In Part 97 of its rules, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) states that the Amateur Radio Service is a voluntary non-commercial communications service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications . The FCC licenses all amateur operators.
Below is an excerpt of the FCC rules regarding amateur operations during an emergency.
§97.401 Operation during a disaster.(a) When normal communication systems are overloaded, damaged or disrupted because a disaster has occurred, or is likely to occur, in an area where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC, an amateur station may make transmissions necessary to meet essential communication needs and facilitate relief actions.
(b) When normal communication systems are overloaded, damaged or disrupted because a natural disaster has occurred, or is likely to occur, in an area where the amateur service is not regulated by the FCC, a station assisting in meeting essential communication needs and facilitating relief actions may do so only in accord with ITU Resolution No. 640 (Geneva, 1979). The 80 m, 75 m, 40 m, 30 m, 20 m, 17 m, 15 m, 12 m, and 2 m bands may be used for these purposes.
(c) When a disaster disrupts normal communication systems in a particular area, the FCC may declare a temporary state of communication emergency. The declaration will set forth any special conditions and special rules to be observed by stations during the communication emergency. A request for a declaration of a temporary state of emergency should be directed to the EIC in the area concerned.
(d) A station in, or within 92.6 km of, Alaska may transmit emissions J3E and R3E on the channel at 5.1675 MHz for emergency communications. The channel must be shared with stations licensed in the Alaska-private fixed service. The transmitter power must not exceed 150 W.
In order to provide communications necessary in an emergency the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) established a Field Organization consisting of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the National Traffic System (NTS).
ARES provides amateur radio operators trained in emergency communications with their own equipment and supplies necessary to support an operation and the ability to set up communications anywhere. ARES members practice emergency communications on a regular basis.
The NTS consists of a series of nets at predetermined times where formal written traffic can be passed from the local, state and regional level nets to other parts of the county and then to the recipient. During a disaster the NTS supports local emergency operations by passing traffic into and out of the effected area. At other times routine messages are passed, without fee, for members of the public to friends and family in order to practice message handling.
SKYWARN is a cooperation between the ARRL Field Organization and the National Weather Service (NWS). Amateur radio operators are trained by NWS as weather spotters and report serious weather disturbances to their local NWS office. Almost every NWS office has amateur radio equipment which is manned by local amateur operators in a weather emergency. (A copy of the Juneau SKYWARN manual can be found on the Juneau ARC web site)
When local and states resources are not sufficient to respond to the emergency additional resources can be deployed under the Federal Response Plan. Under the Federal Response Plan resources are provided by one or more of 26 Federal agencies and the American Red Cross. These resources are grouped into 12 Emergency Support Functions (ESF s). Each ESF is headed by a primary agency and is supported by other agencies.
Amateur radio is mentioned in three of these ESF plans:
ESF 2: National Communications System
The National Communications System (NCS) is a confederation of government agencies, established by Presidential Order, responsible for ensuring that Federal telecommunications resources meet the most critical requirements for conditions ranging from normal to national emergency. The ARRL Field Organization plays a major role in communications tests sponsored by the NCS. (visit http://www.ncs.org)
ESF 6: Mass Care
The American Red Cross is the lead agency in situations requiring the shelter and/or repatriation of a large number of people and utilize amateur radio operators to provide communications, especially packet (digital) communications from shelters to facilitate the repatriation of families.
ESF 8: Health and Medical Services
Under communications it states that amateur radio shall be utilized to the extent necessary to help meet the communications requirements.
The purpose of this plan is to provide guidelines for ARES members in providing communications in the event of a disaster, emergency or special event. As each event is different flexibility is necessary to provide an adequate response.
This manual is intended as a guide and reference source. The appendix provides links to other reference sources and forms. ARES members are strongly urged to have a printed copy of this manual together with references listed in the appendix and multiple copies of the ARRL Radiogram message form.
The Northern SE Alaska ARES is a Field Organization of the Amateur Radio Relay League. It operates under the direction of an Emergency Coordinator (EC), who is appointed by the Section Manger (SM), an elected position within the Field Organization, the Section Manager represents the State of Alaska.
The EC reports to the Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC), who coordinates all emergency activities within the section.
The Emergency Coordinator may appoint Assistant Emergency Coordinators to assist with the Operations, Administration, Liaison and Logistics.
Northern SE AK ARES covers the City and Borough of Juneau as well as the communities of northern SE Alaska that are within the reach of the Juneau Amateur Radio Club s linked repeater system; including Gustavus, Hoonah, Haines and Angoon. Should an emergency occur in these communities ARES members can provide local communications within their community as well as coordination of resources from Juneau via the Juneau ARC linked repeater system.
Although not required, nearly all members of the Northern SE AK ARES are members of the Juneau Amateur Radio Club (JARC).
Nick Meacher, N3WWE
Emergency Coordinator
Northern SE AK ARES
907-796-3322
Email: [email protected]