EMCOMM

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EMCOMM is the reason the OPERATION Team exists

NOTICE:Effective Immediately! The Team Weekly Test Net is now at 2100hrs(9:00)pm on the 443.450 Repeater on Monday Evenings.  Please make every effort to check in to this net. As the most up to date information will be given there. Visitors are welcome, listen for when net control opens up the net to vistor check-ins.

Our info here is limited. All members are required to attend our Training to be fully trained. Members are also required to take the basic FEMA online courses to be familar with the Incident Command System. The Team's structure is based on this system and can be fully integrated into any public safety activation of ICS. Also, there is no subsitute for Real Time Drills.

You should know what we really do and what we are expecting of you, the operator.
Emergencies never happen on a sunny day or when its convenient.
You can Count on being activated at the most inconvenient time and/or during the worst possible weather.
Now we don’t expect every operator to be available 24/7 but to be an effective group at least 50% of the team members must be able to respond at any given time.
In a nut shell, if you are not willing to leave your house at 3a.m., drive in bad weather, and be in a stressful environment, then Emergency Communications is not for you.
 Emergencies and or Disaster areas are not a vacation or a place to get your picture in the paper, but will be a rewarding experience after its all done.

Basic Deployment Equipment

 

 

§        Dual Band  HT

§         Dual Band Magmount or portable base antenna with cable and connectors

§        Small notebook and pen/pencil

§        Identification (Team ID)

§        Extra Batteries

§        Battery pack that takes AA batteries for HT

§        Appropriate Clothing

§        Food and Water

§        Local area Map

§        Flashlight

§        Personal First Aid Kit

§        Duffle bag/back pack for everything

 

 

This is a very basic ready kit to start from. These are the bare essentials. This will work for an operation that will last less than 24 hours.  You can customize your kit with items that you might feel necessary. But don’t over do it. Keep in mind you may have to leave your vehicle and carry everything with you. Keep everything in duffle bags or backpacks for ease of stowing when not in use. This also allows for a rapid response by being able to grab a couple bags and going to the scene. Also, pack everything in Large Ziploc Freezer bags before packing. This will ensure that your equipment and supplies will stay dry, and easier to dig through to find what your looking for! Remember to label all of your equipment. In times of crisis there’s little time or concern to tell someone that needs something “Hey remember to give that back when your done.” Labeling with you callsign at least ensures that when its all said and done people know who owns what.

 

 The Anderson Power-Pole Connector is the Standard 12V Emergency Communications Connector. Check out the link below for info on this connector.

http://www.herd.org/races/powerpole.htm

 

 

 

 

 

Why Amateur Radio Exists........

As a ham you may or may not know that the FCC values the Amateur Service. In fact, the first paragraph in Part 97 states "Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications."

What that comes down to is that one of the responsibilities is to provide emergency communications when it is needed. Hams in the past have assisted in marine distress calls, search and rescue, tornados, floods, ice storms , the World Trade Center attack on 9-11 and in the Hurricans in the South.

When all normal means of communications fail, amateur radio has pulled together to get the message through.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is the Link to FEMA's independant Study Programs.

All members are required to have a minimum of IS-100 and IS-700.

 

 

 

http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/crslist.asp

 

 

Below is a link on how the Incident Command System works.

 

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/ics/what_is_ics.html

 

 

 

 

EMCOMM Forum Website

This is a new site and is dedicated to Emergency Communications

 

http://www.emcommforum.org/forum/index.php

 

 

 

 

 

FEMA Standard ICS Forms can be found here.

http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/ICSResource/ICSResCntr_Forms.htm

 

FEMA ICS Resource Center

http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/ICSResource/index.htm