TULARE COUNTY OPERATIONAL AREA

RADIO AMATEUR CIVIL EMERGENCY SERVICE PLAN



PURPOSE:

The purpose of this plan is to provide authority for the participation of Amateur Radio operators in providing essential communications during periods of national, state or local emergency. RACES operations are in accordance with FCC rules and regulations.




1.0 AREA COVERED:

The location of the Tulare County Operational area is shown on the State of California map in
APPENDIX 1 and APPENDIX 1a..
It has a population of 287,853 and an area of 3,863 square miles.


2.0 JURISDICTIONS COVERED:

COUNTY OF TULARE
County Executive
Tulare County Civic Center
Visalia, CA 93291


CITY OF DINUBA
City Manager
405 East El Monte Way
Dinuba, CA 93618

CITY OF EXETER
City Manager
137 N. 'F' Street
Exeter, CA 93221

CITY OF FARMERSVILLE
City Manager
147 East Fr ont
Farmersville, CA 93223

CITY OF LINDSAY
City Manager
251 E. Honolulu
Lindsay, CA 93247

CITY OF PORTERVILLE
City Manager
291 North Main
Porterville, CA 93257

CITY OF TULARE
City Manager
411 East Kern
Tu lare, CA 93274

CITY OF VISALIA
City Manager
707 W. Acequia
Visalia, CA 93291

CITY OF WOODLAKE
City Manager
350 North Valencia
Woodlake, CA 93286




The day-to-day civil defense coordinato r for the above jurisdictions is:

COUNTY OF TULARE
EMERGENCY PROGRAM MANAGER
1062 SOUTH 'K' STREET
TULARE, CA 93274

This plan will serve to qualify this Operational Area and the listed jurisdictions for matching funds under the
Federal Contributions Program.





3.0 RADIO OFFICER AND STAFF ORGANIZATION:

The organization for the implementation and administration of the RACES resources is shown in Appendix 3.
Written operational procedures are issued as required.




4.0 VOLUNTEERS:

Tulare County plans to have two types of Amateur Radio Operators.

4.1 Level one volunteers:

Amateur Radio operators and others e nrolled under the provisions of this plan are resgistered Disaster Service Workers in the COMMUNICATIONS class in accordance with Section 3100 (et seq.) of the California Government Code, have completed a Loyalty Oath/Affirmation, and are checked for loyalty and reliability through local records checks by the Sheriff. Personnel are issued idnetification cards by the Civil Defense Coordinator. Personnel available for activation under this plan are volunteers and are expected to report to their assignments as quickly as possible.

4 .2 Level two volunteers:

This includes all other Amateur Radio operators choosing not to be a Level One volunteer. They shall be registered Disaster Service Workers in the COMMUNICATIONS class in accordance with Section 3100 (et seq.) of the Califonria Government Code and complete the Loyalty Oath/Affirmation. They will not be checked for loyalty and reliability through local record checks, nor will they be issued an identification card by the Civil Defense Coordinator.


5 .0 RACES RESOURCES:

RACES resources are considered a facility available to all government services
as required. Specific channels are not assigned exclusively to any one service.

6.0 NETWORKS:

This system operates four network levels within the the Tulare County Operational Area under the provision of this plan. Individual networks and the frequencies used to implement them are shown in APPENDIX 4.


7.0 NETWORK SERVICE LEVELS:

7.1 Level One Nets

Level one nets provide Direction and Control communications between the California Office of Emergency Services
Region V Emergency Operations Center and the Operational Area Emergency Operations Centers within Region V.


7.2 Level Two Nets:

Level two nets provide Direction and Control communications between the Tulare County Operational Area
Emergency Operations Center and the jurisdictions within the Operational Area, and between the Tulare County EOC
and the Emergency Broadcast System stations in the Operational Area.


7.3 Level Three Nets:

Level three nets provide communications between the Tulare County Operational Area EOC
and deployed mobile units and other authorized units within the Operational Area.

7.4 Level Four Nets:

Level four nets provide c ommunications between the jurisdictional Emergency Operations Centers
and deployed mobiles and other authorized units within the Cities.


8.0 IDENTIFIERS:

Operators will use tactical station identifiers in conjuction with their Amateur callsign.


9.0 FREQUENCY COORDINATION:

Frequencies used within the Operational Area are coordinated by the RACES Radio Officer who will resolve interference problems within this Area. All frequencies will be c oordinated with the State OES Regional Communications Coordinator. Interference problems from outside sources will be referred to the State OES Region Office for resolution. In the event of
an emergency which necessitates invoking the President's war emergency powers, RACES will be governed by paragraph 97.185(b) of the FCC Rules and Regulations, 47 CFR. Operation s will be restricted to frequencies assigned and
coordinated by the California Office of Emergency Services.


10.0 STATION LOCATIONS:

Locations of all Net Control Stations and other fixed stations operated under this plan ,
and their tactical identifiers, are listed in APPENDIX 5.


11.0 EQUIPMENT RESOURCES:

There are approximately 40 fixed, 40 portable, and 50 mobile stations operating under the provisions of this plan.
The majority o f equipment is owned and operated by the individual RACES operators.


12.0 MUTUAL AID:

The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services is a COMMUNICATION resource covered by the California Master Mutual Aid Agreement. Requests fr om or to Tulare County for assistance (mutual aid) will be directed to State OES Region V. In the event communications is broken to Region V, said request may be directed to an adjoining county with
notification to the State OES as soon as conditions permit.


13.0 REVIEW:

This plan, and its appendices, shall be reviewed for completeness, currentness, and accuracy not later than
two (2) years after the latest approval date. Revisions and corrections will be issued to all plan holders when ap proved.


14.0 MOBILIZATION:

14.1 Authority:

The authority to activate RACES and mobilize personnel and resources rests with:

14.1.1
The County Emergency Services Coordinator and staff (including the RACES Radio Officer);


14.1.2
The County Communications Officer.


14.2
Requests for RACES support from any agency shall be directed to the County OES. See Paragraph 14.1






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NETWORK AND FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENTS




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