EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

“Back in the day,” amateur radio operators had a solid reputation for being willing to help in times of emergency or when needed to augment public safety. From weather spotting to helping with wildfires and hurricanes, ham radio operators were able to provide much needed communication when other systems were down. Yeah, we still do that!

After 9/11, things changed dramatically in the emergency management field, with a new emphasis (read: dollars) directed toward interoperability, resilience, and operational consistency. Amateur radio has also adapted to these new standards. We have had to adapt, and we must continually adapt, to current standards to present our most professional and helpful service. This winter season is a great time for our local organization, be it RACES, ARES, or a radio club, to train.

What Are We Learning?

Newer hams, as well as old hats, may wonder what it is we’re learning. It all starts with NIMS — the National Incident Management System. Imagine a mid-sized city struck by an F-5 tornado. A number of departments respond immediately. After a few hours, one parking lot is full of waiting ambulances, each not knowing how it will be used or even aware of who’s in charge for checking in. Fire crews operate independently with their own department procedures. Search efforts begin. But they’re not coordinated, not communicating with each other.