ARES Emergency Plan
Area 12, Western Branch
North Carolina Section
National Association for Amateur Radio (ARRL)

Introduction
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is a composed of Public Service minded Amateur Radio Operators who are prepared to offer their time and equipment in cases of communication failures where their expertise may be utilized. ARES is a nation wide program guided by the ARRL. In North Carolina the primary operating group is the local ARES organization. This group is generally organized to match the North Carolina counties. A local Emergency Coordinator (EC) heads each local unit. The Counties are then grouped into units called areas. A District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) coordinates each Area.

The counties in area 12 are

The areas are Areas are grouped into Branches. Each Branch is coordinated by an Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator (ASEC). Area 12 is in the Western Branch and is surrounded by:

The three branches compose the North Carolina Section, which is coordinated by the Section Emergency Coordinator.

Additional information on ARES may be found in the ARRL publication: Radio Public Service Communication Manual.

Purpose

The sole purpose of the levels above the local level is to provide support for the local organizations. This plan does no supersede the local Emergency Plans; its sole purpose of this plan is to support those local plans. These support functions include but are not limited to:

The Plan

Manpower Support. It is common knowledge that many times when a disaster hits a local area, many local ARES members will be unavailable. When insufficient manpower available locally (which may happen more times than not) the local EC is encouraged to request additional manpower so we may better serve our function.

When additional manpower is needed it is requested the EC contact the DEC or his designee and give a specific request of manpower and/or equipment. This is the preferred method as the DEC will have a better overall knowledge of situation affecting other local groups and which other groups have the required support people and materials available.

Should the DEC or his designee be unavailable the local EC should contact adjacent EC and solicit the needed support. The DEC or his designee should be notified of such request as soon as possible.

Local units are encouraged to develop Quick Response Teams (QRT) to assist other in times of need. Units with QRT’s should keep the DEC up to date on the status and capabilities of their QRT’s to allow the DEC to better coordinate support activities. Details of local QRT’s are available in the reference section of this plan.

Coordination When a situation affects more than one local unit or if a local EC deems it necessary for support of his operation an area 12 resource net will be activated. If the situation is wide spread and the TARHEEL net is activated we should try to use this resource as our resource net. If the need is such or the TARHEEL net is not activated a localized net will be started.

Primary Frequency 146.940

Secondary 3923 nights and evenings, 7232 daytime.

The net may be informal but a NCS will be assigned to insure reliable communications. NOTE: As 145.35 is a wide area repeater we should not disrupt its use as much as possible.

Training Each year AREA 12 will have an exercise in cooperation with the nation wide Simulated Emergency Test (SET). The purpose of this exercise will be to test and evaluate this plan. This exercise does not prevent the local units from having their own SET to test and evaluate local plans.

The DEC will also serve as a resource for local area training as the need arises.

Forum Regular Area 12 meetings will be held. These meetings will include the DEC and local EC’s. Other guest may be invited as the need arises. The primary purpose of these meetings will be the free exchange of ideals between the attendees. Updates to this plan, if any, will be distributed at these meetings.

Reference Material A reference section follows this plan. It's purpose is to provide the local EC’s the most current information regarding AREA 12. Detailed information will be included as well as a Quick Reference Guide.

Area 12 - Emergency Activation List by County

Area 12 Nets