WB4DOJ - BCARES Emergency Plan

Milledgeville Amateur Radio Club

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Baldwin County ARES Emergency Plan

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Amateur Radio Emergency Service of Baldwin (BCARES) is composed of FCC licensed Amateur Radio Operators who have voluntarily registered their capabilities and equipment for public service communications duty.
1.2 Under Federal regulations, the contents of messages handled by amateur radio are not divulged to unauthorized persons and such public service communications are furnished without compensation of any kind.
1.3 The Baldwin County ARES functions under this EMERGENCY PLAN at the direction of the Baldwin County Emergency Coordinator (EC), who is appointed by the Georgia Section Emergency Coordinator.
1.4 The EC may appoint Assistant EC's sufficient to function efficiently.

2. PURPOSE

2.1 The purpose of this plan is to provide a written guide containing the minimum information that would be needed in an emergency. Each emergency is different and flexible, resulting in the need to adapt in order to respond adequately to the problems.
2.2 The primary responsibility of the Baldwin County ARES is to furnish emergency communications in the event of a natural disaster, when regular communications fail or are inadequate.
2.3 All drills, training, and instruction shall be carried out in such manner to insure readiness to respond quickly in providing effective and professional amateur radio emergency communications whenever an occasion may arise.
2.4 The following agencies could be served during a communications emergency: the American Red Cross, local GEMA, local hospitals, Salvation Army, Baldwin County, City of Milledgeville, Fire Department, Sheriff Department, Police Department and any other Public Service or Emergency Response agencies requesting assistance.

3. ACTIVATING THE PLAN

3.1 Any member of the Baldwin County ARES, who for any legitimate reason, suspects that a communications emergency exists, should monitor the assigned net for activity and activate the Baldwin County ARES Net, if necessary.
3.2 The EC and/or assistant EC's should be notified any time the ARES Net is activated.
3.3 In an emergency in which amateur radio might serve the community, amateur radio operators may be alerted by any county, city, Red Cross, local hospitals or similar official notifying any ARES member.
3.4 Notifying the members will be by a Calling Tree, which will be updated periodically.

4. ARES MOBILIZATION PLAN

4.1 Upon the awareness or notification that a communication emergency exists, members of the Baldwin County ARES will call into the local Emergency Net on one of the following frequencies:

1. 146.70 (-) MHz FM, tone 67 Hz. {Primary VHF Repeater Frequency}

2. 147.135 (+) MHz FM, tone 123 Hz. {Alternate VHF Repeater Frequency}

3. 146.52 MHz FM {Alternate VHF Simplex Frequency} or some other simplex frequency to be determined
4.2 Mobile units are activated, if needed.
4.3 The EC will assume net control or delegate another station as net control station. Control will be from a location from which emergency power can be activated.
4.4 Any station having emergency power can be designated as "Key Stations" and would be extensively utilized during a communications emergency. Key stations relief operators are assigned to insure continuous operation.
4.5 When necessary, amateurs in the adjacent areas will be notified on 146.52 MHz or their local repeater that an emergency exists; and coordination between the areas will be established. Present repeaters are:
1. Macon, 146.805 (77 Hz)- links to 444.675 repeater
2. Eatonton, 147.090+ links to 146.805 repeater

5. DUTIES OF NET CONTROL STATION (NCS)

5.1 The local Emergency Net will be called to order by the NCS.
5.2 Members of the Baldwin County ARES are checked into the net from their mobiles and home stations to await further instructions.
5.3 Liaison stations to the following will be assigned as needed:
1. Two meter FM to adjacent areas.
2. Georgia (night & day) ARES net, 3975 KHz.
5.4 Mobiles are dispatched to local agencies as needed.
5.5 Operators of home stations not on emergency power are coordinated to effectively operate the "Key Stations" as required.

6. OPERATIONS

6.1 All official messages must be written traffic conforming to the National Traffic System (NTS) standard form.
6.2 All official messages must be signed by the person who originates them with his title, and who takes responsibility for the contents.
6.3 Messages precedence of EMERGENCY, PRIORITY, WELFARE and ROUTINE shall be used on all messages.
6.4 Stations do not transmit unless invited to do so by net control. The only exception to this is for a station having emergency or priority traffic.

7. DRILLS, TESTS AND ALERTS

7.1 An annual test will be conducted in October in conjunction with the nationwide ARRL Simulated Emergency Test.
7.2 The Baldwin County ARES will regularly supply public safety communications in conjunction with local events to test the effectiveness of emergency operation procedures.
The Baldwin County ARES Net will meet each Tuesday of the month at 8 PM on the WB4DOJ 146.700 (67 Hz. tone) repeater or on the KE4UWJ repeater, 147.135 (123 Hz. tone)