SECTION 2: DEFINITIONS

2.1 THE EMERGENCY COORDINATOR (EC)¹

The Emergency Coordinator is the key team player in ARES on the local emergency scene. Working with the Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC), the District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) and Official Emergency Stations (OES), the EC prepares for, and engages in management of communications needs in disasters. EC duties include:

Promote and enhance the activities of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) for the benefit of the public as a voluntary, non-commercial communications service.

Manage and coordinate the training, organization and emergency participation of interested amateurs working in support of the communities, agencies or functions designated by the Section Emergency Coordinator/Section Manager.

Establish viable working relationships with federal, state, county, city governmental and private agencies in the ARES jurisdictional area which need the services of ARES in emergencies. Determine what agencies are active in your area, evaluate each of their needs. Discuss your planning with your Section Emergency Coordinator and then with your counterparts in each of the agencies. Ensure they are all aware of your ARES group s capabilities, and perhaps more importantly, your limitations.

Develop detailed local operational plans with served agency officials in your jurisdiction that set forth precisely what each of your expectations are during a disaster operation. Work jointly to establish protocols for mutual trust and respect. All matters involving recruitment and utilization of ARES volunteers are directed by you, in response to the needs assessed by the agency officials. Disaster Welfare Inquiry policies, and others, should be reviewed and expounded upon in your detailed operations plan.

Establish local communications networks run on a regular basis and periodically test those networks by conducting realistic drills.

Establish an emergency traffic plan, with Welfare traffic inclusive, utilizing the National Traffic System as one active component for traffic handling. Establish an operational liaison with local and section nets, particularly for handling Welfare traffic in an emergency situation.

In times of a disaster, evaluate the communications needs of the jurisdiction and respond quickly to those needs. The EC will assume authority and responsibility for emergency response and performance by ARES personnel under his jurisdiction.

Work with other non-ARES amateur provider groups to establish mutual respect and understanding, and a coordination mechanism for the good of the public and amateur radio. The goal is to foster an efficient and effective amateur radio response overall.

Work for growth in your ARES program, making it a stronger, more valuable resource and hence able to meet more of the agencies local needs. These are thousands of new Technicians coming into the amateur service that would make ideal additions to your ARES roster. A stronger ARES means a better ability to serve your communities in times of need and a greater sense of pride for amateur radio by both amateurs and the public.

Report regularly to the SEC, as required.

Recruitment of new hams and League members is an integral part of the job of every League appointee. Appointees should take advantage of every opportunity to recruit a new ham or member to foster growth of Field Organization programs, and our abilities to serve the public.

Requirements: Technician, or higher class license, Full ARRL membership.

2.2 ASSISTANT EMERGENCY COORDINATOR (AEC)²

The EC may appoint Assistant Emergency Coordinators to provide additional leadership in the area. The EC and AEC s for the emergency planning committee. There are four main categories of AEC's:

Operations AEC

Net Manager for specific ARES nets

Net Control Station for specific ARES nets

Coordinator for ARES activities on a specific band

AEC for packet and other digital modes

Operational assistant to EC during disasters

Coordinator for subdivision of EC area

Administrative AEC

Recruiting

Public relations

Personnel records

Equipment inventory

Training

Reports

Liaison AEC

Maintaining contact with assigned agencies

Maintaining liaison with NTS

Maintaining liaison with adjacent ECs

Logistics AEC

Transportation

Supplies food, fuel, water, etc.

Equipment generators, batteries, antennas, etc.

Repeater restoration

AEC s may have both a pre-disaster phase assignment and a different assignment during disaster operations.

The general duties of any AEC should include:

Informing the EC of any developments in their region of responsibility.

Keeping records the EC deems necessary on their assignments and updating the records regularly.

Participating in as many ARES activities as possible.

Keeping the members of their assignment informed of ARES activities.

2.3 OFFICIAL EMERGENCY STATION (OES)³

Amateur operators may be appointed as an Official Emergency Station (OES) by their Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) or Section Manager (SM) at the recommendation of the EC, or District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) (if no EC) holding jurisdiction. The OES appointee makes a deeper commitment to the ARES program in terms of functionally than does the rank-and-file ARES registrant.

The OES appointee is appointed to carry out specific functions and assignments designated by the appropriate EC or DEC. The OES appointee and the EC, at the time of the OES appointment, will mutually develop a detailed, operational function/assignment and commitment for the new appointee. Together, they will develop a responsibility plan for the individual OES appointee that makes the best use of the individual s skills and abilities. During drills and actual emergency situations, the OES appointee will be expected to implement his/her function with professionalism and minimal supervision.

Functions may include, but are not limited to, the following major areas of responsibility⁴:

Operations

Administration

Liaison

Logistics

Management Assistant

Consulting

Requirements: Full ARRL membership; experience as an ARES registrant; regular participation in the local ARES organization including drills and tests; participation in emergency nets and actual emergency situations; regular reporting of activities.

2.4 OFFICIAL RELAY STATION (ORS)⁵

Official Relay Stations are traffic-handling appointments that are open to all classes of license.

The value of skilled operators with traffic know-how is enhanced by his ability and readiness to function in the community in the event of an emergency. Traffic awareness and experience are often the signs by which an experienced and mature may be distinguished.

There are differences in procedures for traffic handling by cw, phone, RTTY, ASCII, packet and other modes. The appointment requirements for ORS do not deal with these, and the ORS may confine activity to one mode or part of the spectrum if he wishes.

There is the expectation that the ORS will set the example in traffic handling however it is done.

The basic requirements are:

Full ARRL membership.

Code and/or voice transmission capability.

Transmissions, by whatever mode, must be of the highest quality, both technically and operationally.

All ORS are expected to follow standard ARRL operating practices (message form, ending signals, abbreviations or prowords, etc.).

Regular participation in traffic activities, either independent or ARRL-sponsored.

Handle all record communications speedily and reliability and set the example in efficient operating procedures. All traffic is relayed or delivered promptly after receipt.

Report monthly to the STM, including a breakdown of traffic handled during the past calendar month.

2.5 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

Emergency communications are those provided in the event of a disaster or other emergency and they are usually unannounced.

Messages containing information on injuries or deceased should not, if at all practical, be passed over voice circuits, they should be passed via packet or CW.

Emergency communications fall into two main categories:

2.5.1 Tactical

Tactical communications are provided between the various agencies to facilitate the coordination of rescue and recovery efforts. These should be in a written (formal) format, as there is then a written record.

2.5.2 Health & Welfare

Health and welfare traffic are messages concerning the welfare of people in the affected area; these can be from people within the effected area to family in another area to let them know they are safe, or it can be inquires from family outside of the effected area. In either case these are low priority and are usually handled after the initial response has been transitioned into recovery operations. In many instances the Red Cross coordinate these inquiries.

2.6 NETS

Nets are a meeting of amateur operators on a designated frequency at a designated time. Nets are held for a variety of purposes; an informal chat with amateurs who have similar interests, cw, ARES, or passing radiogram traffic. Nets can be open or directed.

2.6.1 Open Net

Open nets do not have a Net Control Station and participants follow good amateur practice in taking turns at communicating. Nets for public service communications, such as parades, can usually be an open net.

2.6.2 Directed Net

A directed net has a Net Control Station assigned who controls and directs the flow of traffic through the net. Most nets are directed nets. During an emergency it is essential that a NCS is assigned due to the volume of traffic.