1988 RACES Bulletins

001 - CALL WAITING TELEPHONE FEATURE
Jan 4, 1988   Call Waiting is an inexpensive option that most telephone companies offer that enables you to accept another call when you are already on the phone. You may answer the caller without losing your first call. This enables you to receive alerts, callouts and emergency calls, for example, without those callers getting a busy signal from your phone. It is recommended for every emergency responder, manager or public safety worker.



002 - RACES RESPONDERS
Jan 11, 1988   RACES personnel do not and should not self-dispatch themselves to mutual aid incidents. Every Amateur authorized to respond should be provided:

   1. Destination and mission; i.e., where, what to do, and the resource request order number.

   2. The name and/or title of the official and agency to which he/she is to report.

   3. A clear definition and understanding of what to take, what to wear, how long the volunteer may remain on the mission, route of travel, a safety and hazards briefing, and any other information pertinent to the successful accomplishment of the mission.

   4. Specific instructions on what communications is to be provided.

   5. Exact name, title and organization authorizing the response.

   6. Enroute frequencies for subsequent instructions, reports, redirection or recall.

   Note: State OES has a form for this purpose for use by any jurisdiction. Contact your OES Region office.



003 - NEW RACES PATCH
Jan 18, 1988   The new RACES patch is available from KB6JHS. Contact Joe for details. It is a 3 inch multi-colored cloth patch that says "EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS THRU AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS" and shows a tower with beam, CW key, satellite, dish antenna and lightning bolts. Our thanks to State of Nevada RACES for the design.



004 - BE WINTER WISE - PART 1 OF 6 PARTS
Jan 25, 1988BEFORE THE STORM: Keep first aid and critical medical supplies such as prescriptions, insulin, etc. on hand. Keep a stock of food which requires little cooking and no refrigeration; electric power may be interrupted. Keep a portable radio and flashlights in working order. Have extra batteries on hand; have alternative batteries to replace radio NICADS. Keep your automobile fueled; if electric power is cut off, filling stations may not be able to operate. Keep materials like sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting and lumber handy for emergency waterproofing.



005 - BE WINTER WISE - PART 2 OF 6 PARTS
Feb 1, 1988WHEN YOU RECEIVE A STORM WARNING:

   Store drinking water in closed, clean containers; water service may be interrupted. If flooding is likely, and time permits, move essential items and furniture to upper floors of your home. If advised to leave your home, move to a safe area before access is cut off by flood water. Leave a note telling friends or relatives where you are going. Before leaving, cut off all electric circuits at the fuse panel by pulling the main switch, or disconnect all electrical appliances. Shut off the gas service at the valve next to the meter, and turn off the water service at the main valve.



006 - BE WINTER WISE - PART 3 OF 6 PARTS
Feb 8, 1988DURING THE STORM: 
   Avoid areas subject to sudden flooding. Do not try to cross a flowing stream where water is above your knees. Do not try to drive over a flooded road; you could be stranded and trapped. If your vehicle stalls, abandon it immediately and seek higher ground; many people drown while trying to rescue their cars. Do not sightsee is areas where flooding or snowfall is occurring; do not try to enter areas closed by law enforcement agencies without written authority.



007 - BE WINTER WISE - PART 4 OF 6 PARTS
Feb 15, 1988DURING THE STORM (continued): 
   Avoid unnecessary trips; if you must travel during the storm, dress warmly and advise others of your destination. Use the telephone only for family emergency needs or to report dangerous conditions. Beware of downed power lines; report them immediately to your local gas or electric utility company, police or fire department. Keep tuned to one of your local radio or television stations for emergency information.



008 - BE WINTER WISE - PART 5 OF 6 PARTS
Feb 22, 1988AFTER THE STORM: 
   DO NOT TURN GAS BACK ON YOURSELF; rely on utility company crews. Do not use fresh food that has come in contact with flood waters. Make sure drinking water is not contaminated; wells should be pumped out and water tested before drinking. Do not visit disaster areas without written authority; your presence will probably hamper rescue and other emergency operations and you might be in danger.



009 - BE WINTER WISE - PART 6 OF 6 PARTS
Feb 29, 1988AFTER THE STORM (continued):

   Do not handle live electrical equipment in wet areas. If electrical equipment or appliances have been in contact with water do not use them until local authorities tell you they are safe. Use flashlights, not lanterns or matches to examine buildings; flammables may be inside. Report broken utility lines to police, fire or other appropriate authorities. Continue to beware of downed power lines or broken gas lines. Stay tuned to radio or television for vital information.



010 - STATEMENT OF MISSION
Mar 7, 1988   The primary mission of the State Office of Emergency Services (OES) is the coordination of emergency activities to save lives and minimize property damage during natural disasters and other emergencies, and to expedite recovery from their effects. On a day-to-day basis, OES provides leadership, assistance and support to state and local agencies in planning and preparing for the most effective use of federal, state, local and private sector resources used in emergency operations.

   The OES functions as the immediate staff and coordinating organization of the Governor's Office in carrying out the state's responsibilities under the Emergency Services Act and applicable federal statutes. The OES acts as the conduit for federal natural disaster grants and other federal agency support. The OES also administers the state Natural Disaster Assistance Act (NDAA) which provides relief to jurisdictions in the form of grants to assist them in the repairing of roads, bridges, municipal buildings, and other public facilities.

   The program areas administered by the OES are:



EMERGENCY MUTUAL AID SERVICES:

• Provision and coordination of Mutual Aid (including RACES).
• Development and utilization of emergency communications systems (including the RACES).
• Development and implementation of emergency plans. The State, its 6 Regions, every county, and each city using Amateurs should have a RACES plan in accordance with the new model plan format.
• Management and maintenance of state resources.

ADMINISTRATION
FIXED NUCLEAR POWER PLANT PLANNING
NATURAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE.

011 POLICY AND PRACTICES
Mar 14, 1988   This statement is intended to clarify the confusion about some Amateur Radio operators who have multiple public service interests, activities or responsibilities.

   A jurisdiction's RACES Radio Officer, assistants, alternates and their key management and operations staff accept their RACES responsibility as their primary Amateur radio public service activity by choice. They are free, of course, to belong to any organization, club, or allied activity that does not interfere with or detract from their RACES function--again, by their own choice. Not all Disaster Service Worker volunteers, of course, are key management or operational people as described above and thus are not expected by OES to place RACES as their priority activity of choice.

   Any jurisdiction has a right to reasonably expect their key volunteer staff to serve and respond in a responsible manner; to expect their volunteers to respond to them as their first choice--by choice.



012 - NEW 2-METER SIMPLEX PLAN AVAILABLE
Mar 21, 1988   A new 2-Meter band simplex plan for California's 58 counties was released this month.

   Local communications should be conducted on simplex wherever possible during a widespread emergency. A disaster may cripple repeaters. Commercial power may fail. Emergency power may fail or not be available. Emergency power fuel may be used up and refueling may be difficult or impossible. Repeater site access roads may be impassable. LPG systems may have only a large tank with no provision for using more readily available LPG bottles in an emergency. Repeater racks may be toppled, cables snapped or antennas downed by an earthquake.

   Where some repeaters fail and others survive, there will be even greater contention among operators to use the surviving repeater(s). This can be compounded by undisciplined operators and unnecessary communications. Sheer volume of essential communications alone may overload a repeater.

   The STATEWIDE 2-METER RACES SIMPLEX FREQUENCY PLAN divides California's 58 counties into seven groups--Group A through Group G. The counties in any group are separated by many miles and intervening terrain. There are 13 simplex frequencies in each group for every county. Six channels are common statewide. The counties in Group A, for example, are Del Norte, Tehama, Sonoma, Sacramento, San Mateo, and Inyo.

   The frequencies were carefully selected so as to minimize interference with existing operations and systems.

   The simplex plan may be implemented immediately by all counties north of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

   In all counties south of San Luis Obispo, Kern and Inyo counties a special rule applies: Each frequency in each applicable group must be approved in writing prior to plans or use by the State OES Southern Area RACES Coordinator, 2151 East D St. - Suite 203A, Ontario, CA 91764; telephone 714-391-4485. The reason for this is that repeaters in Southern California developed at a greater rate before present day band plans and there can be conflicts between existing systems and the simplex plan in certain areas.

   We wish to express our appreciation to Dave Tyler, N6DRT, of the Pacific Division American Radio Relay League for his major contributions in both the concept and preparation of this plan.

   Action required: (1) Obtain a copy of the plan from your State OES Region office. (2) Amend your county RACES plan to include these new frequencies. (3) Include your simplex frequencies in your county RACES plans yet to be written.

(KH6GBX)



013 - VOLUNTEERS DEFINED
Mar 28, 1988   It has become increasingly apparent that there are or should be two levels of RACES operators. A paper is now being written on the subject of various levels of emergency management agency volunteers. It will go into considerable detail because the word "volunteer" means different things to different people.

   Because some jurisdictions are having growing pains and administrative problems, it is appropriate to disseminate guidance in advance of the proposal now being studied. The proposal is to provide all volunteer Disaster Service Workers with a receipt of such registration.

   There are two levels of RACES operators in California. (The RACES section in any local government provides emergency communications support via Amateur radio in accordance with a written plan.)

   LEVEL 1 volunteers are key staff with on-going RACES duties for, and responsibilities with, the State or a local government in California. It is recommended that a local government photo ID card be issued this category of volunteer. A Level 1 volunteer chooses and agrees to respond to his/her agency when called upon with a priority over all other volunteer activities. For RACES, the State OES form 99 DISASTER SERVICE WORKER REGISTRATION AND LOYALTY OATH (or equivalent local government form) is required plus a local record check is required by most jurisdictions.

   A LEVEL 2 volunteer may be all other Amateur Radio operators choosing not to be a Level 1 volunteer. This group should, ideally, include every Amateur in a county that is not a Level 1. Only the OES 99 (or local equivalent) is required. No local government ID card need be issued. Level 2 RACES personnel have no duties, on-going assignments or responsibilities, and are not required to attend meetings or training. The purpose and intent is to register all Amateur Radio operators as Disaster Service Workers so that their services may be utilized by governments unprepared to register volunteers at or during a disaster or emergency. It is a State RACES policy not to use unregistered volunteers.

   What is missing at this time is a standardized Disaster Service Worker receipt that shows the bearer's name and with what government he/she is registered in lieu of a government ID card. Since a DSW is good for life, such a receipt will not be an ID card or a special area pass.

   Questions and comments from jurisdictions should be directed to State OES, ATTN: State RACES radio Officer.

(KH6GBX)



RACESBUL.014 - RESPONDERS CHECKLIST
Date: 4/4/88   Dave Larton (N6JQJ), principal coordinator of the 1988 Emergency Response Institute seminar in Cupertino, March 26-27, presented a checklist of 10 items for any fireground communications unit responder. These can well apply to other major incidents requiring RACES and ARES personnel to be self-supporting in the field for an extended or indefinite period:

1. Map(s) of the area(s). Ability to read and interpret maps is essential. Ability to interpret topographic and township information on forest fires is important.
2. Compass. Ability to use the compass is, of course, important. Known directions are necessary to orient directional antennas usually required for packet radio terminals.
3. Flashlight with extra batteries.
4. Extra food and water for 72 hours. You can get by without food but not without water.
5. Extra clothing, preferably wool and never synthetics. Wear proper footwear. Wear long sleeves on fire incidents.
6. Sunglasses. Carry eyewash (2-3 bottles).
7. Pocket knife.
8. Matches in a waterproof container.
9. Candle or other firestarter such as superfine steel wool.
10. First aid kit with snake bite kit, personal medications (allergy?), and aspirin.

   Summary: Be prepared mentally and physically. Don't overextend your capabilities. Recognize and possess the wisdom to say "No". Do not become a problem to yourself and others.

Stan Harter, KH6GBX, Chief State Radio Officer



RACESBUL.015 - RADIO OFFICER'S DATA BASE
Date: 4/11/88   RACES personnel helping out on incidents outside of their jurisdiction is a common occurrence. This is part of MUTUAL AID operations and procedures. It is not necessary to be registered as a Disaster Service Worker in more than one jurisdiction. This practice is, in fact, improper. A Volunteer should have only one ID card and should surrender an old card when transferring to a new jurisdiction.

   As a part of the Communications classification of Disaster Service Workers, all RACES personnel are a part of the CALIFORNIA MASTER MUTUAL AID SYSTEM.

   To access additional Amateur Radio resources through this system, a jurisdiction contacts the next level up of government. For example, a City Radio Officer would contact the County Radio Officer with the request. The County Radio Officer will coordinate with other city RACES organizations and his own organization to fill the needs. If the County Operational Area organization cannot fill the need, the County Radio Officer contacts their State OES Region RACES Coordinator, who will work with the other counties in the OES Mutual Aid Region to obtain the needed resources. This system does not prohibit the establishment of AUTOMATIC AID AGREEMENTS between the Emergency Management Organizations of two (or more) adjacent jurisdictions; the Regional RACES Coordinator, however, should be advised when an Automatic Aid situation is in progress, so that OES Region staff is aware that resources in those jurisdictions are not available.

   Accurate records are a prerequisite for Radio Officers at all levels --- city, county and OES Region. Every new Radio Officer needs to develop and maintain a roster of names and telephone numbers for their counterparts in neighboring jurisdictions. If yours is not complete and current, we urge all emergency management agencies and Radio Officers give this top priority. Another bad fire season is predicted. A major earthquake could happen at any time. Your jurisdiction could receive a request through channels to provide RACES operators for an incident hundreds of miles away or even in an adjacent state. This happened in the 1987 fire season and, because RACES was still in the formative or non-extant stage in many jurisdictions, RACES mutual aid response was slow, disorganized and inefficient.

   Region Radio Officers need to know how to contact every participating county in their Region and, in some cases, cities. Every county Radio Officer should know the names and telephone numbers of their Region, cities, and adjoining county Radio Officers. It is a common practice for jurisdictions to equip their Radio Officers with a radio pager. We recommend this practice. (Continued in RACESBUL.016)



RACESBUL.016 - RADIO OFFICER'S DATA BASE (cont.)
Date: 4/18/88   Any level calling for mutual aid assistance usually requests a specific number of personnel, the personal skills required, and the type and quantity of communication equipment required. A Radio Officer or agency should not put out a call for "all available Amateurs report to --- ."

   Whenever possible we will try to pre-alert jurisdictions to the possibility of a mutual aid callup so that you will be better prepared with an answer if and when you are called. In major incidents that are common knowledge, you should survey your resource availability before you are called for mutual aid. Then, if possible or appropriate, report to the next higher echelon Radio Officer what you have willing and able to respond; i.e., city to county, county to State OES Region, Region to OES Headquarters. Many mutual aid requests may come direct to State OES Headquarters (from CDF, USFS, etc.); it helps us a lot when we have heard from those Regions that have RACES resources available to respond. Those Regions with hams ready to go will usually get the nod.

   There are increasing requests for ATV (Amateur TV). Radio Officers should develop who and where they are on their data base. We also request that all ATV teams be reported now to your State OES Region Office so that we may build an ATV data base. What is required are the principal contact names and telephone/pager numbers.

   All Radio Officers (at all levels) should include all ARRL EC's (Emergency Coordinators) in their resource data base. There are many hams whose services are available only in a crisis or on an infrequent basis and choose not to be a member of a RACES unit. This is why we urge all hams to register as Disaster Service Workers so that they can serve without any administrative delays. By the same token, we expect ARRL EC's to keep RACES officials posted with any information necessary to achieve and maintain close coordination.

Stan Harter, KH6GBX, Chief State Radio Officer



RACESBUL.017 - CALTRANS
Date: 4/25/88

THE IMPACT OF AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS ON HIGHWAY SAFETY
by
James J. West, N6AAD
Assistant State RACES Radio Officer for
California Department of Transportation.   Each day the over 60,200 licensed Amateur radio operators in California make a significant contribution to the public as they travel the roads and highways of our state.

   Many people are misled by the designation of "Amateur". It denotes that the FCC license for the Amateur Radio Service is not for commercial use. Although the Amateurs have equipment that could easily compete with the best commercial service, this is not permitted. He is even restricted from using an Amateur radio telephone phone patch to phone ahead for a hotel reservation.

   At any moment in time, hundreds, if not thousands of these operators are traveling on the roads and highways of California. Many of them have varied skills that make them anything but amateur. Their ranks include doctors, lawyers, firemen, policemen and their fraternity includes skills as varied as a high school student to the position of King to his country.

   Each day these radio operators use their skills and equipment to summon aid to a location, to aid in fighting fires, calling police to handle accidents, alerting police dispatchers as to the needs of injured traffic accident victims.

   Because of new technology available within the Amateur Radio Service many city, county and State government agencies have begun to take advantage of the billions of dollars of equipment within the Amateur Radio Service. At long last, these operators are being allowed to support emergency management programs with the encouragement they deserve from government. 
(continued)



RACESBUL.018 - CALTRANS (continued)
Date: 5/2/88   The low power walkie-talkie is a powerful communications tool when its signal is received and boosted to high power through a mountaintop repeater. While walking down a street with his hand held radio, he is able to talk to radio stations over a hundred miles away with the sound clarity of his home or office telephone.

   The computer has been married to the Amateur Radio equipment to greatly increase its message handling capability. With a program called "packet" his station is almost fully automated, giving him a wide range of receiving, storing, transmitting and hard copy printing services.

   With appropriate software programs, he can set up his own electronic mailbox system, call an on-line bulletin board system for information or news items, or send messages several thousand miles to a specific Amateur Radio computer station.

   Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) is one of the latest agencies to begin the procedures necessary to utilize the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), a program that is outlined in the Federal Communications Commission regulations and coordinated by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

   The FCC regulations do not make a RACES program. It is the contributions of Caltrans employees who will provide the energy required in our department. A successful program will save lives, protect property, and aid in deploying the appropriate people to face the task of making California a safer place to live.



RACESBUL.019-022 - ORGANIZATION
Date: 9-30 May 88   Every RACES unit is comprised of Amateurs committed to serving State and local governments by planning, preparing for and providing emergency communications in the Amateur Radio Service. Judging from the reports I am receiving, there are several reasons some state, county and city jurisdictions around the country do not have the RACES. Most of the reasons are based on their being misinformed or their rejecting the program for a variety of personal reasons. An acceptable reason, of course, can be that there are no Amateurs in the jurisdiction. Let us review some of the reasons:

1. The local civil defense/emergency services agency has a limited understanding of the RACES. Briefly, there are four broad roles for the RACES in any jurisdiction in the nation:
   1. Supplement. The RACES is used to supplement the existing government radio systems by carrying the overload communications traffic, and to be in place and operating in the event of a partial or total failure of regular systems.
   2. Augment. The RACES provides radio communications between the EOC and operational government elements not equipped with radios.
   3. Replace. Adequately staffed and equipped RACES can replace government two-way radio systems when they fail.
   4. Vertical communications. RACES systems should link the Emergency Operations Centers of cities with their county EOC and county EOC's with the state EOC. In California, counties should link to their State OES Region office/EOC, and the six Regions link to the State OES Operations Center.
2. One of the most common excuses for having no RACES is "We have good radio systems so we don't need anything else." Every experienced public safety and telecommunications manager knows that there are never enough communications in major emergencies -- even when none of the day-to-day systems fail.
3. Another excuse a jurisdiction can give the hams (or other organized volunteer groups such as MARS, Civil Air Patrol, C.B., ARES, etc.) is "Yes, we will call you out if all other communications fail." Think about that one for a minute. Unfortunately, some variations of this theme are more prevalent than we would like to think. Their use of hams never gets off the ground because of some government managers' belief and misunderstanding that the volunteers should be called in only if all else fails. In other words, "a doomsday resource." To those administrators we would point out that:
   1. the hams and other volunteers won't be available to you if you call on them only once -- you will have been too late.
   2. volunteers are of little value without prior training to understand your mission, your organization, your procedures and their role.
4. An unsatisfactory experience. An unpleasant episode or individual in the past may have "turned off" government towards volunteers. You know the old saying, "One bad apple spoils the barrel." One emergency services administrator reportedly had an unpleasant experience with an intoxicated volunteer and has been against volunteers ever since.
5. Other administrators complain that "volunteers cannot be expected to do the job." This type of statement is frequently made by someone who has no experience in, or is unfamiliar with, personnel management and -- more importantly -- managing volunteers. Volunteers are only as good as their government managers equip them to be. They cannot be left to their own devices and be expected to perform as may be expected. Criticism of volunteers comes easy after the fact. It can be generally avoided by training and a clear definition of expectations before the fact.
6. Inadequate staff. This is a legitimate concern, particularly in a small jurisdiction that has a one person OES/CD office. Such a person may feel that there is no way they can take on a RACES program. If there is no experienced RACES Radio Officer already attached to such an office, it would indeed be an overwhelming task to startup a viable RACES program. It has been done, but we can appreciate those not willing to assume such an undertaking. That doesn't automatically mean, however, that there cannot and should not be a RACES unit -- not at all.

   What such jurisdictions (and even much larger ones) may not know is that the RACES function may be delegated by the CD/Emergency Services director (coordinator, administrator, manager, etc.) to another agency in the same government. This usually makes the difference of that jurisdiction having a RACES unit or not.

   CD/Emergency Services may delegate the RACES function to a department willing to accept the program management. The agency most widely delegated the RACES function in a county is the sheriff. Other county and city departments delegated the RACES include communications, general services, police and fire.

   Delegating the RACES to the jurisdiction's law enforcement agency is the most widespread practice where it is not directly administered by the CD/OES. There are several reasons this works well:

1. The law enforcement agency is a primary response agency in all civil defense/emergency services operations.
2. The RACES requires volunteers who are comfortable functioning in a disciplined, cohesive organization; serving as directed, both alone and as a team. Law enforcement agencies perform in just such a manner.
3. Law enforcement agencies have and appreciate the need for highly effective and responsive communications.
4. An active, professional RACES unit reflects favorably upon its parent organization and is an excellent public relations tool for the jurisdiction. The value of these benefits is not lost upon elected officials. In short, the RACES can make an agency look real good.

   There is a caution we must make when considering the delegation of the RACES from CD/OES to another department. The Federal Communications Commission authorizes the RACES only to the civil defense support mission. The RACES and Amateur Radio must not be used for or in place of day-to-day non-emergency communications services. Since virtually all elements of any government are a part of the civil defense (emergency services), the CD/ES director may delegate the RACES to one of these elements willing to accept the responsibility. By the same token, any delegated department must not consider or use RACES solely as its own.

   For example, if a sheriff accepts the delegation of the RACES from the county civil defense coordinator, the sheriff's department is assuring that the RACES shall support all county departments equally. In other words, the RACES shall support the public works, parks, health, airports, roads and any other county department. The RACES shall also provide mutual aid, if capable, to requests from other jurisdictions.

   We hope this answers some of your questions in this regard. Send us more if there is any aspect of the RACES program that is unclear.

STANLY E. HARTER, KH6GBX 
Chief State RACES Officer 
Governor's Office of Emergency Services 
Sacramento, CA 
May 5, 1988



RACESBUL.023 - LEVEL 1 AND 2 VOLUNTEERS
Date: 6 June 1988   The following exchange is designed to clarify the differences and answer some questions that have been raised.

   Q. "I read the new definitions of the Level 1 and Level 2 volunteers and how it applies to the RACES. Some of us hams have questions. Does Level 1 mean you are nailed down to only the activities of their own RACES unit?"

   A. "No, not at all. Let's say that you accept an assignment or responsibility on the Alpha County RACES staff. This means you are a Level 1 volunteer who has chosen to be a part of the Alpha County emergency communications effort. Alpha County will issue you an ID card."

   Q. "OK, but let's say there is an incident in Bravo County and they have asked for my assistance. I can't do that if I am a Level 1 volunteer with Alpha County, right?"

   A. "Wrong! Of course you can go where you want to, but common organizational courtesies and procedures should be observed. You should contact your Alpha County Radio Officer and tell him what you'd like to do if there is no objection. Your Radio Officer, you see, may be gearing up to provide official mutual aid and you may already be a part of those plans. On the other hand, you may be released to do as you please. Remember, however, that your volunteering to assist Bravo County is not an official Alpha County RACES mutual aid unless the Alpha County Radio Officer says so."

   Q. "Then those Amateurs who choose not the be a part of a specific agency are not Level 1 volunteers in the RACES, do not have a government ID card, but can be Level 2 volunteers?"

   A. "That is correct."

   If you have any questions, please send them to us. 
KH6GBX



RACESBUL.024 - ACCIDENT REPORTS BY RADIO
Date: 13 Jun 88   Here is a checklist on how to report accidents and other incidents to the Highway Patrol or other law enforcement agencies. Thanks to Lolly Craig, CHP dispatcher, and the Kern County-Central Valley Amateur Radio Club"Communicator".

REPORTS OF ACCIDENTS:

1. Exact LOCATION:
   1. If a freeway, confirm which freeway by comparing name and route number.
   2. Distance and direction from crossroad or major landmark.
   3. Direction and travel and lanes involved if blocked.
2. Are there any INJURIES?
   1. If yes:
      1. Is an ambulance needed?
      2. Is anyone pinned inside a vehicle?
3. Roadway CONDITION?
   1. If blocked, can vehicles be moved?
   2. Spillage? Fuel or load?

REPORTING OTHER INCIDENTS

1. Vehicle or Suspect Description:
   1. Color and Size of vehicle if make and model are unknown.
   2. Location, as specific as possible.
   3. Moving suspect or vehicle:
      1. Time frame.
      2. Direction of Travel.
      3. Do you or can you still observe the vehicle or suspect from a safe location?

KH6GBX

RACESBUL.025 - EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM
Date: 20 Jun 88   We have received several questions about the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) and its alert tones. California is divided into 29 EBS Operational Areas by the FCC and the State Emergency Communications Committee. Unless they specifically request otherwise, every AM, FM and TV station is a participating member of the EBS.

   There are four levels of EBS priorities: #1 is Presidential, #2 is local, #3 is State, and #4 is region wide. All broadcast stations in the U.S. are required to have an EBS receiver tuned to a primary radio station specified by the FCC. These EBS receivers have a decoder that "opens up" the receiver upon receipt of the EBS alert tones. These special tones are 853 and 960 Hz sounded simultaneously for over 10 seconds. These tones are purposely different from DTMF (TouchTone) frequencies.

   Every radio and TV station is required to broadcast an EBS test once a week during daylight hours. These tests must be logged (both those sent and received). The FCC says that the tests must be straight forward and not have any music or other production embellishments. We ask that you let me know should you ever hear a "jazzed up" EBS test by date, time and call letters.

   One common misconception and question is "What is the EBS station serving this area?" The correct answer is that every radio and TV station serving your area is an EBS station. 
KH6GBX



RACESBUL.026 - FERRITE BEADS AND RADIO INTERFERENCE
Date: 27 Jun 88   There is an excellent handout on "Using Ferrite Beads to Keep RF Out of TV Sets, Telephones, VCR's, Electronic Equipment, Burglar Alarms and Other" available with a SASE from the Stanislaus Amateur Radio Association, P.O. Box 4601, Modesto, CA 95352. Many of us have been bedeviled with HF-SSB interference on EOC telephone lines from RACES, CAP, MARS and other transmitters. If you have or have had similar problems, this handout has a wealth of information for serious troubleshooters. 
(Thanks to the SARA, N6OCV, and Palomar Engineers. ---KH6GBX)

RACESBUL.027 - SUBJECT: GROUNDING SYSTEM
Date: 06 Jul 88   Scientists working on a U.S. Army grounding analysis project have shown that grounding with the standard 6-foot metal rod, or even several rods, is often unsafe and more often inadequate for good low noise communications. They have found that a better ground can be established by stapling a 100-foot length of standard 1/8-inch stranded steel wire to the earth every 4 inches with 6-inch pegs. A 3 pound hammer (in lieu of the 10 pound sledgehammer used on ground rods) should be sufficient to drive in the pegs. Tests at all sites in the country show the surface wire to be from 35% to 95% more efficient than the 6-foot grounding rod. 
(Courtesy of WORLDRADIO and the Sacramento Amateur Radio Club's "Mike and Key". --- KH6GBX.)



RACESBUL.028 - SUBJECT: ORGANIZATION: RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS
Date: 11 JUL 88   This message may be considered a continuation of the "Organization" series (RACESBUL.019 through 022).

   At one extreme is the government administrator who feels that a volunteer can't be expected to do a job as well as an employee. The other extreme is the employee who feels that anyone who is expected to accept responsibilities and meet minimum performance expectations should be paid; i.e., "If you expect me to do that, then you should go hire someone!" Both extremes, of course, are unacceptable in successful volunteer programs. Again, RACES is only as good as government expects it to be, allows it to be, directs it to be and trains it to be.

   Perhaps you have heard of a recruiting problem -- not at all unusual: "We would like a RACES unit but we can't find a RACES Officer." What they are saying is that they cannot find a ham with the requisite organizational and management skills this position requires. There are at least four steps an agency shouldn't overlook in finding their Radio Officer:

1. First, prepare a written position description for the Radio Officer and a general statement of standards and expectations for all the RACES personnel. (These are available from this or any Region Office and are very helpful in briefing any potential applicant; it is better to state these items up front to minimize your disappointment in signing up the joiners, non-producers, the unmotivated and inexperienced volunteer.)
2. Ask your local hams or Amateur Radio club(s) to propose Radio Officer candidates.
3. Ask the next higher RACES echelon if they can provide a Radio Officer. This is a common and effective method. A county may be able to provide an experienced Radio Officer for one of its cities, and the State might be able to transfer a skilled operator to a county
4. Make known your requirements to the ARRL ARES (American Radio Relay League's Amateur Radio Emergency Service) Emergency Coordinator (EC).

---KH6GBX

RACESBUL.029 - SUBJECT: THE CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE
Date: 18 July 1988   (The following are excerpts from an article, "The California Earthquake", by Robert S. Hoover, KA6HZF. It is a thought provoking paper that should be of interest to all hams and emergency services managers. This "controversial" article was transmitted in sections: Bulletin numbers 029A through 029H.)

   California is going to have a catastrophic earthquake within thirty years. It's as inevitable as it is unavoidable, a natural geophysical phenomenon we can neither prevent nor avoid.

   There are earthquakes and there are Major earthquakes and there are these horrendous killers called Great Earthquakes---seismic events with an intensity of Richter 8 and up.

   In 1983 an earthquake struck the little town of Coalinga and shook down some older buildings. No one died but the media loved it, calling it a Major quake and milking it for all they could. As earthquakes go, Coalinga was strictly a non-player. Unfortunately the town was almost on top of the epicenter.

   In 1971 a Major earthquake struck the San Fernando Valley near the town of Sylmar. It destroyed a newly constructed Veterans Administration hospital, damaged another and ruined many commercial buildings. Sixty-eight people died and 30,000 living below an old earthen dam were evacuated. The Sylmar quake was one one-thousandth as powerful as the predicted Great Earthquake.

   The Great Earthquake due to strike California will be ten thousand times as dangerous as the Coalinga non-event; a thousand times as damaging as the San Fernando quake. And its epicenter will be scant miles from the most densely populated region in Southern California.

   The earthquake will stagger our nation's economy . . . the lives of all Americans will be touched in some way by the California Earthquake. Our only recourse is to prepare for a rapid, strategic recovery. But we are simply unprepared.

   The Great Earthquake will virtually isolate the region for up to two weeks. Two weeks without water, power or gas. Two weeks without the protection of firemen or police.

   This will be the greatest natural disaster to ever strike our nation and it will go down in the history of amateur radio as our blackest hour because we are not prepared.

   We aren't prepared for a Great Earthquake in Southern California simply because an earthquake is not a blizzard. Nor is it a spring flood. And it's not a tornado. People will die of exposure and drowning, and there will be flooding and buildings will be ripped to pieces---but it's going to happen all at once; all at the same time and all in a matter of minutes.

   Its damage can cover thousands of square miles. We can't expect help from neighboring towns, they're having their own earthquake, and hoping we can help them.

   After a Great Earthquake it will take days for relief efforts to take hold. We'll be on our own. And we aren't prepared for it.

   A comprehensive plan must be designed around the decision makers, not around the buildings housing them. The communication plan must be flexible enough to accommodate a scattered command structure and still function. This calls for design with a high degree of modularity and fully portable, self-contained communications equipment.

   To assume any form of communication---radio or telephone---will survive a Great Earthquake is dangerous. Modern public safety communication uses repeaters, just like we do. A critical analysis reveals less than 5% of existing repeaters, amateur or commercial, will withstand a Richter 8+ event.

   Before any repeater in included in the planning for a catastrophic event it should be hardened, completely self- contained and be accessible. Few of Southern California's hundreds of repeaters meet this criteria.

   There are three main roles of communications in modern Disaster Management: Disaster Assessment, Command-Control, and Health & Welfare. Most hams are only familiar with the latter.

   Knowledgeable disaster managers would like to use hams in the Disaster Assessment role but find few who are young enough . . . it is a physically demanding job that requires many skills in addition to the ability to communicate. Given the time window of the event, training expended on older hams will be largely wasted.

   Command-Control is a job for a Super Ham. No communicator who has Bashed his way to an Advanced ticket need apply. There's a need for technical expertise, common sense and a cool head---qualities growing rare in our shrinking ham community. Is it practical to train a sixty year old ham for a task which may not occur for thirty years?

   Ham radio has always borne the brunt of Health & Welfare messages following a disaster but we aren't prepared for the volume of traffic a Great Earthquake will produce. Our failure will contribute to the virtual collapse of the telephone system across the nation. After the quake we can expect between 900,000 and 3.2 million pieces of outgoing H&W traffic. In the first few days (the nation) will generate between nine and fifteen million pieces of incoming H&W traffic. We just aren't prepared for it. Even the low estimate of outgoing traffic will swamp our facilities. We are too slow and too poorly organized. We're using the wrong equipment and the wrong procedures.

   We're too old for Damage Assessment, we haven't the skills for Command-Control and we lack the capacity for Health & Welfare. The people depending on us are in for a rude surprise.

   When was the last time you read the regulations? You and the government have entered into a contract; the government grants you various privileges and you in turn agree to help out with emergency communications; it's the only form of communications specifically mentioned.

   There's no such thing as a free lunch; Amateur radio is not a hobby, it's a 'Service' (check the regs). We're allowed to use commercially valuable portions of the spectrum because we've made a contract to provide a needed service during a disaster.

   California has a higher ratio of hams than the national average. But numbers alone don't tell the story. Southern California attracts a lot of retirees and that includes hams. The average age of hams in this region is nearly sixty, almost twice the median age of Southern Californians. Disasters have a nasty habit of killing the young and the old. Chances are, the typical Southern California ham is more likely to be a casualty of the Great Quake than an asset for its relief.

   What can we do to prepare? We can make ourselves younger. I know it sounds silly but follow me through. The typical ham recruits his friends; people he knows. Over the years the average age of American hams has climbed and so has the age of the new licensees. It's a natural trend but a deadly one for the future of amateur radio. The only way to reduce our average age is to bring in a lot of younger people. A large number of younger hams in and of itself will determine the future direction and usefulness of amateur radio. For this reason alone many older hams, while giving lip service to recruiting goals do little to actively support such programs. As we get older things seem to speed by more quickly. Constant change is the normal state for the young but often spells trouble for the old. Many of our hams retired here with the hope of spending their closing years in peaceful reflection, not high-tech confusion.

   If we are to weather the storm of a Great Earthquake, we need hundreds of high speed stations; fully portable stations capable of being on the air within minutes after the quake. Each station should be completely self-contained with a minimum endurance of ten days.

   Low power (VHF/UHF) causes many hams to shake their heads. Under traditional schemes they had high power and handhelds and little in between. Modern disaster communications doesn't need high power, it needs high capacity networks; the ability to pump large volumes of data from many points to a few central points. VHF-FM with data rates of 300 to 1200 bits per second is ideal for this task. Without a widely distributed, high capacity network the information tap is shut off and decisions made by default instead of design.

   One final chore for ham radio. Modern Disaster Management requires the capture, storage, manipulation, communication and display of vast quantities of data. Many relief functions are highly automated and must be spoken to in the proper format and syntax to make them respond.

   A large part of disaster preparedness involves learning the necessary language and procedures to communicate effectively with diverse agencies. This complex structure has evolved over many years but hams are largely ignorant of it. We, the "Communicators of Last Resort", have failed to keep up to date in the one type of communications we've been specifically asked to perform.

   In the modern world the stakes of disaster management are very high. If Southern California is not swiftly returned to full productive capacity, the economy and possibly even the defense of our nation will be at risk.

   The final analysis reveals this horrendous responsibility rests squarely on the shoulders of one man, one key ham. You.

   Are you a part of the problem or a factor in its solution? Do you know your role in the local disaster plan? Is it a good plan? Or are you one of those hams who casually ducks his responsibilities by saying you'll be there if you're needed.

   No 'ifs' about it, old man---you're needed. But you're needed now, before the event. Hams who wander in waving their ticket are about as welcome as a finger in the eye. It doesn't matter is you swat out CW at thirty words a minute, an unlicensed kid with a VIC-20 can handle 50 words per second and pick his nose at the same time.

   If you don't know the language, if you don't know the organization, you just don't know enough to be useful.

   If you're under fifty, you're going to see the big quake. Your task is to prepare yourself and your family; if you and your equipment don't survive you can't help anyone else. Learn your role in the plan and get your station ready.

   If you're over fifty, your task is more demanding. You probably won't live to see the Great Earthquake but your legacy could mean the survival of amateur radio. Your task, if you are willing to accept it, is to see your skills and the essence of your experience passed safely into younger hands.

   Summing up: Amateur Radio is facing the most critical test in its history, a trial imposed by a cataclysmic natural event. Failure may be the deathblow for ham radio and for thousands of innocent victims.

   It's ironic. Hams are always helping someone else; for almost 75 years we've given of ourselves at home and abroad, during desperate wars and fragile periods of peace. If help was needed, we were there. Disasters have a way of making brothers of us all, wiping away questions of politics, race and nationality. But if we are unprepared for the Great Earthquake, history will record that the only group we ever failed to help was ourselves. 
---Robert S. Hoover, KA6HZF



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *   The preceding are excepts of a paper titled "The California Earthquake" by Robert S. Hoover, Amateur Radio licensee KA6HZF. A copy of the article in its entirety is available by sending a SASE to:

Stanly E. Harter, KH6GBX 
Governor's Office of Emergency Services 
2800 Meadowview Road 
Sacramento, CA 95832



RACESBUL.030 - SUBJECT: BULLETIN 029 ERRATA
Date: Sep. 12, 1988   To date, the author's references to age was the most stimulating and controversial. Guest articles do not necessarily reflect the position or practices of this office. Our intent in running this series was to stimulate discussion, motivate managers and volunteers, and generate proactive and remedial actions.

   The following changes are submitted by the author and others to the State RACES BULLETIN series 029A-029H titled "The California Earthquake" by Robert S. Hoover, KA6HZF. We thank the author and others who make contributions to and share their interest in the weekly California State RACES BULLETINS.

1. Reference the first paragraph (029A), State OES Director of Public Affairs and Information Tom Mullins says: "Over the next 30 years the likelihood of a 7.5 magnitude or larger event in Southern California is 60 percent or greater; the probabilities of a magnitude 7.0 or larger earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area in the next three decades are estimated to be 50%. An earthquake is not necessarily inevitable in the next 30 years."
   
   
2. Reference RACESBUL.029D, the second paragraph should read:

Knowledgeable disaster managers would like to use hams in the Disaster Assessment role but find few who are young enough. It is a physically demanding job that requires many skills in addition to the ability to communicate. Given the time window of the event, training expended on older hams will be largely wasted. -END-

   [A copy of this Bulletin 029, in its entirety, is available to individuals upon receipt of a SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope) from this office. The entire article is available from the author Robert S. Hoover, 1875 Monte Vista Drive, Vista, CA 92083.]



RACESBUL.031 - SUBJECT: STATEWIDE COUNTY RACES SURVEY - 1/7
Date: Sept. 19, 1988   In May, 1988, we completed a survey of all 58 counties in California to determine the success level of State OES efforts to provide a coordinated program in keeping with Senator William Campbell's 1983 joint committee findings and recommendations to reinstate a program whereby the Amateur Radio resources in California be organized for use to supplement State and local government emergency communications. The term RACES is used in California to describe Amateur Radio operators enrolled in a specific local government, in accordance with the California State Codes governing the registration and use of Disaster Service Workers, to provide emergency communications via the Amateur Radio Service. The survey reflected that positive gains have been made since the program's inception three years ago in May 1985.

   Following the lack of a State coordinated program since 1965, the RACES program was reinstated in May 1985. There were then 42 counties without and 16 counties with a RACES unit. Today, there are now 21 counties without and 37 counties with a RACES program.

   It was beyond the scope of our survey to include city RACES programs, since that is generally the purview of the counties. The counties reported, however, a total of 63 city government RACES in California.



RACESBUL.032 - SUBJECT: STATEWIDE COUNTY RACES SURVEY - 2/7
Date: Sept. 26, 1988   Some key questions were asked in the survey to assess a county's overall RACES program posture. Some of them were:

1. Does your county have a RACES Plan?
2. Have you appointed a Radio Officer?
3. Do you receive the weekly RACES Bulletins from your hams?
4. How many exercises for the RACES in the past 12 months? How many real activations?
5. How would you rate your RACES unit?
6. How many RACES members?
7. What assistance would you like from State OES?

The replies to this question of the 58 county emergency services agencies fell into one or more of sixteen categories. They are: No help needed or not interested (in RACES, hams or both); need a briefing for county officials on the RACES; a briefing for the RACES members or prospects; provide the model (Santa Luisa County) RACES Plan format; provide a job description for volunteers; how to appoint a Radio Officer; how to start and maintain a RACES program (the RACPAC); need assistance from another state agency; need technical assistance; copy of government codes related to the RACES; copy of the State RACES Plan; specific guidelines for ID cards; a SAR manual (from another OES division); a sample recommended registration form; requests for equipment; copies of the RACES articles appearing in the APCO BULLETIN magazine; and requests for packet routing information to receive the weekly State RACES Bulletins via the WESTNET.



RACESBUL.033 - SUBJECT: STATEWIDE COUNTY RACES SURVEY - 3/7
Date: Oct. 3, 1988   The survey reflected that there are a total of 4,064 county government RACES personnel and an unknown additional number of city government RACES members.

   The survey disclosed 21 California counties without a RACES program and, coincidentally, 21 new counties that came on line with the RACES since May 1985. Of the 21 counties that do not have any RACES, 10 county governments stated that they either do not need or want the RACES or ham radio operators. The other 11 counties affirmed that they do want the RACES and asked State OES for assistance in gearing up.

   An immediate benefit to us was to determine what counties may be called upon to provide RACES mutual aid assistance. This is very important to OES in another wildfire season. Thirty-six of our 58 counties confirmed their willingness to participate in mutual aid with their Amateurs. Those are the counties that State OES might call upon if RACES mutual aid resources are needed. Mutual Aid means personnel and resources that are requested and sent to a location to support a specific incident. The incident may be in an adjoining county or one hundreds of miles away. Mutual aid requests are typically for a specific type and quantity of communications, such as two complete packet radio terminals and four skilled operators to serve at a specific location until relieved.



RACESBUL.034 - SUBJECT: STATEWIDE COUNTY RACES SURVEY - 4/7
Date: Oct. 10, 1988   The survey showed that many county RACES units still do not have a written RACES plan. Others have plans that are incomplete or out of date. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is again making available some matching funds for RACES communications equipment and there are indications it will increase. The criteria for OES to recommend a RACES project to FEMA for Matching Funds is:

1. a current RACES plan approved and on file with State OES. A RACES Plan is a stand-alone document, separate from the Multi-Hazard Functional Plan, and follows the "Santa Luisa County" model format.
2. a Radio Officer and management staff assigned;
3. all RACES personnel registered as Disaster Service Workers with that local government's accredited Disaster Council.

   Some counties coordinate or work closely in a mutual aid context with their city RACES units. Disturbingly, some county Radio Officers reported no connection or liaison with city RACES in their county. The lack of such coordination and communications severely detracts from a mutual aid capability. We urge county Radio Officers in such counties at the earliest opportunity to call a meeting with all city Radio Officers in their county to establish coordination to create both a mutual aid capability and a viable county RACES communication plan.

   Your State OES Region RACES Coordinator or Radio Officer will be pleased to help you and work with you in this regard.



RACESBUL.035 - SUBJECT: STATEWIDE COUNTY RACES SURVEY - 5/7
Date: Oct. 17, 1988   Another area for improvement was disclosed in the matter of Amateurs not delivering the weekly RACES Bulletins to their emergency services office---the addressee on each Bulletin. This indicates a breakdown in the relations between the RACES personnel and their office. Do you remember the primary cause for the premature death of an otherwise worthwhile volunteer organization? It is: "Out of sight is out of mind." Following last year's horrendous fire season two counties called us to ask a particular question about the RACES. We gave the answer and then told them that their particular questions had recently been addressed in the weekly RACES Bulletins. "What weekly bulletins?" they asked. We had no choice but to tell them that they didn't really have the RACES unit they thought they had. Both offices are getting their Bulletins regularly now!

   It's up to the Radio Officer to see that one or more of his personnel recover the weekly Bulletins from a WESTNET mailbox and deliver them to the Radio Officer and their emergency services office. In this manner someone from the local government's RACES unit is in the emergency services office every week. Otherwise, it is "out of sight, out of mind." Ten counties reported non- delivery of the weekly Bulletins by their RACES; they ranged from one of the most densely to very lightly populated counties.



RACESBUL.036 - SUBJECT: STATEWIDE COUNTY RACES SURVEY - 6/7
Date: OCT. 24, 1988   If a county said they had a RACES program and a Radio Officer, we then interviewed the Radio Officer as well. Forty- two of California's 58 counties said they wanted some form of organizational or administrative assistance from the State Office of Emergency Services. The State OES Regions are following up on these requests.

   Our biggest concern at this time is the 21 counties without a RACES program. Their reasons vary:

1. Some counties simply do not have any Amateurs. One county replied "We only had two hams interested and one just passed away."
2. "We don't need hams. Our public safety radio systems are plenty good and will never fail. Also, no hams have approached us."
3. "We will talk it over with the hams to see if there is any interest."
4. "The club supports us and we register the hams before assigning them."
5. "I don't know if we can find anyone qualified to be a Radio Officer and I don't have time now to go look for one."
6. "We're trying to get extra staff to setup a RACES program."
7. "We're working with Region now and trying to get a person to fill the Radio Officer position."
8. "We only have two hams in the county but they help us fine."

RACESBUL.037 - SUBJECT: STATEWIDE COUNTY RACES SURVEY - 7/7
Date: Oct. 31, 1988

1. "Been short on staff; bringing new person on board and will assign task to get RACES going."
2. "Our RACES has a poor attitude so we are writing a plan for using several ham groups for comm support. So we have no interest in the RACES." (Note: Since RACES is a unit of a local government, the RACES is and can be only as good as the local government makes it or allows it to be.)
3. One county refused to return all telephone calls.
4. "We need some funds to seed activity."
5. "I'm new on the job. What is RACES?"
6. "We have political problems with two ham groups. We're going to meet with both and try to work out something. We haven't appointed a Radio Officer yet." The east-west or north-south county syndrome is common in several county politics.
7. "Wasn't sure what RACES was until you called. We do have interested hams and would like you (State OES) to come brief us."
8. "We have ARES. Don't need RACES. Hams would quit if we called them RACES. Things going well. Don't rock our boat." Since it is unclear that they might indeed meet the definition of RACES in California, but choose to call it something else, we can not call upon this county for RACES mutual aid until or unless this is clarified.
9. "We are going to get RACES going again by the end of the year."

   [We urge any county with questions on this survey or a request for assistance to contact your State OES Region RACES Coordinator or Radio Officer. We are tremendously pleased with the growth, the can-do spirit, and the hard work of the hundreds of Amateur Radio operators who have pitched in to make this emergency communications mission in support of their local governments in California such a success. ---KH6GBX]



RACESBUL.038 - SUBJECT: 1989 SEARCH & RESCUE TRAINING
Date: Nov. 7, 1988   State OES Law Enforcement Division 1989 Search and Rescue Training Program: (Post Approved)



* * * * *   Packet operations note: The various Civil Air Patrol mailboxes are now downloading the California State RACES Bulletins. We welcome the CAP and their support of emergency communications. * * * * *



RACESBUL.039 - SUBJECT: CDF&FP GLOSSARY - 1/3
Date: Nov. 14, 1988

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY & FIRE PROTECTION
AUBURN RANGER UNIT
13760 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603   The following are terms you are liable to encounter while handling wildland fire traffic.

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTIONPlease get the name right. It is no longer just "CDF" nor is it the "Division of Forestry". The words "and Fire Protection" were added last year to more accurately reflect the actual activities of the Department. By the same token, it is the U.S. FOREST SERVICE -- not "Forestry Service".INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM (ICS)The chain of command on any incident. The incident commander is referred to as the IC and will be identified with the name of the fire he is commanding. Example: "Dog Bar IC". When you are assigned to work a particular fire, you will identify likewise using the fire name. Example: "Dog Bar Base".COMMUNICATIONS CENTERLocated usually at a Headquarters facility but may be elsewhere in a major event. Also located at this facility will be the Fire Information Center which will be manned by Fire Information Officers (FIO). Their function is to relay information to the news media and the general public via the telephone. The communications center will house all of the Amateur radio operations at the location including phone, packet, and ATV if utilized. If several fires are burning simultaneously, there will be multiple radio circuits set up. Headphones are an absolute must for working in this environment as it becomes very noisy and confused. The FIO's will be answering telephones, packet printers will be clacking and people will be talking to one another. In an extended attack fire, this center will remain operational 24 hours per day unless other instructions are given. Identification of stations operating here will be as above. Example: "Dog Bar Communications".

RACESBUL.040 - SUBJECT: CDF&FP GLOSSARY - 2/3
Date: Nov. 21, 1988COMMAND POSTThe command post is usually the location from which the IC and his staff direct the attack on the fire. It is usually located near the fire, often offering a view of the fire or smoke. During the initial attack on a fire, the Command Post is a very busy place. If you are assigned to a Command Post, report to the IC on arrival; introduce yourself. Get a feel for the activity before approaching the IC for information or direction. The Command Post and Staging Area may be one and the same.STAGING AREAThe Staging Area is that point to which all incoming equipment and personnel will report prior to being dispatched on the fire line. You may also be required to pass through the Staging Area. This is another very busy location, especially during the initial stages of a fire. A Staging Area Manager will be in charge of the operation and you should report to him immediately on arrival, telling him your assignment; i.e., Command Post, Base, etc.BASE (BASE CAMP OR FIRE CAMP)The Base is located some distance from the fire zone. When complete, the Base resembles a small town with food service, bathrooms, showers, sleeping areas, administrative offices, communication centers, medical facilities, gasoline station, etc. On a large fire, many hundreds of individuals will depend on the Base for support. Base can be a very busy and exciting location. At Base, ham radio will handle a large volume of logistical traffic as much of the ordering of supplies and equipment will go out via Amateur Radio. Additionally, many of the various managers located at Base will have the need to speak directly to other locations and will often utilize our ham radio circuits for this activity. As a result, much time is spent locating the various individuals to come to our radio location to get on the air. On a major fire, we will attempt to staff the Base with a motor home, trailer, or the like as the individuals assigned may have to remain for several days or more.

RACESBUL.041 - SUBJECT: CDF&FP GLOSSARY - 3/3
Date: Nov. 28, 1988EXTENDED FIRE ATTACKAn Extended Fire Attack is, as the name implies, one that will not be quickly extinguished. Extended attack fires will usually require a large amount of equipment and personnel. They will often require the creation of Base facilities and have a large administrative staff ("overhead"). VIP (CDF&FP Volunteers-In-Prevention) hams will most often operate during extended attack fires.HANDCREWSA word about the handcrews used on fires by the CDF&FP is in order. Several types of crews are utilized: members of the California Conservation Corps, wards of the State under the California Youth Authority, and professionals such as the Hobart Hotshots and others. The CYA wards are prisoners from various CYA camps and facilities. They are always dressed in orange clothing as opposed to the yellow worn by all other personnel. To avoid problems, it is best not to engage the wards in conversation as their supervisors may have given orders not to talk to anyone. Handcrews are used to do much of the cutting of fire breaks, downing burned trees, and etc. They are a valuable resource in controlling the fire and are either very busy or very tired. Do not get in their way.S.O. or SUPERVISOR'S OFFICEAs utilized in a fire situation, S.O. can refer to several different things. First, it can mean the Sheriff's Office of the county in which you are operating. Additionally, it can mean the headquarters office of the U.S. Forest Service Supervisor for that National Forest. Make certain you are clear as to what is meant at the time the term first comes up.FIRE INFORMATION OFFICERSFire Information Officers are individuals who have completed specialized training courses to prepare them to act as Public Information Officers or Press Liaison persons. In the past, many hams have performed this function in this Ranger Unit but, from now on, that will be minimized. Our main role is to provide an auxiliary communications service.

RACESBUL.042 - SUBJECT: SURPLUS PROPERTY
Date: Dec. 5, 1988   QUESTION: "How can local RACES units obtain State and Federal surplus two-way radios?"

   ANSWER: I contacted the State Department of General Services. They advise the local government to write:

Surplus Property
General Services Department
State of California
140 Commerce Circle
Sacramento, CA 95815
(Telephone 916-924-2970)   The local government's letter should request the screener "to be on the lookout for ...." and specify here what it is you want; such as "mobile, portable and fixed two-way FM radio communications equipment." The gentleman I spoke to said it is not likely the screener will have any specific knowledge of two- way radios and may simply transmit to the requesting agency the manufacturer's name, make and model. The requesting agency must have the expertise to determine whether or not it is desired. The requesting agency pays the State a handling fee that ranges from less than 10% to 33% of the acquisition cost. Many government agencies get their desks and supplies this way.

   State surplus property screeners also tour Federal surplus warehouses for you. That is why it is important to file a letter with the State DGS.

   Surplus property is not available to private individuals. Any questions should be directed to the DGS address or telephone number shown above.

   Some State agencies do not turn in surplus radio equipment to DGS but dispose of it themselves. We cannot speak on their behalf but some of the big users include Caltrans and the CHP. In State OES we offer surplus communications equipment, when available, to people or organizations in the following priority: (1) State RACES personnel; (2) County and city RACES units; (3) any Amateur and the CAP; or (4) destroy it. We have nothing available now. When we do, we issue a bulletin statewide on the WESTNET packet system.



RACESBUL.043 - SUBJECT: Nationwide Distribution
Date: Dec. 12, 1988   At the request of numerous state and local emergency management and civil defense agencies around the country, plus the American Radio Relay League headquarters, we are transmitting the weekly State RACES Bulletins nationwide (to RACES @ ALLUS in the linked national packet radio system).

   The weekly RACES bulletins answer questions, provide guidance, recommendations, interpretations and information regarding the utilization of Amateur Radio serving these agencies. There is a close working relationship between ARES (Amateur radio Emergency Service) and the RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) in California. In this state, any volunteer serving the State or a local government must be a registered disaster service worker. Those Amateurs who elect to affiliate with a specific government, for example, become a part of that government's RACES unit. Thus, most ARES members are members of a city, county, or the State RACES unit.

   Most Bulletins are undated in nature and applicable (directly or through interpretation) anywhere in the U.S. They have been requested by several Pacific basin nations because their use of Amateur Radio in support of emergency communications is similar to ours. Several people and agencies have said that the Bulletins help fill a void created by the disappearance of national RACES guidance by FEMA many years ago.

   We hope that the weekly California RACES Bulletins will be helpful to you, too.

   STANLY E. HARTER, KH6GBX 
   Amateur Radio Service Coordinator 
   Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CA) 
   Vice-Chairman, FCC's State Emergency Communications Committee

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RACESBUL.044 - SUBJECT: THANK YOU FOR 1988
Date: Dec. 19, 1988   I want to thank all of the Amateurs in California for the support you have given this past year. Without the help of RACES, ARES, VIP, ARRL, club members and individual hams to the State and local governments, we would not have had the superior communications we enjoyed during our heavy fire season. The Director and staff of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services is most appreciative of your dedication, skill and professionalism. Again, thanks a lot, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

FOR THE DIRECTOR: Jon Madzelan, Chief, Telecommunications Division



RACESBUL.045 - SUBJECT: MUTUAL AID COMMUNICATIONS - 1/3
Date: Dec. 26, 1988   The foundation of California's disaster planning is a statewide system of mutual aid in which each local jurisdiction relies on its own resources, then calls for assistance from its neighbors -- city to city, city to county, county to county, and finally, through one of the OES regional offices, to the state. A Master Mutual Aid Agreement has been adopted by most cities of California and by all its 58 counties. This creates a formal structure within which each jurisdiction retains control of its own personnel and facilities but can give and receive help whenever it is needed. The state is signatory to this agreement and provides available resources to assist local jurisdictions in emergencies.

   The state is divided into six regions, with six regional offices (Los Angeles, Pleasant Hill, Redding, Sacramento, Fresno, and Ontario) staffed by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services ("State OES") to coordinate these activities. Through this mutual aid system the Governor's office receives a constant flow of information from every geographic and organizational area of the state. 
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