VII. OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES

A. Activation and Call-out.

1. Scheduled Events. Notification and sign-up for planned events should occur on the weekly scheduled net on Mondays at 1900 (147.200mHz + ).

2. Emergencies. Notification and activation of LCARES resources will be made using several different modes.

a. Telephone. If the telephone system is operational, the EC or designated duty operator should contact the Linn County Emergency Management Coordinator to determine if an LCARES call-out is needed. Alternatively, the EMC may initiate a call-out by calling the EC. Upon activation, the EC or designated duty operator will initiate the telephone tree. Note that even if regular telephone service is down, cellular to cellular service, within the same cellular company, will likely be available.

b. Radio. The first person reached by the EC will become the Acting LCARES Emergency Coordinator who will assume the following responsibilities:

i. Consult with the Emergency Management Coordinator to determine the number of people and resources needed.

ii. Determine the meeting point and communications center that will be used.

iii. Using the established alert method, activate the appropriate people from the alert roster. (5 second "O" Tone on 147.200 MHZ repeater followed by a QST)

iv. Activate the LCARES Net on the 147.200 MHz or 146.610 MHz repeater and either assume LCARES Net Control or assign one of the reporting stations to Net Control duty.

v. Report personally, or assign someone to report to the Linn County EOC. Assign other operators, as needed and appropriate to report to the other agencies (LCH, Lebanon EOC, Pacific Power, etc.

vi. Administer the LCARES efforts, under the direction of the Linn County EOC Communications Team Leader and the Emergency Coordinator.

vii. Establish a simplex channel to handle assignments and traffic .

viii. If an alert is in effect, Net Control will provide situation status information (SitStat) and of the alert, and will request stations to check-in. If the Net Control does not receive an adequate check-in to meet the anticipated needs, the LCARES Emergency Coordinator will initiate a contact with neighboring ECs to enlist their help. When assistance is offered by amateurs not living within the immediate area, amateurs will contact the EOC on the repeater frequencies for assignment and dispatch.

c. Emergency Alert System (EAS). In some emergency or disaster events, EAS may be activated. This system will broadcast an emergency message of up to two minutes over radio, tv and cable stations. You, as an LCARES operator, may be alerted to report to a preassigned location via the EAS broadcasted message..

d. Call-out Script. The following script may be used when contacting LCARES operators to respond to an emergency: "This is (name and title ) with (agency). Emergency conditions are in effect. You are requested to report to (location) or monitor (frequency). The Linn County ARES is activated for (description of the emergency event). Are you able to respond? " Typically, an activation may come from the County EOC or Sheriff's Dispatch, City EOC's or Fire Departments or one of the three area hospitals.

e. Lebanon Community Hospital (LCH). LCARES operators who normally respond to the Lebanon Community Hospital should follow established procedures as described in the LCH ARES Procedures Manual, (Attachment H)

f. LCARES Members. When the possibility of an activation exists due to a weather conditions, flooding, an earthquake or other disaster, all LCARES members should monitor the Repeater Net Frequency (147.200mHz +) to speed up the activation process. This should be done only after the safety and care of their families is established. Worrying about one's family can affect a communicator's efficiency.