A.R.E.S. & RED CROSS DST
COMBINING FORCES
Especially prepared forARES State Conference
October 18, 2014
Amateur Radio Operator – KA9MNB/N9EAL/WI9ARC
Disaster Action Team volunteer – Waukesha County
ARES member - Waukesha County
Red Cross Disaster Services Technology Lead◦ Eastern Wisconsin Region/state of WI◦ Deploy nationally in DST
Red Cross Disaster Assessment Lead◦ Eastern Wisconsin Region/state of WI◦ Deploy nationally in DA
Who am I
Helping to bringOrder out ofChaos throughthe use ofCommunications,computers, andinternet connectivity to:“to best meet the needs of the survivors
in the community “
What isDisaster Services Technology
ProvideINTRAOPERABLE Communications
ProvideINTEROPERABLE Communications
Using multiple tools
What isDisaster Services Technology
Role within Red Cross has morphed
◦From “Communications”
◦To Disaster Services Technology Communications Computers Networking Customer Service
Role has Changed
Communication◦ Install Communication equipment (radios, repeaters, cell phones, satellite phones, antennas)◦ Repair and maintain communication equipment◦ Serve as a radio operator and liaison to the Amateur Radio groups supporting affected area◦ Install and maintain IP phones
Computer Operations◦ Install and support computer workstations and network applications in both fixed and mobile
environments◦ Manage deployed servers, e-mail and user accounts◦ Provide system administration support
Networking◦ Design and install wired and wireless infrastructure◦ Install and maintain IP Fax◦ Provide network operations troubleshooting◦ Monitor network traffic◦ Maintain network security
Customer Service◦ Receive and inventory all DST equipment◦ Check out to and receive equipment from DRO staff◦ Provide single point of contact ◦ Provide user orientations
Disaster Services Technology
Four Roles◦ Amateur Radio Liaison
◦ Communication Equipment Operator
◦ Communications Equipment installer/repair
◦ Disaster Assessment
What we have agreed
“Each organization will encourage interested volunteers to become members and participate in the activities of the other organization. Such volunteers shall meet the standards, have the responsibilities and be entitled to the privileges of each organization.”
Shared members:
Person◦Familiar with amateur radio, ARES, Red
Cross
◦Single point of contact
◦Linked to person in other organization
Amateur Radio Liaison
Stationary or mobile Equipment – yours and/or ours Shadow Amateur frequencies or Red Cross / National disaster frequencies
◦SHARES (HF)
Communication Equipment Operator
Communication Equipment Operator
Shelters◦ Within shelters◦ Shelters to
Headquarters EOC Other shelters
◦ Message content Supplies!! Census Client
requests/information (careful!)
Communication Equipment Operator
Outreach Teams◦Casework◦Mental Health◦Health Service◦Coordinate teams◦IMPORTANT instant communications
The “When All Else Fails” situation◦ ARES & amateur radio are at their best◦ Multiple served agencies◦ Short term
The “Best Option” situation◦ ARES & amateur radio constitute the most
effective communications◦ Fewer served agencies◦ Longer term
Important Role Distinction
Cellular Communications
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POORSituationalAwareness
Radio Communications
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GOODSituationalAwareness
Radio Communications
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COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATES
A.R.E.S.◦ CAN communicate
with any other amateur radio operator
R.A.C.E.S.◦ CANNOT
communicate with any other amateur radio operator (?) Only other RACES
operators §97.407
Communication Equipment Operator
Emphasizes importance of “crossover”
Stationary or mobile Equipment – yours and/or ours Locations
◦Headquarters◦Kitchens◦Shelters◦Temporary Locations
PODs MARCs Service Centers
Communications Equipment installer/repair
Communications Equipment installer/repair
Feeding◦ Kitchens to ERVs◦ ERV’s to ERVs◦ Red Cross radio system
47.42 MHz National system
Headquarters◦ Prepare Equipment
For distribution◦ Centralize
communication efforts
◦ Care & Control of equipment
Communications Equipment installer/repair
Help Establish ◦Antennas◦Radios◦Paths ???
Utilize – teach people Maintain Break down
◦and all FAST
Communications Equipment installer/repair
Disaster Assessment
◦ Skywarn As the need is created Situational awareness
◦ Teams in the field Collecting damage
information Team coordination Result reporting
◦ Special DA Class You schedule
ARES Trained comm Personnel Committed to serve Operators have
equipment Rapid response
RED CROSS Resources Purpose & Direction Starts response NOW Multi-faceted response
◦ Needing coordination
Combining Forces
BOTHTrained teams
Leverage local resources
Communications◦ Install Communication equipment (radios, repeaters, cell phones, satellite
phones, antennas)◦ Repair and maintain communication equipment◦ Serve as a radio operator and liaison to the Amateur Radio groups
supporting affected area◦ Install and maintain IP phones◦ Truly the ARES role
Computers
Networking
Customer Service
The Four Areas
Install and support computer workstations and network applications in both fixed and mobile environments
Manage deployed servers, e-mail and user accounts
Provide system administration support
Computers
Design and install wired and wireless infrastructure
Install and maintain IP Fax
Provide network operations troubleshooting
Monitor network trafficMaintain network
security
Networking
Receive and inventory all DST equipment
Check out to and receive equipment from DRO staff
Provide single point of contact
Provide user orientations
Customer Service
Liaison
Communications equipment operator
Communications equipment installer/repair
Damage assessment
Four Roles
ARRL EmComm TrainingARES participationFEMA training
◦ICS especiallyARC damage assessment trainingRed Cross DST training
◦DST101 coursesRed Cross disaster training
◦Better understand what/why of messages
Upgrade “Role”