A recent article in the online version of Emergency Management points to emergency communications as one of the big reasons that “more Americans than ever” are now licensed radio amateurs. According to the ARRL, the number of amateur radio licensees hit 743,003 in November 2016.
Mike Corey, KI1U, the ARRL’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager is quoted as saying:
There has been a tremendous amount of interest in emergency preparedness since 9/11 and Katrina, and this is true for the amateur radio community as well. Emergency communications is a gateway into amateur radio, and many join our ranks through an interest in being better prepared themselves and as a way to serve their community.
This is true. I’d say that the majority of people who take my one-day Tech classes do so to participate in some kind of public service or emergency communications. For example, students in my upcoming May 6 Tech class are involved with local CERT teams and there are a couple who are part of the Michigan Volunteer Defense Force, which, in a way, is Michigan’s National Guard.
I find this kind of ironic. More people are getting licensed to participate in emergency communications at a time when amateur radio’s role is being de-emphasized by many in emergency management.
I also wonder what kind of training these folks get after they get their licenses. It certainly takes more than a Technician license and a handheld to become an effective communicator. At the very least, I can see the need for two follow-on training classes:
- Net operation and message handling. This should include lots of exercises. Locally, our Amateur Radio Public Service Corps (ARPSC), which is an amalgamation of the ARES and RACES groups, conducts a net every Sunday night, but all they do is check in. Every once in a while, they participate in simulated emergency exercises. I never hear them practice message handling, and the more I think about it, I think that this is a vital skill that all emergency communicators should have.
- Practical communications technology. Among other things, this class should cover:
- the limitations of handhelds,
- how to power radios out in the field,
- how to install and PowerPoles,
- different kinds of antennas and how to connect them to your radios.
The ARRL offers a course, Introduction to Emergency Communication (EC-001), but it seems to me that this is way too much, too quickly for new Techs. And, on top of that, it costs 50 bucks! My “no nonsense” approach would be to break it down and feed it to the new Techs in smaller, simpler chunks.
I’m curious as to what you all think about this. Are you seeing that the majority of new hams are getting their licenses to participate in emergency communications? Are they getting any training after they get their licenses? What kind of training should they get? Please email me or enter a comment below.
Walter Underwood K6WRU says
Take a look at the courses offered by Santa Clara County (CA) ARES/RACES. I’ve taken three of the courses: Introduction to Emcomm, Fundamentals of Emcomm, and Field Operations. All the slides are online.
http://www.scc-ares-races.org/training.html#courses
These are part of a set of mutual aid qualifications. Those are optional for working with your primary agency, but useful for deploying amateur radio for mutual aid. You become a “typed resource” for incident response purposes.
Our city ARES/RACES uses the county courses for our operators. We have our own courses for FRS radio use in CERT.
I would be a Field Communicator II if I had a dual-band mobile rig. And I could be a Net Control III if I took the net control courses.
Bob K0NR says
That’s a great system that Santa Clara County has. Thanks for sharing.
Eric Peterson says
If u offer it between May and January-I will participate. Ric KD8QNZ
Dave, N8SBE says
As far as message handling goes, the ARRL message form is not used in a situation where we would be assisting a government agency. Instead, they use the IS standard forms from FEMA, and expect that the radio operators have been trained in the standard incident response courses found there.
ARPSC/ARES and all the traffic nets insist on using the ARRL forms, so the training is all but useless. There seems to be a strong ‘not invented here’ attitude that prevails.
KD8AQT says
In NE lower MI, the CERT teams and SAR groups are required to have their Tech license primarily for simplex comms while doing searches or traffic control or disaster response. Unfortunately, individuals who may be very adept at K-9 searching/tracking seem to be disinterested in gaining fluency with their HTs. My son and I are usually the ones who get them set up and on their way.
Todd KD0TLS says
I see two models in the (broad) term “EmComm”. The first involves trained, dedicated operators with specialised skills and possibly specialised equipment. Not all of these operators are licensed amateurs, but most are. These are generally small teams that are integrated with local EMS.
The second is the “crowdsource” model, or “Some Guy With A Radio”, that is exemplified by things like SkyWarn. The idea is quantity over quality — sharing and disseminating information to a wide group. I’d also include things like ARES nets on FM repeaters in this category.
When I talk to the majority of local hams about “EmComm”, they are referring to the second model. They want some way to communicate with others in an “emergency” situation, to avoid being “cut off” primarily. There’s little interest in the training and certification required for the first model, though there’s a vague and general willingness to “help” and an overblown sense of the usefulness of the second model in actual emergency scenarios.
You provided examples of people that fit into the first model. But then you went on to say:
“I’d say that the majority of people who take my one-day Tech classes do so to participate in some kind of public service or emergency communications.”
This is a different matter. “Public service” usually means working an HT at a marathon, parade, etc. And “emergency communications” most often means the second model. Neither involves considerable training.
Bob K0NR says
I agree that emergency comms is a key reason people are getting their ham licenses. We see that in the feedback from our Tech license class. See http://www.k0nr.com/wordpress/2017/03/20/new-hams-coming-from/
The article from Emergency Management does not provide statistics on this…only anecdotal information. This is something that needs to be studied and tracked over time. I would think this is a critical activity for the National Association of Amateur Radio.
The state of Colorado recently created the Auxiliary Communications Unit, which may impact this activity. I’m not sure of the practical implications of this:
http://www.arrl.org/news/colorado-creates-auxiliary-emergency-communications-unit
Rob W4ZNG says
As someone who lives at Katrina ground zero and who got into ham radio largely because of this, I see the term “emergency communications” as having two very different meanings, depending on who you’re talking to:
(1) volunteer auxiliary comms to assist emergency responders, or
(2) being able to reach family and friends when normal phone service is out.
Of course there is a lot of overlap, but two different things need two different names. Maybe the surveys of new hams should reflect this reality. Then we can then get a better picture of who’s joining our ranks and why, and better address the next steps they’re wanting (or willing) to take.
Dan KB6NU says
I think that there might be a third category – emergency response teams or search and rescue teams that use amateur radio as part of their operations. Their use is different from the two you mention.
Rob W4ZNG says
Yes, I believe you are right about this third category. And I think that many of the basics are the same for all three, that’s a good starting place. Most can figure out their own paths (maybe with a little help) from there.
Walter Underwood K6WRU says
Using ham radio to reach family is mostly a pipe dream. It might work in a few circumstances. If you want something to rely on, get a satellite-based texting device, like an InReach.
For emergency service, hams do whatever is needed, including fixing the printer. We are there to free up professional resources by taking simpler, less dangerous tasks.
For example, during the 2013 Rim Fire in California, some hams staffed the community information phones. That freed up professionals to run the radio dispatch and other EOC jobs.
http://www.arrl.org/news/ares-races-volunteers-remain-on-duty-for-rim-fire-response
Walter Underwood K6WRU says
By far the most important element of emcomm is a good relationship with the served agency and the people in it. If we are not trusted, we won’t be called. If they don’t have a good feel for what we can do, we won’t be called.
First responders rely on the skills of the people they work with. When everyone has the same training, that is easier. Including some out-of-shape guy with a radio into the team is hard. Including Walter, who you’ve worked with in drills and public events is much easier.
Sure, get trained, but then practice that at drills and events as often as you can.