SCC/KP ARC Emergency/Disaster Plan Standard Operating Guide

Purpose:
Provide communications between SCC volunteer first responder groups and Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Provide intercommunications between SCC volunteer first responder groups within the Greater SCC area
NOTE: This document available as a PDF file for downloading: This Plan in pdf

· Purpose

 

· Groups

 

· Introduction

 

· Nets

 

· Activation

 

· Hurricanes

 

· Other Emergencies

 

· Flexibility

 

Sun City Center Volunteer & Uniformed First Responder Groups

Group	Notes	Location	Telephone	Radio	website
SCC EMS Squad	*1,*2	One Ray Watson Drive	813-633-1411	462.950	Emergency Squad
SCC EMS Squad (alt.)	*2	South Pebble Beach Blvd.		462.950
SCC Security Patrol	*1,*2	1005 Pebble Beach Blvd N	813-642-2020	462.475	Security Patrol
C E R T	*2,*3	980 North Course Lane		147.090 PL 162.2	C E R T or CERT
SCC Community Assoc.		1009 Pebble Beach Blvd N	813-633-3500	none	Community Association
SCC Good Samaritans		916 Pebble Beech Blvd N	813-634-9283
KP Community Assoc.		1904 Clubhouse Drive	813-642-8990		Kings Point Community
KP Security		1904 Clubhouse Drive	813-387-3461
South Bay Hospital	*1,*2,*4	4016 Sun City Center Blvd	813-634-3301	146.450	South Bay Hospital
HCSO	*5	Falkenburg Road	813-689-2701	444.900 PL 141.3	HCSO/STARC
National Weather		2525 14th Ave SE	813-645-2323	145.430 PL 100	NWS/TBW
American Red Cross Shelter	*6	3908 19th Ave NE	Shields School		Shelter List
HCFR Engine #28	*6				Fire Rescue Address List
Point of Distribution	*6	Prince of Peace Parking Lot		26.965 Channel 1	Podlist

NOTES:
*1   Go Kit at SCCARC
*2   VHF Antenna Installed at location
*3   Community Emergency Response Team [uses KPARC 147.090 repeater if available or146.400 simplex if not]
*4   Part of BEARS Radio Network
*5   Part of STARC Radio Club Network
*6   Supported upon request

INTRODUCTION
In any emergency, the SCC volunteer first responder groups automatically self-activate in accordance with emergency plans previously coordinated with the County EOC.
Each of these groups has their own communications ability - however - they may not have the needed radio equipment to permit inter-group communications (e.g.; from Patrol to EMS) or have the ability to contact the EOC. This is where the SCC/KP amateur radio clubs fit in. The prime function of the SCC/KP amateur radio clubs is to provide communication support for these groups in the anticipated or actual absence of any phone communications. SCC/KP amateurs will be assigned to augment these groups with operators and equipment as may be needed to assist them to achieve their goals.

NETS
To support needed communications, a series of HF/VHF nets will be established and monitored/managed.

 

 

 

 

NOTE:

· Amateurs assigned to South Bay Hospital or HCSO will follow procedures specified by BEARS and STARC radio clubs, respectively.

 

· Amateur operators don't generate 'traffic'. Traffic is generated only by the first responder groups the amateur is assigned to.

 

· All traffic must be signed by leaders of 1st responder groups and be addressed to a leader of a 1st responder organization.

 

· Amateurs and NCS stations will monitor only 1 frequency at a time to avoid missing important traffic.

 

· No station shall monitor radio traffic on frequencies used by 1st responder groups unless so directed by the leader of that 1st responder group.

 

The local VHF net will be operated from KE4ZIP (if possible) using pre-assigned Net-Control (NCS) stations.

· Only Net traffic will be permitted on 147.225; Positive offset; PL 146.2.

 

· Should the repeater be lost, the net will continue of 147.225 SIMPLEX.

 

· The KE4ZIP NCS will also check-into and monitor the County EOC net on 147.105; positive offset; PL 146.2

 

· Only Net traffic is permitted on EOC frequency 147.105 - pl 146.2Should the EOC 147.105 repeater be lost, the net will continue on 146.520 SIMPLEX.

 

· Tactical callsigns will be used by all stations.

 

· All traffic will be documented on ICS-213/214 forms. See FEMA Website: ICS Forms

 

Kings Point ARC [W4KPR] will monitor HF traffic between EOC and SERT-Tallahassee and stand by as backup HF station for the County. KP ARC will also serve as backup VHF station (if needed) to KE4ZIP

ACTIVATION
When commercial radio/television announces the possibility of an emergency involving the immediate area, members of the radio clubs should begin monitoring the SCC repeater frequency (147.225) and the Hillsborough EOC frequency (147.105) on a frequent basis. At this point the following will occur:

· The KP/SCC club president(s) and/or the W4KPR/KE4ZIP Emergency Coordinator(s) will assign specific club members as "net controllers" (NCS) on a rotating basis for a period of several hours to cover the time during and after the emergency.br These operators will be selected from a list of those who have experience in net control and have backup radio equipment at their homes.

 

· During the emergency, the NCS will maintain a communication link with the EOC, disseminating any information as requested to activated 1st responder groups and forwarding any information from Sun City Center/Kings Point as requested by served 1st responder groups.

 

· During this period, the SCC VHF net frequency shall be a 'directed net' and under the control of the Net Control Station. All transmissions shall be directed to the NCS. Stations desiring to contact another station via this net must contact the NCS requesting permission to do so.

 

· Communications within local 1st responder groups will be handled via specific radios within that group. When between-group communication is necessary, the NCS will be contacted and the stations will be assigned a designated simplex frequency whenever possible; to avoid jamming the main net frequencies.

 

· All emergency or urgent traffic will be transmitted immediately. Health & welfare and routine traffic will be deferred until the emergency is passed, or will be assigned to frequencies not being used by the NCS stations.

 

· First responder groups are expected to staff and equip their own amateur radio operators from within their group's own member ranks. The KP/SCC ARC Presidents; will identify and assign other amateurs for relief of these operators or supply additional equipment as needed.

 

 

Planned and Unplanned Emergencies

Hurricanes:
Advanced warning for this type of disaster is given days ahead of the onset. The following sequence will be used to activate all radio personnel.

· The weather bureau will broadcast a "Hurricane Watch" over radio and TV. At this point the KE4ZIP emergency net on 147.225 will activate on a once a day basis to establish the availability of operators.The EOC will be monitored continuously.The NWS Skywarn Net on 145.430 PL 100 will be activated by local KP/SCCARC Skywarn NCS amateurs operating from the NWS Ruskin offices.

 

· As the Weather Bureau establishes a "Hurricane Warning" the KE4ZIP net will go on frequent or continuous activation. Decisions will be made regarding the location of net control (radio room or homes) during the emergency.

 

· Contact will be made with Sun City/ Kings Point first-responder emergency groups to determine their communications readiness status. Teams will be selected to man the hospital, patrol, HCSO, and EMS radio system; if not pre-assigned. Needed radio equipment will be picked up from the KE4ZIP radio room and be held at the primary team leader's residence, preparatory to deploying to field locations.

 

· Prior to the wind speed rising to 35 MPH, the primary teams for the hospital, HCSO, Patrol, and EMS will move into place. The KE4ZIP net will be in continuous operation with net control at the radio room or at homes as previously determined.

 

· All unassigned amateur personnel will remain on standby and monitor 147.225 until the emergency has passed and the EOC has declared the disaster over and phone communications restored.

 

 

Other Emergencies:
Emergencies such as explosions, tanker fires, anhydrous ammonia leaks, etc. - which are not expected - will be handled in the same manner as above. Any member finding out about such an emergency should start a "calling tree" to alert operators to tune to the 147.225 VHF net.

FLEXIBILITY
Flexibility is the keynote in these emergency procedures. No two emergencies will be exactly the same and the system must be able to respond to these changes. This procedure is based upon the actions of the EOC. Assistance may also be requested from other organizations such as the Salvation Army or United Way directly; and we will be required to make the necessary adjustments in the above procedures.
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REVISED: DATE