific
  assignments during a shift after he/she sees what is available

          RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNED WITH USE OF TACTICAL CALLS
use tactical calls and ID with ham call only when needed to fulfill license
  requirements

         RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNED WITH TERMINATION OF OPERATION
need disengagement plan right after crises begins--need to plan this rather
  than waiting until we're tired
resumption of electrical and telephone service should be one of the first
  factors that tell us it is time to go home

             RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNED WITH HANDLING TRAFFIC
written traffic is quite necessary as we often deal with
  bureaucracies--verbal messages are sometimes ignored
a very simple message form (preferably provided by the agency served) would
  be extremely helpful
message received time is important
lots of rumors going around--occasional truthful QSTs would help
we need more drills involving passing traffic

          RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNED WITH TRAINING THE UNTRAINED
the untrained can be useful but should be placed, if possible, in lower
  stress situations or in a position where they can receive some on the job
  training
the untrained can be used as you go along, but put only trained ARES
  personnel in high visibility positions
establish the practice of having hams check in at a staging area for
  assignment and briefing prior to responding to their assignment--this
  provides a consistent briefing and eases the difficulty of making
  assignments to the many hams who responding
keep with you your repeater frequencies, control codes, rosters, handbooks,
  up-to-date list of city simplex frequencies/hospital net frequencies,
  up-to-date ID cards, your city emergency plans, and maps for your area

         RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNED WITH TURNOVER (SHIFT CHANGE)
need missing links between shift changes--need enough time for shifts to do
  turnover or for a supervisor to give the information out to each new
  shift change
relief should be present at least 30 minutes before shift ends in order to
  do turnover


rejoice!