EMERGENCY TRAFFIC PLAN
version 1.1

 

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INTRODUCTION

This Emergency Plan has been prepared as a guide to the handling of traffic during an emergency in the North Texas Section. It will be a guide to net managers, net controls, and all operators. It was written assuming all operators already know how to format and pass traffic. If not, someone on net will help the operator format the message. The traffic nets will be there if any ARES/RACES group needs them. Simply contact the Section Manager, Section Emergency Coordinator, or the Section Traffic Manager. The NTS is there in an emergency to link local activities and/or groups, deliver local traffic, and to send traffic going out of the area. NTS is set up to relay large amounts of traffic, using a well-established flow pattern. This frees up ARES/RACES operators to cope with their other duties during an emergency. If anyone has any suggestion or addition, please contact the STM or any NM.

Carolyn Womack, KC5OZT, Section Traffic Manager, NTX
e-mail: kc5ozt@arrl.net

EMERGENCY PLAN

  1. Preparation
    1. Net members should stay aware of possible emergencies, through news, etc.
      1. Tornado watches
      2. Flooding
      3. Hurricanes
      4. Ice storms
      5. Other emergencies
    2. Repeater for primary net
      1. Monitor the 146.88 repeater, if RACES net not using it
      2. If RACES net is using the 146.88 repeater, 146.72 (110.9) repeater will be used
    3. Should have emergency power capability
    4. Study ARES preparation techniques
    5. Study maps and geography of the North Texas section and local area
    6. Study the Public Service Communications Manual, and any other information on emergency communications and traffic handling
  2. Net Activation
    1. SEC or SM call STM
    2. STM calls Net Managers as needed
    3. DFW Net Managers go to repeater and call up net
    4. If needed STM calls up HF emergency nets
      1. Daytime--9AM--6PM, Emergency & Tactical--7285 kHz, Health & Welfare--7290 kHz
      2. Night--6PM--9AM, Emergency & Tactical--3873 kHz, Health & Welfare--3935 kHz
  3. Classification
    1. Non-section emergency--Long range support through monitoring, checking in to HF emergency/H&W nets, acting as NCS if needed
    2. Section emergency--not in DFW area
      1. SEC or SM calls STM to activate appropriate nets
      2. SM requests clear frequencies for HF nets from FCC
      3. NCS schedule set up by STM or NM. NCS should be outside immediate disaster area if possible
    3. Local emergency--in DFW area, local net needed
      1. STM calls Net Managers to activate appropriate nets
      2. NMs set NCS, ANCS, liaison schedules as needed
      3. If NM not available, notify the assistant NM
  4. Operations
    1. Net Managers
      1. Call up net on repeater
      2. Assistant net manager contacts members by phone, or going to other repeaters and making announcements the net is up, if necessary.
      3. Set NCS / ANCS schedule as needed. If possible, NCS should not be in most affected area.
      4. Schedule liaisons as needed. Can have multiple liaisons to a net.
        1. To/from ARES / RACES nets
        2. To/from HF nets
      5. Emergency & Tactical Net (TTN)
      6. Health & Welfare Net (7290 –daytime, Southwest traffic net – night)
      7. TEX CW net
      8. TSN CW net
      9. Any other nets (e.g. digital, ARCARS, SATERN)
      10. Choose side frequencies for Emerg./Priority, Health & Welfare traffic, as needed.
      11. If repeaters are down, simplex can be used and, as in HF nets, relays used to check in stations and pass traffic.
      12. In case of interference, relay information from NCS to SM, STM, or SEC, who notifies FCC.
      13. Digital Net Manager sets up point-to-point digital routes, or whatever is needed.
    2. Net Controls
      1. Monitor net for 5 to 15 minutes before taking over. Note liaisons, frequencies/repeaters in use, situation, so change-over will be smooth.
      2. Net controls should already know areas where regular net members can deliver traffic.
      3. On first check-in of station, ask if on emergency or commercial power, and Mapsco grid if known.
      4. NCS and ANCS Keep Detailed Logs!
        1. Note time of each check-in
        2. List all traffic, to whom dispatched, and time.
      5. Listen For Weak Stations! If heard, request net members to listen on input.
      6. In case of interference:
        1. Note call signs, names, and any other information about interfering station.
        2. Ask stations to listen on input, to try to narrow down location.
        3. Notify NM and pass along all information on interfering stations.
      7. If stations passing traffic can use simplex, have them do so for local traffic, and use repeaters for liaisons, and more distant stations.
      8. Send only ANCS, or other station designated by NCS, to side frequencies to call stations back to prime frequency, if needed.
      9. When traffic is light, operate in free mode, and if it picks up, go back to directed mode.
      10. If repeaters are down, and the net is being run on simplex, periodically ask other stations to make a net call, and relay in any check-ins. Stations in all compass directions should be asked to do this.
      11. Keep these supplies handy.
        1. Copy of Emergency Plan (this document)
        2. Net roster
        3. Local maps (Mapsco if available)
        4. State and other maps.
        5. Phone directories--local, surrounding cities and any others you have.
        6. List of repeater
    3. Operators
      1. Should be self-alerting to emergencies, and monitor net call-up frequencies.
      2. Should have emergency power capabilities.
      3. Have list of ARRL Radiograms handy.
      4. Have local phone directories, and any others you have, close by.
      5. Have message forms handy.
      6. When checking in, state power sources available, location/ Mapsco grid, and if available for liaison duty, when asked by NCS.
      7. For each message handled, note time received, from whom, and on which net; then time sent/delivered, to whom, and which net.
      8. If bringing many messages to net, pre-sort according to priority, destination, and book any you can.
  5. Procedures
    1. Routing
      1. Emergency/Priority/tactical goes to either HF emerg./tact. net, or local emerg./tact. frequency.
      2. Health & Welfare goes to either HF H&W net, or local H&W frequency.
      3. TEX--out-of-state traffic before 1900 local time, to go to RN5 and/or CAN
      4. TSN--overflow or late out-of-state traffic between 1900 local to 2000 local, to go to CAN
      5. Digital
    1. If traffic load is heavy enough, the net can run continuously, with early and late NMs alternating duties.
    1. If around-the-clock operation not needed, extra 2-meter nets can be called during the day.
      1. 9 AM for traffic going to DRN 5--first session.
      2. 12 or 12:30 PM for traffic picked up during morning nets, or out-going.
      3. 3 PM for traffic from DRN 5--late session if needed.
      4. This can be very flexible according to need. If only one needed, the 12/12:30 time would be best.
    2. Net can be free mode in light traffic situations--NCS makes periodic announcements that net is in progress, but is more informal. During heavy traffic situations, net should be in directed mode.
  6. Operating Tips
    1. If originating an emergency or priority message, have the signing official physically sign the form if possible
    2. Health & Welfare messages should be as short as possible. The best text is simply, "ARL nineteen ARL seven." With only 4 words, it asks the welfare of the addressee, and to send a message back with the information.
    3. Outgoing Health & Welfare messages should also be short. For example, "ARL One" is all you need if everyone is safe. Study first group of ARRL Radiograms, numbers ONE through TWENTY-SIX, and use them as much as possible.
    4. When originating a message for a third party, read it back to them before sending it.
    5. When sending message into area, get a complete address and a Telephone Number! Even if the addressee is in a shelter, officials can tell in which shelter each neighborhood is located.
    6. Also, include in signature an address and phone number for person sending message. This makes it easier for addressee to send return message.
    7. If someone brings an unformatted message to the net, NCS should assign a station to help them format the message.
    8. When accuracy is more important than speed, it is a big advantage having a properly formatted message on paper.
    9. During emergencies, traffic should have a filing time listed, and note if it is local or Zulu time.
  7. Appendicies
    1. Frequencies for traffic
      1. 146.88 & 442.425 – Dallas
      2. 146.72 – Irving
      3. 145.19 – Dallas
      4. 145.13 – Dallas
      5. 146.66 – Garland
      6. 146.74 – McKinney
      7. 147.12 – Richardson
      8. 145.31 – Mesquite
      9. 147.14 – Arlington
      10. 145.17 – Lewisville
      11. Simplex frequencies
      12. Digital--KC5EIV--145.05
    2. HF Net frequencies and schedules--all times are local times
      1. Emergency / tactical net--7285 kHz, day; 3873 kHz, night
      2. Health / Welfare net--7290 kHz, day, 3935 kHz, night
      3. Nightime nets
        1. TEX – 3643 kHz, 7 P.M. and 10 P.M.
        2. TTN – 3873 kHz, 6:30 P.M.--7:30 P.M.
        3. TSN – 3719 kHz, 8 P.M.
        4. RN5 cycle 4 – 3650 kHz, 7:30 P.M. and 9:30 P.M.
        5. CAN cycle 4 – 3670 kHz, 8:30 P.M.
        6. Southwest Traffic Net – 3935 kHz, 9:30 P.M.--10:30 P.M.
        7. Central Gulf Coast Hurricane Net – 3935 kHz, 8 P.M.--9 P.M.
    3. Daytime nets
      1. 7290 – 7290 kHz, 10 A.M.--12 P.M., Mon.-Sat.; 1 P.M.--2 P.M., Mon.-Fri.
      2. DRN5 cycle 2 – 7280 kHz
        1. First session – 10:30 A.M., Mon.-Sat.; 1:45 P.M., Sunday
        2. Second session – 3:30 P.M., daily
    4. NTX NTS Managers
      1. Section Manager — Tom Blackwell, N5GAR; Dallas, TX
      2. Section Emergency Coordinator — Bill Swan, K5MWC; McKinney, TX
      3. Section Traffic Manager — Carolyn Womack; KC5OZT, Lewisville, TX,
      4. Net Managers
        1. DFW Early — Andrew Kochie, KC5SWS; Arlington, TX
        2. DFW Late — Chance Lindsey, KC5EOK; Sachse, TX
        3. Digital —
        4. 7290— Carolyn Womack, KC5OZT; Lewisville, TX
        5. TEX — Steve Phillips, K6JT; Plano, TX
        6. TTN —
        7. TSN — Si Dunn, K5JRN; Denton, TX
        8. Assistant Net Managers
          1. DFW Early —
          2. DFW Late —
      5. FCC — to request clear frequencies, 202.418.1184, 202.632.6975 (alternate)
      6. FCC — to report interference — Riley Hollingsworth, 202.418.1184, 202.632.6975 (alternate)
      7. Salvation Army — 214-353-2731
    5. ARES / RACES repeaters
      1. Dallas RACES — 146.88 MHz
      2. Tarrant Co. RACES — 146.94 MHz
      3. Denton ARES — 146.92 MHz
      4. Collin Co. ARES — 147.18 MHz
      5. Irving ARES / RACES — 146.72 MHz
      6. Garland RACES — 146.66 MHz
    6. 3rd-Party traffic agreement countries--US Amateurs May Handle Third-Party Traffic With:
      1. C5 The Gambia
      2. CE Chile
      3. CO Cuba
      4. CP Bolivia
      5. CX Uruguay
      6. D6 Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
      7. DU Philippines
      8. EL Liberia
      9. GB United Kingdom (2a)
      10. HC Ecuador
      11. HH Haiti
      12. HI Dominican Republic
      13. HK Colombia
      14. HP Panama
      15. HR Honduras
      16. J3 Grenada
      17. J6 St Lucia
      18. J7 Dominica
      19. J8 St Vincent and the Grenadines
      20. JY Jordan
      21. LU Argentina
      22. OA Peru
      23. PY Brazil
      24. TA-TC Turkey
      25. TG Guatemala
      26. TI Costa Rica
      27. T9 Bosnia-Herzegovina
      28. V2 Antigua and Barbuda
      29. V3 Belize
      30. V4 St Christopher and Nevis
      31. V6 Federated States of Micronesia
      32. V7 Marshall Islands
      33. VE Canada
      34. VK Australia
      35. VR6 Pitcairn Island (2a-2a)
      36. XE Mexico
      37. YN Nicaragua
      38. YS El Salvador
      39. YV Venezuela
      40. ZP Paraguay
      41. 3DA Swaziland (d8)
      42. 4U1ITU ITU Geneva
      43. 4U1VIC VIC, Vienna
      44. 4X Israel
      45. 6Y Jamaica
      46. 8R Guyana
      47. 9G Ghana
      48. 9L Sierra Leone
      49. 9Y Trinidad and Tobago
      50. Notes:
        2a Third-party traffic permitted between US amateurs and special-event stations in the United Kingdom having the prefix GB only, with the exception that GB3 stations are not included in this agreement.
         
        2a-2a Since 1970, there has been an informal agreement between the United Kingdom and the US, permitting Pitcairn and US amateurs to exchange messages concerning medical emergencies, urgent need for equipment, supplies, and private or personal matters of island residents.
         
        Please note that the Region 2 Division of the IARU has recommended that international traffic on the 20 and 15-meter bands be conducted on the following frequencies:
        1. 14.100--14.150 MHz
        2. 14.250--14.350 MHz
        3. 21.150--21.200 MHz
        4. 21.300--21.450 MHz
        The IARU is the alliance of Amateur Radio societies from around the world (3b). Region 2 comprises member-societies in North, South and Central America, and the Caribbean
         
        Note: At the end of an exchange of third-party traffic with a station located in a foreign country, an FCC-licensed amateur must also transmit the call sign of the foreign station as well as his own call sign.
      51. Glossary
        1. ANC(S) – Alternate Net Control (Station)
        2. ARCARS – American Red Cross Amateur Radio Services
        3. ARES – Amateur Radio Emergency Service
        4. ARRL – American Radio Relay League; aka the National Association for Amateur Radio
        5. CAN – ARRL Central Area Net; encompassing Region Nets 5, 9 and 10
        6. FCC – Federal Communications Commission
        7. IAUR – International Amateur Radio Union
        8. ITU – International Telecommunications Union
        9. NCS – Net Control Station
        10. NM – Net Manager
        11. NTX – North Texas Section, ARRL
        12. RACES – Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
        13. RN5 – ARRL Region Net 5; encompassing AL, AR, LA, MS, OK, TN and TX
        14. SEC – Section Emergency Coordinator
        15. SM – Section Manager
        16. STM – Section Traffic Manager
        17. TEX – Texas CW Net
        18. TSN – Texas Slow Net
        19. TTN – Texas Traffic Net

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