Query: "In actual ACS operations when there is an escalating disaster, are there levels of operation? For instance, up to a certain situation, does ACS function mainly as a closely knit ARES-like support group closely tied to government?"
Reply: No, not in the ARES-like mode you have in mind. It is not necessary in an ACS unit, as will be explained in bulletins 084 and 085.
In a somewhat different perspective, we do use a coded activity to let participants know staffing conditions. Originally it was color codes of green, yellow, orange, red and black. However the colors could be confused with those used by response agencies to indicate Mutual Aid conditions, which in California are: Green (normal), Yellow (no mutual needed), Red (some mutual aid required), Black (significant mutual aid required). To avoid any confusion the ACS coded levels were altered to numbers:
Condition One. Situation normal. During that condition unit participants come in regularly for net activities and general work.
Condition Two means an event may be building and to be alert for further increase in activity. It may include active monitoring, along with normal nets and normal administrative activities IN the agency.
Condition Three means staffing at a minimum level with operators and other personnel (typically one operator per shift.) Usually in this condition, normal activities are suspended and an active condition exists, albeit it somewhat limited. It often means only one or two people are involved.
Condition Four is an all-out involvement. It usually means multiple operators and other personnel staffed for 24 hour operations in a major emergency. This condition may drop back to Condition 3 in very short order depending on events and activities.
Condition Five is a level we hope to never face. It means a catastropic event of enormous proportions; a magnitude beyond our worse nightmare.
These condition codes are used on radio, telephone, email, and the web and any other means we can devise to let participants know the action levels. Key personnel are provided alpha-numeric pagers that provide condition levels along with other information. All our participants are expected to check these code sources and report their readiness and availability. We do not use a full call-out as conditions may require only one or two persons. Even with full staffing we do individual scheduling calls rather than use the 'tree' arrangement.
Continues, see next bulletin
Note: "Original" color codes added during conversion to HTML - 10/06/02
In a somewhat different perspective, we do use a coded activity to let participants know staffing conditions. Originally it was color codes of green, yellow, orange, red and black. However the colors could be confused with those used by response agencies to indicate Mutual Aid conditions, which in California are: Green (normal), Yellow (no mutual needed), Red (some mutual aid required), Black (significant mutual aid required). To avoid any confusion the ACS coded levels were altered to numbers:
Condition One. Situation normal. During that condition unit participants come in regularly for net activities and general work.
Condition Two means an event may be building and to be alert for further increase in activity. It may include active monitoring, along with normal nets and normal administrative activities IN the agency.
Condition Three means staffing at a minimum level with operators and other personnel (typically one operator per shift.) Usually in this condition, normal activities are suspended and an active condition exists, albeit it somewhat limited. It often means only one or two people are involved.
Condition Four is an all-out involvement. It usually means multiple operators and other personnel staffed for 24 hour operations in a major emergency. This condition may drop back to Condition 3 in very short order depending on events and activities.
Condition Five is a level we hope to never face. It means a catastropic event of enormous proportions; a magnitude beyond our worse nightmare.
These condition codes are used on radio, telephone, email, and the web and any other means we can devise to let participants know the action levels. Key personnel are provided alpha-numeric pagers that provide condition levels along with other information. All our participants are expected to check these code sources and report their readiness and availability. We do not use a full call-out as conditions may require only one or two persons. Even with full staffing we do individual scheduling calls rather than use the 'tree' arrangement.
Continues, see next bulletin
Note: "Original" color codes added during conversion to HTML - 10/06/02
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