2021-04-09, 18:57:39
(This post was last modified: 2021-04-09, 18:59:46 by VE3WI Dave.)
I just have to contribute another 2¢:
I think before we start designing and developing comm capability, we should know what type of comms we might be tasked to perform. In an emergency scenario there are 3 types of comms that first responders & EMO officials employ, plus one primarily needed by affected local residents:
1. TACTICAL: dispatching police, fire, paramedics
2. SUPPORT: essential comms but non-tactical (e.g. "Kincardine Evac Center needs 50 more hot meals")
3. PUBLIC INFORMATION: self explanatory
4. WELFARE: (e.g. Relative in BC wants to check on person in incident area, or person in incident area wants to inform relative in BC they are OK, but public telephones & internet are log-jammed, or equipment has failed)
(The community comms network Marvin has been talking about might be a 5th category.)
Planning for the worst case implies developing capability to handle all of this. I don't think that's realistic for us, or for any ARES unit anywhere, although there have been a few recent cases where hams did tactical due to loss of infrastructure (e.g. Alberta flood in 2013, Caribbean hurricanes in 2017). Mostly I think hams have helped with welfare comm.
Bottom line: we need to decide what is a realistic, achievable mission before planning to develop capability. Once we know what we're trying to achieve, I suggest our first priority is to reach and engage as many Grey & Bruce hams as possible, to reach a "critical mass". We have a large geographical area with a sparse ham population. I wonder if the traditional county-based ARES model will ever work. Maybe a joint Grey-Bruce organization is more workable?
While we're pondering all this, how about acquiring some emergency management knowledge? We're in lockdown, not much else to do. Anyone can do the RAC Certified Emergency Coordinator self-study course online for free. Anyone can do the Emergency Management Ontario IMS-100 certification course online for free
That might be 5¢, sorry for running on.
73
Dave, VE3WI
I think before we start designing and developing comm capability, we should know what type of comms we might be tasked to perform. In an emergency scenario there are 3 types of comms that first responders & EMO officials employ, plus one primarily needed by affected local residents:
1. TACTICAL: dispatching police, fire, paramedics
2. SUPPORT: essential comms but non-tactical (e.g. "Kincardine Evac Center needs 50 more hot meals")
3. PUBLIC INFORMATION: self explanatory
4. WELFARE: (e.g. Relative in BC wants to check on person in incident area, or person in incident area wants to inform relative in BC they are OK, but public telephones & internet are log-jammed, or equipment has failed)
(The community comms network Marvin has been talking about might be a 5th category.)
Planning for the worst case implies developing capability to handle all of this. I don't think that's realistic for us, or for any ARES unit anywhere, although there have been a few recent cases where hams did tactical due to loss of infrastructure (e.g. Alberta flood in 2013, Caribbean hurricanes in 2017). Mostly I think hams have helped with welfare comm.
Bottom line: we need to decide what is a realistic, achievable mission before planning to develop capability. Once we know what we're trying to achieve, I suggest our first priority is to reach and engage as many Grey & Bruce hams as possible, to reach a "critical mass". We have a large geographical area with a sparse ham population. I wonder if the traditional county-based ARES model will ever work. Maybe a joint Grey-Bruce organization is more workable?
While we're pondering all this, how about acquiring some emergency management knowledge? We're in lockdown, not much else to do. Anyone can do the RAC Certified Emergency Coordinator self-study course online for free. Anyone can do the Emergency Management Ontario IMS-100 certification course online for free
That might be 5¢, sorry for running on.
73
Dave, VE3WI