EMC221  Statewide Comm  Drill 1/5 
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  

EMC221  Statewide Comm  Drill 1/5   For release 1/24/2000

Bulletins 221-225 are a direct copy of an actual Statewide
Communications Drill held in December, l999. It was devised
by State OES staff other than in the Telecommunications Branch.
It's purposes are stated and it provides an excellant overview
of California systems as well as drill organization. The
Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) was not a party as it's
systems are tested regularly; however, some tests were held
for the ACS during the event.
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"COMMUNICATIONS DRILL

"On December x, 1999, a communications drill will be held to test
communications systems currently in use for the exchange of
emergency information between local governments, Operational
Areas (OA's), Regional Emergency Operations Centers (REOC's), the
State Operations Center (SOC),  OES Field Representatives and
Fire & Law Regional Coordinators as well as other state and
federal agencies.

The goal of this communications drill is to test each system at
the location where emergency management personnel would normally
be working from during an Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
activation.  The Warning Center, SOC, REOC's, Operational Areas,
State Agencies, OES Field Representatives and Fire & Law Regional
Coordinators will be asked to complete all communications tests
with those levels immediately above and below their level.

DRILL OBJECTIVES

-- Test communications systems by sending and receiving at
   least one message on each system.
-- Identify location/user communications capabilities through
   analysis of returned surveys.
-- Identify system/user/equipment shortcomings or training
   issues through analysis of returned surveys. 
-- Identify needed system upgrades, if possible. 
-- Provide an after drill summary of the status and efficacy
   of emergency communications.

BASIS FOR COMMUNICATIONS

Reliable communication is critical to providing and coordinating
emergency management response. Information on the cause of
incidents or events, damages sustained, resources needed to
mitigate the effects, and the ability to quickly initiate
recovery measures are priorities and must be processed rapidly
and accurately. California emergency management and mutual aid
communications systems link the Standardized Emergency Management
System levels together from local to Operational Area to Region
to State and requires ongoing maintenance and testing."

Continues next bulletin.
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