W7AIA, Emergency Preparedness

There are over 700,000 FCC licensed hams in the US. Of the total, over 2000 are licensed here in Clark County. All of these ‘hams’ are a valuable resource during time of disasters. As former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate has stated, “you don’t need amateur radio operators very often but when you need them you REALLY need them!”

There are about 10 designated amateur radio net control stations to operate the CCARC EYEWARN Net. The purpose of this net is to gather 'ground truth' visual situation reports from amateurs that "report what they see" during emergencies or disasters. There is not a membership requirement to particiapte in the nets and it is open to all amateurs in Clark County

About 300 amateurs belong to the Clark County Amateur Radio Club (CCARC). In addition to monthly meetings with presentations on many aspects of the hobby, the club members focus on public service events such as walks, runs, parades and such. In times of disaster, they can be a valuable resource to collect information on what is happening around the county that the first responders are not aware of. Many of these hams are equipped to operate under emergency conditions such as without commercial power and so forth.

There are about 100 members in the Clark County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) group. These folks are dedicated to providing volunteer back up Emergency Communications services to several Clark County agencies and several Non-governmental agencies. In addition to being appropriately trained and credentialed to serve these organizations, these folks are committed to serving when needed.

Many other amateur radio operators are members of the several volunteer organizations in Clark County that offer to help out in times of disaster. The Clark County list is further down this webpage.

If you See something… Say something

Remember, if you see something suspicious, please say something. If the suspicious activity is in-progress, or has evidence of a crime please report it to 9-1-1 immediately.

Ham Radio Operators wanting to report

“Emergency” Situation information

To report emergencies that you observe that need immediate fire, police/sheriff or medical responder response, call 9-1-1.

Ham Radio Operators wanting to submit Visual Situation Reports (VSRs) through the CCARC EYEWARN net, click here.

Is it an Emergency or a Disaster?

An emergency is an urgent need for help that can be handled by the normal emergency response services. A call to 9-1-1 can get these services rolling.

A disaster is when normal emergency response services are overwhelmed. When that happens, County Emergency Managers can use our help in providing situation information observed by amateur radio operators in, and around, the effected area..

CRESA Recommended Information Feeds

Connect to receive online information:

CRESA Blog: One of the best ways to stay informed day-to-day is to receive emails from the CRESA Blog. Receive the CRESA Blog via email. Follow links at CRESA Main Page-Connect at www.cresa911.org .

FACEBOOK: Become a CRESA “Fan” on Facebook at www.facebook.com

TWITTER: Follow CRESA on Twitter. If you don’t have a “Twitter” account, go to www.twitter.com and establish one. Then ‘follow’ the following accounts on your favorite PC software or smartphone/tablet app:

@CRESA will connect you with emergency and disaster related information.

@CRESATALK will connect you with preparedness information.

FLASHALERT: Register to receive emergency information press releases and short emergency information from public safety agencies via email or pager at http://flashalert.net . This system is used by emergency services providers, schools, transportation, governments and healthcare facilities to easily ensure that their information gets to all of the news media providers at once. You can choose which agencies to follow and receive those same press alerts directly. You choose the specific agency and then, you input your email address. You can also choose whether to follow all news or just the emergency alerts from that agency.

Emergency Community Notification System (ECNS)

ECNS is a Clark County targeted out-dial phone-based system which will send a very targeted message to a small radius in the event of 3 key messages (Evacuate, Shelter-in-Place, and Help Find a Missing Person).

The catch of this system is that it uses only landline phone numbers. If you have a CELL PHONE or VOIP Phone, please enter your phone number and address into our database by visiting the following webpage:

http://www.cresa911.org/be-informed/

Volunteer Programs in Clark County

CCARES/RACES: Clark County Amateur Radio Emergency Services/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (ARES/RACES) group is called upon to be used during a disaster when normal communications may be interrupted or overloaded. The ARES/RACES amateur radio volunteers step up to bridge the communication gap whenever their services are requested. They may be stationed at critical locations, such as a hospital, fire station, or mass care shelter. They relay important information between disaster response agencies or the Emergency Operations Center. Volunteers are required to pass an FCC test in order to obtain an amateur radio license. Active members meet monthly to share technical tips and discuss drills and exercises. Our local amateur radio group can be found on the web at http://www.ccareswa.org/. For more information, email ec@ccareswa.org

EYEWARN: The Clark Couty EYEWARN radio system is callled upon to gather and provide to local emergency managers 'ground truth' reports for the county to have an accurate picture of what the situation actually is in an emergency or disaster. There is a weekly net for practice and training and simulated events are used to exercise the net. The EYEWARN net can self-activate when the situation warrants. The net is open to all amateur radio operators in the county. For more information, email info@eyewarn.net

CRESA: The Clark Regional Emergency Operations Center, or "EOC", is a central location where local officials meet to coordinate their disaster response and recovery efforts. Police, fire, public works, and other emergency workers continue their work just the same, but the EOC provides them with the additional resources and information they need to protect the community. The EOC organizational structure is modeled after the Incident Command System, a predetermined organizational structure that is used by almost all public safety agencies, and that is now federally mandated to be used in disaster management.

CERT: In Clark County, Washington, "CERT" stands for Citizen Emergency Response Team. A Citizen Emergency Response Team is a volunteer team of ordinary citizens committed to disaster preparedness and response. They have gone beyond the level of personal preparedness recommended for all citizens. There are three agencies offering CERT classes; East County Fire and Rescue, Vancouver Fire Dept and Clark County Fire District 6.

VIPS: The Vancouver Police Department Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program encourages motivated citizens to help VPD maximize existing resources, enhance public safety and service delivery, and provide new program opportunities. Volunteers bring skills, abilities, and resources to help VPD get its important work done effectively. The partnership between citizens and police supports our multi-faceted crime prevention and community policing efforts. For more information, email Kelly at Kelly.Cheney@cityofvancouver.us .

NOW: Citizens in the City of Vancouver that are interested in making their neighborhoods safer are encouraged to apply for the Vancouver Police Department's volunteer program called "Neighbors On Watch (NOW)." NOW accepts applications year round and holds training academies several times per year. All volunteer applicants must successfully pass a screening process which includes: criminal background investigation, fingerprints, interviews, and reference check.

MRC: Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units are community-based and function as a way to locally organize and utilize volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and promote healthy living throughout the year. MRC volunteers supplement existing emergency and public health resources.

VMC: The Clark County Volunteer Mobilization Center (VMC) is a reception and referral center for communit members who respond to an emergency or disaster. After a disaster or national emergency citizens are moved to action. Disaster response and recover organization may require additional volunteers. The VMC can facilitate the coordination of volunteers to meet the needs of response and recovery organizations through the registration and referral of spontaneous unaffiliated volunteers. Unassigned Amateur Radio operators that want to augment the CCARES group or perform other related communication services should report to the VMC for service.

ARC: The American Red Cross exists to provide compassionate care to those in need. Our network of generous donors, volunteers and employees share a mission of preventing and relieving suffering, here at home and around the world, through five key service areas: 1) Disaster Relief, 2) Supporting America’s Military Families, 3) Lifesaving Blood, 4) Health and Safety Services and 5) International Services. There are many ways you can volunteer with us in your local community. Search now for opportunities to volunteer - we are always looking for people with various backgrounds, talents, and skill levels.

TIP: The Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) a national voluntary nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that those who are emotionally traumatized in emergency situations receive the assistance they need. To accomplish that goal, well-trained citizen volunteers are called to emergency scenes to assist family members, witnesses, and other bystanders who the emergency system often must leave behind.

Search and Rescue: When a search and rescue call comes into the 9-1-1 center, the Sheriff's Office may request activation of search and rescue (SAR) resources. The CRESA Duty Officer notifies the appropriate teams depending on the type of call. There are ground searchers, air-scenting and tracking/trailing dog teams, dive teams and Civil Air Patrol. SAR team members are trained to locate missing persons and to search for evidence in criminal investigations. Dive teams are also called out on possible drowning or other underwater emergency calls.