Magoffin County, Kentucky Amateur Radio Emergency Service Mission Statement Operating Manual Mission and Purpose: Amateur Radio Operators are individuals who, under the authority of Title 47 US Code 97.1 et seq., have successfully completed radio and electronic science examinations, and have been licensed by the Federal Communication Commission to practice the pastime of radio for both recreation, and for public service. Under Federal regulations, Amateur Radio communications must be furnished without compensation, and in the community interest. Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is comprised of Amateur Radio Operators who have volunteered their time, equipment, and expertise for the community interest by providing needed communications in support of disaster response agencies and organizations and event communications for non-profit community organizations. Magoffin County Kentucky ARES will provide support for all agencies and organizations having a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the national, state or local organizational levels. In addition to those served agencies, Magoffin County ARES will support essential public utilities during time of disaster and non-profit organizations for events without a MOU. Communication assistance provided by ARES includes, but is not limited to: emergency traffic to and between government agencies, emergency traffic between government officials, routine traffic at community events. Trained ARES severe weather spotters also provide field reports to the National Weather Service (NWS) and to the Local media to provide immediate public warning of severe weather in Magoffin & Surrounding Counties. The specialty and role of ARES during emergency and disaster management situations is that of communications. ARES members do not have the authority to perform public safety occupational duties or have public powers during activation. Likewise, during events, ARES members are there for communications duties, and not to be relied upon for "extra labor." Organizational Structure: ARES is a public service arm of the Amateur Radio Relay League, the nationally recognized amateur radio association. There are four levels of coordination within ARES: national, section, district, and local. National emergency coordination at ARRL Headquarters is under the supervision of the ARRL Field Services Manager (FSM). The FSM who is responsible for advising all ARES officials regarding their problems, maintaining contact with federal government and other national officials concerned with amateur emergency communications potential, and in general with carrying out the League's policies regarding emergency communications At the section level, the Section Emergency Coordinator is appointed by the Section Manager (SM) and works under his/her supervision. In most sections, the SM delegates to the Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) the administration of the section emergency plan and the authority to appoint District Emergency Coordinators (DEC) and local Emergency Coordinators (EC). The Kentucky Section is defined by the geographical boundaries of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Districts within the Kentucky Section are defined as Kentucky Division of Emergency Management District. Magoffin County is part of District 9 along with Johnson, Pike, Floyd, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Lawrence, Martin & Greenup. A District Emergency Coordinator administers this district. Magoffin County is coordinated by the EC. This EC has the ultimate responsibility of all ARES operations within Magoffin County. It is under the authority of the EC that ARES members are activated for service. The EC also coordinates with the officials of served agencies and organizations during planning, disaster/event communications, and debriefing with those officials. The EC may appoint an Assistant Emergency Coordinator (AEC) for special tasks, projects, or administrative functions. The power of any AEC is limited by the scope of the appointment. In Magoffin County, there are two AEC's who work directly with the EC in all matters, and has the authority of the EC if the EC is not present, or is incapacitated. Operational Manual Operational Precepts: This document intends to describe operating protocols, and approaches to ARES response to communications emergencies, and event communications. This document is a guide, not an inclusive set of protocols. It is implied that flexibility is needed in emergency situations. If a circumstance arises that is not covered in this manual, maintain professional Amateur Radio operating procedures, and adapt the operation to the situation. ARES Activation: The primary activation authorities are the EC and AEC's. Magoffin County ARES members have the implied permission of the EC to activate a net at a time that it is deemed a communications emergency exists, severe weather is occurring, or an official agency has contacted them. That ARES member must fulfill the requirements listed in "General Net Operations" below. At the arrival of a coordinator, it will be decided if the activating station will remain as net control station (NCS) and the coordinator will serve in an advisory role, or the coordinator will become NCS. Public event activation is preplanned. Any ARES member may serve as NCS. Furthermore, ARES members having contact with a community service organization may schedule and coordinate an event provided the EC has been notified. General Net Operations: After activation, all available ARES members will check in on the appropriate frequency, and under the protocols for that net. Specific cases for net protocols will be provided below. Magoffin County ARES utilizes the following frequencies for operations: 145.190- Primary Repeater PL tone of 127.3 145.270- Secondary Repeater (If approved by trustee) 147.165+ Backup Secondary Repeater 146.590 Primary Simplex 146.550 Kentucky Section Common Emergency Simplex When a net is activated, the NCS becomes the primary ARES station on frequency, and takes responsibility for the following: Immediately appoint another party to notify the EC if you are not a coordinator. Immediately appoint a secondary NCS. This station will provide a continuity of net control should the primary net control lose communications for whatever reason. The secondary NCS must also keep a log of net traffic and check-ins should they need to assume primary NCS duties. Immediately appoint liaisons to the necessary agencies and organizations. Both NCS stations are responsible for relaying all information to the appropriate agency/organization. This can be accomplished by appointing a liaison station that serves as a contact between the net and specific agencies/organizations. It is the responsibility of liaisons to monitor the net for any traffic needing to be relayed to their agency/organization. General Net Operating Procedures: Net levels are as follows: A Formal Net means that all traffic is strictly at the control of NCS, and stations that do not have emergency traffic will not transmit unless called by the NCS. An Informal Net means that ARES members should check in with NCS, and monitor the frequency for inquiries and announcements regarding the situation. After activation, ARES members and Amateur Radio Operators will check in to the net, and await further instructions from the NCS. When checking in, provide your call, first name, general location, and if you have any traffic for the net regarding the situation. If you have no urgent or emergency traffic, simply state, "Nothing to report." Example: "This is KE4NLL, Paul, Idle Hour area, nothing to report" During nets, transmit only at the direction of the NCS. Unneeded transmissions not related to the incident are not permitted. This is disruptive to the operation. Notify the NCS if you change location, or are leaving the net. When doing this, wait for the appropriate time when traffic is slow. The NCS will call the roll and check every station out of the net before closing. This provides a measure of safety to field operators who are in affected areas and may have been injured. If a station in the affected area does not respond, it is the responsibility on the NCS to ascertain the condition of that operator. Emergency Net Operating Procedures: Follow the general net operating procedures. ARES members must monitor as many of frequencies listed above as possible. Additionally, members should try to monitor 146.520 simplex due to many traveling Amateur Radio Operators use this frequency. Should a repeater fail during an operation. Resume communications on the next listed frequency. The output frequency of the repeater that has failed needs to be monitored for stations trying to make simplex contact there. Skywarn Net Operating Procedures: Follow all net protocols listed above Only report the following information. All other information is not needed, and will not be relayed to the NWS and the media. Tornadoes, funnel clouds, and wall clouds (specify if there is rotation) Hail dime sized or above Winds 55 mph or above Flash flooding Weekly Training Net: The Magoffin County ARES net meets Tuesdays at 20:00 local time in the Winter months and 20:30 in the Summer Months on 145.190- pl 127.3 The net will provide operational practice for ARES members, and other Amateur Radio Operators for disaster and event nets. The net also provides a platform for the transfer of formal traffic to and from the NTS system for Magoffin County. Announcements regarding ARES and local Amateur Radio events are encouraged on the net. Agency and Organizational Contacts: During an ARES Emergency activation, it may be necessary to call a variety of agencies. To ensure that Magoffin County ARES members have most of the possibilities, as remote as they may be, here is a directory for reference. Emergency 911 Disaster and Emergency Management: DEEM (Magoffin County) 349-3933 (After 4pm call 911) Disaster Relief Organizations: American Red Cross Fire/Rescue: Magoffin Co. Rescue Squad call 911 Non-Emergency 349-5500 Salyersville Fire Dept call 911 Non-Emergency 349-3256 G & B Ambulance 349-5555 Chemical Spills 800-424-8802 KY Regional Poison Control 800-722-5725 Kentucky Division of Forestry 502-535-7741 (Call collect to report fire) Law Enforcement: Magoffin Co. Sheriff Dept. call 911 Non-Emergency 349-2914 Salyersville Police Dept. call 911 Non-Emergency 349-3256 FBI 800-752-6000 Kentucky State Police (Emergency Only 800-222-5555) Local Government Departments: Coroner call 911 Health Department 349-6212 Mayor's Office 349-2409 Storm Drains and Streets/Roads 349-2409 KY State Highway Garage 349-3215 National Weather Service: Louisville, Kentucky NWSFO 800-292-5588 Jackson, Kentucky NWSFO 800-349-9339 Public Utilities: American Electric 800-572-1113 Licking Valley RECC 800-709-6700 Sigma Gas Co. 349-1505 Salyersville Water Works 349-3743