VII. OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES

G. Operational Limitations. As a volunteer communicator, you are not in a decision making role. You are simply available to facilitate communications between those who are responsible for administering a disaster response or relief effort.

Much of the information you will be handling will be confidential and should be treated as such. Information about victims or others involved with the incident should not be mentioned over the air unless absolutely essential. Remember that the frequency is open and others may be listening. When necessary help or remind the message initiator of confidential information to understand the openness of radio communication. Keep in mind, however, that the need for urgency may occasionally override the need for confidentiality.

During an emergency event, if you are approached by a member of the news media and asked about individuals or operations underway, you should refer the media representative to the incident Public Information Officer. While the information you possess may be accurate, it may be only partial information or the decision makers may have a good reason to temporarily withhold information pending an operational decision that may change the course of events.

Accept relief when it is offered. Learn to recognize when you or other operators are reacting to stress or fatigue. You may not recognize your own stress symptoms. If you do, it is better to ask for help before your stress level jeopardizes your accuracy or performance.

H. Demobilization. LCARES will provide communications only until normal circuits can handle the load. At that point, operators will be released by the LCARES Emergency Coordinator, after consultation with the Emergency Management Coordinator or designated agency official. Upon completing an assignment, LCARES operators will check in with Net Control for reassignment or release. Whenever possible, Net Control will consult with the EC regarding releases and reassignments.