Greetings
Please check in to the CCFLARES net tonight at 7:30pm.
If you have not sent in your RSVP request for your availability and deployment location for the Drill on August 25th please do so by Friday. We will send out the Drill scenario on Tuesday and discuss it on the net Wednesday August 24th.
Below is an article that appeared in today’s ARRL Newsletter. I hope you will take time to read it.
Cheers
Duwain W8JJV AEC
ARRL Simulated Emergency Test: Consider Running It Under the ICS 8/17/22
Trending in incidents, events, activations and exercises these past few years has been their administration under the Incident Command System (ICS). Two months ago, a club in rural northern Florida conducted its Field Day under the system, with an Incident Commander and assistants for Safety, Liaison and Public Information; and chiefs for operations, finance/administration, logistics, and planning. This system translated into a winning scenario for the club: scores proved it, the county sheriff and emergency manager made appearances, and safety was the primary concern with no incidents noted.
Traditionally, the System is used by public agencies to manage emergencies, but the ICS can also be used by businesses and many other entities, including ARES, as an administration model. ARES emergency coordinators and members can become familiar with the fundamental concepts of incident command and coordinate planning with local public emergencies services accordingly.
The use of ICS by an ARES group – or any group for that matter — depends upon the size and complexity of the “incident” or event. Functions and roles may be assigned to multiple individuals or a few persons may be assigned multiple responsibilities. Not all of the ICS positions need to be activated in each incident: The ICS structure is meant to expand and contract as the scope of the incident requires. For small-scale incidents, only the incident commander may be assigned. Command of an incident would likely transfer to the senior on-scene officer of the responding public agency when emergency services arrive on the scene.
For an amateur radio exercise such as the ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET), the Emergency Coordinator could, for example, assume the title of IC or Communications Unit Leader (COML) and rank-and-file ARES members can assume other roles in the Communications Unit (COMU). The Communications Unit, a critical function within the Logistics Section is designed to support the operable and interoperable communications needs for planned events, unplanned events, and exercises.
Key COMU positions that can be assigned to ARES members in the SET include:
· Communications Unit Leader (COML)
· Incident Communications Center Manager (INCM)
· Communications Technician (COMT)
· Incident Tactical Dispatcher (INTD)
· Radio Operator (RADO)
· IT Service Unit Leader (ITSL)
These positions are a valuable resource and should be utilized whenever possible during both the pre-planning and response to planned events, unplanned events, and exercises.
The ARRL Simulated Emergency Test weekend is October 1-2 this year, but groups are free to conduct their local and Section-wide exercises at any time throughout the fall. The annual SET encourages maximum participation by all amateur radio operators, partner organizations, and national, state, and local officials who typically engage in emergency or disaster response.
In addition to ARES volunteers, radio amateurs active in the National Traffic System, Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), SKYWARN, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and a variety of other allied groups and public service-oriented radio amateurs are needed to fulfill important roles in this nationwide exercise.
The SET allows volunteers to test equipment, modes, and skills under simulated emergency conditions and scenarios. Individuals can use the time to update a “go-kit” for use during deployments and to ensure their home station’s operational capability in an emergency or disaster. To get involved, contact your local ARRL Emergency Coordinator or Net Manager. Check on upcoming planned activities through local, state, or Section-wide nets.
Consider developing your group’s SET plan by using the Department of Homeland Security’s Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP). Exercises are a key component of national preparedness — they provide the whole community with the opportunity to shape planning, assess and validate capabilities, and address areas for improvement. HSEEP provides a set of guiding principles for exercise and evaluation programs, as well as a common approach to exercise program management, design and development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning.
An Example of Excellence
This year’s SET in Florida is titled “Service DENIED” with the scenario of a statewide cyber-attack that impacts the state’s communications infrastructure. While ARES teams based in Florida are accustomed to hurricane activations, a cyber-attack has just as much chance of occurring with even less notice (if any) than a hurricane. The slogan we all see, “When all else fails, ham radio works,” would truly pick up its real meaning with a full communications infrastructure outage.
“We have begun working with our served agencies and other partner organizations to get engagement for participation,” said Northern Florida Section Emergency Coordinator Arc Thames, W4CPD. Communicators from the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) will be participating in this exercise from the State EOC in Tallahassee so this provides an excellent opportunity for a county, volunteer organization, or agency to test their communications ability with the State and other agencies throughout the state. All three ARRL sections are planning to make this a true statewide exercise.