EMC046 Mutual Aid - Reactions  
To:   Emergency Communications Units - Information Bulletin
To:   Emergency Management Agencies via Internet and Radio
By:   Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) of the
      California Governor's Office of Emergency Services

EMC046 - Mutual Aid - Reaction - For Release 9/23/96

After a series on "Mutual Aid", like the last 5 bulletins, we
hear from some Amateur Radio operators words to this effect:
"That's why we don't work for government. We can respond when and
where we want to and we don't have to wait for some government
chain of authority to request us. It could be days before that
occurs."

The response: Fine. This field is broad enough for more than one
perspective, more than one kind of service. You do what interests
you and let those who DO understand the Mutual Aid system work 
together without your criticism.

This criticism of communications mutual aid usually resolves
around the perceived delay of an authorized person requesting
(authorizing) the services of the unit. What is not understood
is this: when there is trust, familiarity and an on-going
relationship between the agency and the leaders of the
volunteer communications unit, there is NO delay. In fact, the
Radio Officer is usually authorized to activate whatever part of
the unit may be justified, and then inform his/her superior in
the agency of that action.

Of course, that does not satisfy those who don't want to wait for
anyone to call them. They just want to go, even if not wanted or
needed! Obviously no one can satisfy that type of person, so they
just don't get registered in ACS and RACES units.

The huge benefits of the seemingly complex structure of mutual
aid procurement and response seems to get lost on some people.
The system is less complex that it seems, and works fine with
registered unpaid staff of agencies, but for people who are
always outside of the agency it just doesn't seem to work out.
They apparently can't discern why it works for fire and law,
and that it can work equally well in telecommunications.

In California, mutual aid is now mandated in under the SEMS 
legislation (Standardized Emergency Management System) that goes
into effect 12/1/96. Jurisdiction ACS and RACES plans are being
updated to meet this requirement. A complete copy of a mutual
aid standard operating procedure for communications units in 
California is on the ACS Web page.
                                -  -  -
ACS Web page: http://www.garlic.com/oes    BBS 916-262-1657 FTP
archive:  ftp.ucsd.edu/hamradio/packet/tcpip/incoming OES ACS

W6WWW Email crm@oes.ca.gov  Packet: W6WWW@KM6PX.#NOCAL.USA.NA 
EOM EMC046
/EX