Poway Emergency Operations Center Ham Radio Resources Prepared

Poway Emergency Operations Center Ham Radio Resources Prepared for Poway Neighborhood Emergency Coordinators (PNEC) Community Meeting January 7 th, 2016

Background • Amateur Radio aka “Ham Radio” • Federally licensed communication service • Long standing history of most reliable communication system during emergencies • Naturally caused: Katrina, Sandy, Poway fires 2003 and 2007 • Human caused: New York City 9/11 • EOC Ham Radio Equipment • City funded and supported ham radio equipment • Installed as emergency communication back-up • 4 complete radio systems installed in Fire Station #1 • Operated by volunteer ham radio operators in Poway • Operators train for emergency communication support to Poway emergency responders • Practice with Fire Department • Deploy in EOC, shelter in place stations, hospital, and neighborhoods • Activated in Poway EOC when Officials declare an emergency • Support PNEC neighborhood coordinators

Poway EOC Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) • ARES is a national organization sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) • “Ham” volunteers serving communities throughout the United States • Provide official health and welfare emergency communications throughout the U. S. • In Poway EOC, serve to enhance local situation awareness

Poway EOC Community Emergency Response Team CERT • CERT is a national organization Federally chartered under HSA • Organized throughout San Diego County • Poway CERT specifically chartered for Poway • Composed of civilian local volunteers serving communities throughout the United States • Work directly with the fire department • Conduct routine training with local responders • Some CERT members are also ham radio operators • Provide emergency responder back-up communications throughout the United States on specific radio frequencies • Also operate on all ham radio frequencies • Responded to all fire emergencies in San Diego county

Poway EOC Poway Amateur Communications Team PACT • PACT is a group of ham radio operators residing locally. • “Ham” volunteers serving Poway and neighboring communities. • Provide official emergency condition information throughout neighboring communities. • Focused on Poway neighborhoods • Able to communicate directly with Poway EOC if communications lost completely • • In Poway EOC they enhance local situation awareness. • Report neighborhood problem (fires in home, car accidents, etc. ) • Monitor suspicious activity • Throughout local neighborhoods, disseminate local emergency condition information within their neighborhood • Some PACT members are also PNEC members

Poway EOC Poway Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service RACES • RACES is a national organization chartered as part of official Civil Defense agencies. • Provide official civil defense communications in event of disasters or other emergencies. throughout the U. S. • In Poway they serve as emergency communications back-up between San Diego Sheriff and Poway law enforcement. • “Ham” volunteers serving communities throughout the United States • In Poway they enhance local situation awareness.