EMC314 How do you activate? 1/2
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

EMC314 How do you activate? 1/2           Release 11/5/01

How does your unit activate? We would like to know how _yours_
does it. Please write and share your procedure. In the meantime
here's how it was described in l995. The titles used then are
different today, as are procedural changes in systems response.

"When notified to provide emergency operations assistance (which
can be communications or other related activities) the Radio
Officer (RO) makes an initial evaluation of requirements versus
the capabilities.

Assuming there are trained components available, the RO then
initiates the call-up of the required resources, whether it be a
one-person response or an on-going 24 hour day-to-day operation.
If there are NO trained components available, and no standing
agreements, the RO uses the area support structure for getting
or accessing resources. In California, County Radio Officers can
obtain needed communications resources via a State OES mutual aid
system. The State OES Region Radio Officer serves as the point of
contact to obtain resources from other areas. This saves the
RO much calling; only one call is required. It is also beneficial
for alerts of potential needs "just in case"!

Where an on-going operation requires a Net Control Station, the
RO assigns the NCS (unless there is a Standing Order in effect
that does the same thing.) If there is no Frequency Standing
Order or plan-designated ones, the RO designates the
frequency(s). There are a variety of ways in which net(s) can be
setup. The complexity of the situation dictates the results in
general terms. Operationally, a command frequency is needed; a
resource frequency and others may be also needed. Much depends on
which type of EOC or command post is involved.

The RO, or a designated Shift Supervisor, sets up the initial
work schedule for radio or other communications equipment
operations (where and if involved). This could include a person
assigned to follow up on persons that may not have been contacted
under the initial alert or call-out procedure (where applicable).

Where there are field assignments the situation will vary from
that of EOC assignments, in that equipment may already be
provided in the EOC. For the broadest protection of all
concerned, field deployment should have written resource records
of those assigned where, when, etc. Even EOC assignments should
have personnel logs of the times people check in and out.

The RO is the operations manager for the volunteers during the
entire operation and at all times. It is the RO responsibility to
conserve energies by delegating tasks and remaining objective
and fresh as possible. Since new outbreaks of other unexpected
emergencies can (and do) occur in tandem, an overly stretched out
RO can be his/her own worst enemy, so take the time to take a
break. Make sure that no responder is held over on a shift, no
matter what the situation. Remember that acts of omission (not
relieving a person when you should) can lead to unfortunate
consequences, such as an accident due to fatigue by that person.
It could also have unfortunate legal consequences for the person
managing the response, such as the coordinator or Radio Officer."

Continues next week.
                           ---------
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EOM