Section Emergency Communcations Response Plan

Physical Assets and Resources

The primary focal point for statewide activations of the Georgia Section ARES will be the amateur radio station located in the GEMA SOC. The GEMA station should not be used as the Net Control Station (NCS) for operational nets, unless absolutely necessary (such as to initially call the net into session, activate the statewide ARES, and for tests and drills). Should the SOC station be required to act as NCS, control should be transferred to another station that can serve as NCS, as soon as possible.

The Georgia Section ARES/Skywarn group also maintains a permanent amateur radio station at the National Weather Service, Peachtree City office , that is activated whenever severe weather threatens the state. It's primary function is to provide Skywarn spotter reports from amateur radio stations throughout the NWS PTC County Warning Area (CWA), and to disseminate warning information to amateurs in the field. However, it also provides a backup communications link between the NWS PTC office and the GEMA SOC, should normal communications channels break. The District EC for the National Weather Service is responsible for managing resources necessary to staff this station.

The American Red Cross is considering establishing an amateur radio station at its Southern Region Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. As of July, 2002, the discussions of setting up this station were just beginning with Section ARES leadership.

Each DEC is responsible for maintaining an amateur radio station capable of amateur radio communications with

1. the Emergency Coordinators within the DEC's district,
2. the GEMA SOC station, and
3. any other stations necessary to address the specific communications needs of the DEC's jurisdiction.

This station should be located where the DEC most regularly needs to operate to effectively manage a disaster situation in the district. This may be at a served agency, EOC, the DEC's home station or even may be a mobile station as appropriate. The station must be capable of operating under emergency power for a minimum of 24 hours.

Each EC is responsible for establishing an amateur radio station within the EC's county jurisdiction(s). This station must be capable of amateur radio communications with

1. the Emergency Coordinators within the DEC's district,
2. the GEMA SOC station, and
3. any other stations necessary to address the specific communications needs of the DEC's jurisdiction.

This station should be located where the EC most regularly needs to operate to effectively manage a disaster situation in the county jurisdiction(s). This may be at a served agency, EOC, the EC's (or an AEC's) home station or even may be a mobile station as appropriate. The station must be capable of operating under emergency power for a minimum of 24 hours.