Forsyth County AUXCOMM ARES OPERATIONS Copyright Forsyth County

Forsyth County AUXCOMM - ARES OPERATIONS Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 1

Course Outline • • What is ARES? What Is AUXCOMM? What About RACES? Forsyth County Aux. Comm / ARES Mission Structure Communications Plans Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 2

Course Outline • • Why We Train Required Training Recommended Training On Air Training Comex Qualification Levels ID Application Process – Aux. Comm Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 3

What is ARES? ARES is the function of the Amateur Radio Relay League Field Organization which coordinates ham radio response as communicators in disaster situation and public service events. Local ARES units are formed at the county level and are led by an appointed volunteer Emergency Coordinator (EC). Effective this year ARES has training and certification requirements have changed. Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 4

What is Aux. Comm? AUXCOMM is a DHS Emergency Support Function (ESF-2) that covers all supplemental communications support for emergency and disaster situations. As DHS and most states have done, the State of North Carolina has designated Aux. Comm as the RACES equivalent within the state and placed Amateur Radio primary within that designation. Aux. Comm includes ARES, CERT communications, REACT, etc. within ESF-2. Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 5

What About RACES? RACES – Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. Licensed stations that are registered with local Civil Defense (Emergency Management). Per FCC Regulations, only these stations may operated once the President activates the War Powers Act. In NC Aux. Comm is considered RACES. However you must meet all training requirements and be registered in the Aux. Comm Database. Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 6

Forsyth County ARES has changed Within the State of North Carolina and Forsyth County NC, amateur radio has been tasked with managing supplemental communications operations (ESF-2) from the EOC and/or Incident Command Posts as requested. As such Forsyth County ARES has been re-designated as: Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 7

Our Mission Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES provides communications support under EFS-2 for WSFC Emergency Management and local municipalities within the county as well as surrounding counties where no formal Aux. Comm or ARES organization is established. Through State-Wide Mutual Aid Agreements, Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES when requested by either the State of NC or WSFC Emergency Management could be deployed to surrounding counties during an emergency or disaster. Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 8

Aux. Comm – ARES Structure (NC) NC OEM State Section Leader District Emergency Coordinator County OEM County Emergency Coordinator Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 9

Aux. Comm – ARES Structure (Forsyth) Emergency Coordinator (EC) Safety Officer Assistant Emergency Coordinator (AEC) EOC Comm Team(s) AEC - Training AEC – Western Ops Rapid Response Team(s) AEC – Eastern OPS Rapid Response Team(s) Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 10

Communications Teams (Forsyth) EOC COMM TEAM EOC Communications Leader Communicator RAPID RESPONSE TEAM RRT Leader Radio Operator Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES Radio Operator 11

NC Emergency Communications Plan “Amateur radio serves as an alternate back-up communications system for both voice and data. They provide backup communications through a cadre of trained, experienced volunteer Operators. NCEM maintains and operates Amateur Radio stations at the State EOC, Eastern and Western Branch Offices. ” Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 12

NC Emergency Communications Plan “A variety of message transport mechanisms such as voice, digital and Continuous Wave (CW), or Morse Code. These may be employed, usingularly or in any combination of: (a) Short range VHF/UHF radio via direct point-to-point links, strategically located repeaters and linked systems. (b) Long range HF (shortwave) point-to-point communications, intra-state and interstate, as needed. (c) Mobile/portable/handheld stations (VHF/UHF/HF). ” Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 13

NC Emergency Communications Plan “(d) Digital MARS Winlink email system using HF radio. This system, operated through the Do. D's MARS program, provides backup email capability through a large network of independent stations located throughout the US, all of which provide connectivity to worldwide email facilities and can operate with infrastructure, if available, or completely free of infrastructure on a fully automatic basis. Use of this system does not require the presence of Amateur Radio/MARS operators on-site, since the State has been granted MARS Agency licenses. ” Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 14

NC Emergency Communications Plan “Typical deployments have operators on-site at the served agency location(s) and liaison operators working from their homes or other locations where emergency power is available. Small scale incidents generally are supported by formal "nets" of operators deployed as needed/directed. Larger incidents generally involve a statewide net (Tar Heel Emergency Net). ” Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 15

NC Emergency Communications Plan • Identify, train, and assign personnel to maintain contact with and prepare to execute mission in support of ESF-2 during periods of activation. • Establish and maintain an organizational structure and plans coincident with the NCEM organization to facilitate rapid integration. • Establish plans for and conduct training plan to support Win. Link Field operations. • Provide radio communication assistance in support of voice and record (written) traffic Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 16

NC Emergency Communications Plan • Provide reports from disaster areas. • At the direction of the State PIO, provide public information releases to media outlets in disaster areas when other means are not available. • Provide radio operators to conduct self-sustaining operations in support of emergency operations for periods up to 72 hours. • Provide Win. Link email support as needed/requested. • Participate in exercises and drills as directed Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 17

ARES Changes • Three qualification levels – Level 1: Basic – Level 2: ARES Operations Qualified – Level 3: ARES Management Qualified • Level 1: – Local training only requirements • Level 2 and 3: – FEMA IS and ARRL training requirements Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 18

ARES vs AUXCOMM Training ARES • Level 1: Basic Operator AUXCOMM • Trainee Level: Radio Operator: – Local Training only – May be working on ICS course – May stay at this level indefinitely – Local training – Working on completion of ICS courses – 12 Months to complete ICS courses Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 19

ARES vs AUXCOMM Training ARES • Level 2: ARES Operator AUXCOMM • Basic Level: Communicator – Completion of ICS 100 / 200 / 700 / 800, and – ARRL EC-001 (9 -week, 45 hour on-line course - free) – Completion of ICS-100 / 200 / 700 / 800 plus – 1 day local Em. Comm 101 course – Red Cross Shelter Familiarization (On. Line – Preferred) Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 20

ARES vs AUXCOMM Training ARES • Level 3: Management: AUXCOMM • EOC OPS Level: Communicator: – Completion of IS 120, IS-230, IS-241, IS-242, IS-244, and IS 288 and – ARRL EC-016 (9 week, 45 hour online course) – Basic Level Qualified – Completion of 1 -day EOC-NCS course Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 21

ARES vs AUXCOMM Training ARES • Level 3 is top level AUXCOMM • Lead Level: Communications Team Lead: – EOC Level Qualified – Completion of Web. EOC. – ICS-300 preferred – Aux. Comm preferred Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 22

ARES vs AUXCOMM Training ARES • Level 3 is top level AUXCOMM • Staff Level: EC / AEC: – Lead Level Qualified – ARRL Level 3 preferred (ARRL required for EC) Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 23

Why We Train • To learn – New skills – Procedures – Policies • To practice our skills – Our skill set is perishable • To be Prepared! Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 24

Forsyth County Aux. Comm – ARES Combined Training Requirements • All Personnel: – ICS 100, 200, 700 & 800 • Available: https: //training. fema. gov/is/crslist. aspx NOTE: NC State Mandated for those operating in ICS locations such as EOC’s and Command Posts. NOTE: ARRL Level 2 mandated – Red Cross Shelter Familiarization Training • Red Cross Mandated Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 25

Forsyth County Aux. Comm – ARES Combined Training Requirements • Communicators – ARRL EC-001 course (ARRL mandated for Level 2) or – Forsyth County Aux. Comm – ARES: Em. Comm 101 course and – Forsyth County Aux. Comm – ARES: EOC-NCS Course or – Aux. Comm Certification Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 26

Forsyth County Aux. Comm – ARES Combined Training Requirements • Communications Team Lead – Forsyth County OEM: Web. EOC • https: //terms. ncem. org/TRS/ Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 27

Forsyth County Aux. Comm – ARES Combined Training Requirements • Aux. Comm – ARES Staff Positions – ARRL 001 (ARRL Mandated for EC) – ARRL 016 (ARRL Mandated for EC) – IS-120, IS-230, IS-241, IS-242, IS-244, and IS 288 (ARRL Mandated for EC) NOTE: ARRL Level 3 NOTE: EC must meet these training requirements to be approved for this position NOTE: Staff should be at this level for backup to the EC Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 28

Recommended Training – EOC-CL • Forsyth County OEM: – ICS-300: Advanced ICS, 3 -day classroom • https: //terms. ncem. org/TRS/. – IS-775: EOC Management and Operations • https: //training. fema. gov/is/crslist. aspx – Aux. Comm: • https: //terms. ncem. org/TRS/. Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 29

Recommended Training - ALL • FC Aux. Comm – ARES Recommended: – Sky. Warn: All Aux. Comm – ARES Personnel. Required bi-annually. Offered by FARC bi-annually and WSFC OEM annually. – IS-1160 Disaster Assessment Operations: All Aux. Comm – ARES personnel specifically RRT Leaders. • https: //training. fema. gov/is/crslist. aspx Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 30

On-Air Training • Every Thursday 2000 hours on W 4 NC 145. 470 (+) 100 hz. • Training posted to website: – https: //www. w 4 nc. com/ARES_Docs_Forms. htm • NCS Training – all personnel are encouraged to conduct at least 1 or more Aux. Comm – ARES net annually. Preferably 1 every 6 months. • SKILLS ARE PARISHABLE Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 31

Communications Exercises (COMEX) • Conducted quarterly • Personnel should make at least ONE per year • Normally operate 1 -2 hours with some potential for longer periods • These are in addition to public service events such as Tour to Tanglewood. Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 32

Aux. Comm - ARES Badging • Personnel are required to display a valid Aux. Comm – ARES ID Badge at all times when performing Aux. Comm – ARES duties in an EOC, Command Post, Red Cross Location. • It is recommended that they be worn in for field operations as well. • Club ID’s are NOT acceptable for access. • Redesigned Identification will be issued soon. Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 33

Aux. Comm – ARES ID’s • Identifications are issued based upon qualification level. • ID is valid for 2 years and Only when accompanied by: – Valid FCC Amateur Radio License and – Valid Government Issued Photo ID • Non-Disclosure Agreement for EOC Level and above. (coming) Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 34

Current Staffing • • EC: W 1 HRC Harlan AEC: WA 4 NOT Jim AEC-OPS: W 1 LLO Stacey AEC-TECH: WB 9 SZL Dale • • 3 Comm Leads 5 EOC Communicators 24 Basic Communicators 35 Radio Operators Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 35

Access Authority • Trainee (Green) – Permitted access to any facility for Training Purposes provided a Communications Lead is available. – Will not normally be assigned as a primary Radio Operator, Communicator during any actual Emergency / Disaster. Will NOT be assigned as a NCS or primary NCS operator for any event. – May be used as a Rest Stop or SAG operator at Public Service Events. Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 36

Access Authority • Basic Level (Blue) – Communicator – Access to any non-ICS facility to perform assigned communications duties such as shelters or public service event communication points. – Access to any facility for Training Purposes provided a Communications Lead is available. – May perform NCS duties at non-ICS locations during Public Service Events. Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 37

Access Authority • EOC Level (Blue) and higher – Access to any facility assigned for communication duties. – May perform NCS duties at any location. Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 38

Background Checks • Red Cross requires background checks for personnel working in any position within a shelter. – Red Cross pays for these. – The Aux. Comm-ARES Manager is notified of anyone not approved by the ARC but not the reason for denial. – Background is CHRC only Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 39

Background Checks • State and County request that CHRC checks be done for personnel working in an EOC / CP although they are not yet mandated. • MS society does Drivers Record checks for SAG’s and other mobile operators. Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 40

How to Apply • FCAA Form 100 – Aux. Comm-ARES Application • Available on-line at W 4 NC. com or back of Club Newsletter • Submit to ares@w 4 nc. com OR In person to Harlan W 1 HRC Aux. Comm-ARES Manager Members need to update contact license and certification information annually. Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 41

Be Trained and Ready to GO! Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 42

Questions ? ? ? Maybe Answers…. . Copyright Forsyth County Aux. Comm - ARES 43