From an article by Mike Guerin, Assistant Director, OES Emergency Operations and Training in the December Utility Policy Committee publication "Update":
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People sometimes get "fed up" with the idea of training. "Who needs it", is the phrase I hear from time to time from those outside of RACES. Well, we all benefit from it, but perhaps we need to paint a clearer picture of why, and its benefits.
In a comment by David Fowler regarding Fire Service response, the following appeared: This is a topic we hope you don't experience, but if you do, perhaps this material may assist.
Try not to dispatch a volunteer into the field by his or herself. For safety's sake send two people together.
This is a common sense approach for response to both urban and rural incidents. There is strength in numbers. As well as personal safety, Contrary to popular belief, it does not require a disaster, war, or even an emergency to use your RACES and other communications volunteers in government service. From the reports we received in the last thirty days, here are typical official duty activities by these
The following was prepared by the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club. Please pass on to your Radio Officer.
ATTENTION: Administrators
Many of you have asked how your volunteers might help without using ham radio? The following is an actual and typical case: We were recently asked our views on what a Net Control Station (NCS) is and does in government (RACES, CAP, etc.) communications.
To me a Net Control Station serves one key purpose -- that of insuring the smooth functioning of the network. It performs this function by: Why use simplex 2-Meter frequencies when a repeater will do just as well? Some reasons are unique to individual organizations; others are common to all. One reason is to get off a wide area channel when a simplex frequency will do. In public safety systems the repeater channel may be used for routine dispatch and communications, while a simplex channel is used only for the tactical and exclusive needs of the incident.
No, not necessarily. The enrolled communications volunteer (RACES, CAP, etc.) can expect to work at the government-provided site in many instances. The equipment at the EOC, and possibly at alternate EOC's, may be provided and owned by the local juris- diction as a means of saying "thank you" to local hams as well as assuring a permanent installation of the same equipment.
RACES is based on the criteria that the station is serving a government function/need at a government site, not a home of one of the volunteers. In such cases it should be obvious that a member-owned station is not relevant, except possibly as a source of back-up to the EOC if its equipment fails. An exception is where there is no local EOC and the jurisdiction authorizes a station as an EOC alternate until such time as the jurisdiction can activate its own EOC. |
RACES BulletinsCA State OES began the Bulletins in the early 1950's to assist agencies and radio operators to become more familiar with RACES. They were issued periodically until 1985, at which time they began to be issued weekly over voice and digital radio systems of Amateur Radio and in print. Originally intended for California, increased demand, and a 1988 request by the ARRL for national distribution, led to their eventual worldwide distribution. Archives
December 1994
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1992-1994 RACES Bulletins