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

EMC365 Training-EMSA Exercise      Release 10/28/02

This is an overview of the annual EMSA Exercise titled the "State
of California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA)
Statewide Medical & Health Services Disaster Exercise, November
14, 2002" and conducted by that authority. It is an excellent
training event that one can study and learn techniques.

The EMSA Executive Summary reads: "This is California's 4th
annual exercise, and we continue to expand the number of
participants to include hospitals and other healthcare providers
(including long-term care facilities and clinics), pre-hospital
care providers, auxiliary communications networks, blood banks,
and local and regional government agencies." ______ As this is a
communications bulletin only those aspects are included.

AUXILIARY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS (ACS) EXERCISE Objectives:

ACS PRE-EXERCISE Objectives

#1: Identify agencies with auxiliary communications systems and
ascertain location of operators and frequencies utilized.

#2: Coordinate with local auxiliary communications radio
operators on use of frequencies, protocols, and forms used during
an exercise/actual event.

ACS EXERCISE Objectives

#3: Test regional/statewide network voice systems and redundant
communications in coordination with local amateur radio
operators, using established frequencies, protocols, and data
collection- reporting forms.

#4: Pass two-way communications messages between state, regional,
and OA providers. (For frequencies, see ACS Exercise Guidebook,
page 31.)

______________ Operational Area (Exercise Contact Objectives)

#1: Assess OA ability to collect timely, accurate, and
appropriate data from participants.

#2: Demo ability to access/transmit RIMS information to region
and state MEDICAL and HEALTH authorities.

#3: Evaluate RIMS system including appropriateness and accuracy
of medical and health response and recovery systems.

#4: ACTIVATE auxiliary communications systems and pass two-way
messages to regional and state providers.

________
 TIME LINE and DEADLINE for
 "Amateur Radio and Emergency Communications Systems:

9/13/02  Deadline to FAX Intent to Participate form to OA
          MEDICAL-HEALTH EXERCISE CONTACT (table list contacts in
          EACH OA)

11/14/02 Exercise begins at 7:00 a.m. and runs until noon. During
          exercise, status reports will be radioed to the Joint
          Emergency Operations Center (JEOC) beginning at 11:00
          a.m. (See flow chart page 31 of ACS Exercise Guidebook.)

11/29/02 Deadline to complete and mail the Master Answer Sheet to
          the CA EMS Authority to receive a participation
          certificate." (NOTE: Emergency and ACS Providers have 14
          questions on an "Exercise Evaluation Questionnaire")

The Exercise Guidebook, ACS Exercise Guidebook, and Exercise
Contact Toolkit was available at a web site that year.

FORMS for ACS are in the ACS Exercise Guidebook, Pages 25-29, and
"are to be utilized when standard communications systems are not
functioning, and information is conveyed through auxiliary
communications systems. However, the data on these forms, based
on the Response Information Management System (RIMS) fields, is
critical information for the region and the State to receive from
the operational area during a disaster."                       ---