EMC132  It's Our Job!
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  

EMC132   It's Our Job!!         For release 5/18/98

The following describes one units activities. It is likely
duplicated many times elsewhere, but articles of other unit
activities remains a popular request from readers. This one
is from from the Solano County CA RACES publication "SCRAP"
for December, l995. 

"As volunteers in ACS (Auxiliary Communications Service) we
have offered our services to the County in time of need. These
services are not limited to the operation of our own radio at
home but include all means of communication and related support
duties. Answer telephone? Why not, it is a communication device.
Translate a letter or conversation? Why not, speech is one of
the basic forms of communication. How about FAX or computers?
Even delivering mail or notes are a form of communication.

Think about it! All of these forms of communication do not
require an (FCC) Amateur Radio Service license, but none the
less are important avenues of communication.

For these reasons, ACS was adopted, not to replace paid county
or city workers, but to help in times of emergencies.

RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) is a part of ACS.
This unit does require possession of an Amateur Radio License
because of FCC regulations. However, RACES being part of ACS,
does not exempt volunteers from being asked to perform other
tasks in the communications field, especially if we have the
"skill" to do the job.

Our Resource Manager is currently creating a data base to
maintain a list of volunteers with various skills. When
completed the data base can be accessed to locate a particular
skill and those volunteers that have that skill." (end quote)
----
The publication also described a Mobile Command Post of the
Solano County Sheriff's Department; and ACS implementation to
staff the RACES equipment for public "show and tell" events.
----
Then, note their perspective of A.P.R.S: "Why use APRS? Well
it gives a visual picture of where the incident is located. 
We use A.P.R.S to inform the RACES....as to what is
happening.... Rather than send long messages or telephone calls
(that may not really be necessary) as to where, when, what, a
simple graphic display with a one-line text is all that is
needed. That alerts interested parties who can then ask for
follow up information. The article closed with this comment:
"Travis AFB has a more elaborate system with a data base, etc.
Lots of bells and whistles attached to the USAF program, but
APRS is more simple and easier to use under the pressure of an
emergency. And it is a heck of a lot cheaper!"  (End quote)

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ACS Web page: http://acs.oes.ca.gov       FTP archive:
ftp.ucsd.edu/hamradio/packet/tcpip/incoming for new bulletins
and ftp.ucsd.edu/hamradio/races for earlier ones. 
Landline BBS: 916-262-0856 (graphical & standard interface).
To subscribe to these bulletins send a query to:
State Chief ACS Officer Cary Mangum: Cary_Mangum@oes.ca.gov
EOM EMC132