Overview of Red Cross’Disaster Services

TechnologyOhio Buckeye Region

April 11, 20151Ohio Buckeye – Disaster Services Technology Team

I. ARRL & Red Cross Memorandum of Understanding

2. Two Faces of Emergency Communication

3. Disaster Communication Center /

Mobile Communication Center

4. Questions 2

Content

Ohio Buckeye – Disaster Services Technology Team

ARRL – Red Cross MOUMarch 25, 2010

1. Open Communication – Each organization will share current appropriate data regarding disasters…

2. Local partnerships – Each organization will encourage its local units to communicate with the other organizations…

3. Shared members – Each organization will encourage interest volunteers to be come members … of the other organization…

4. ARRL volunteers supporting the Red Cross – The ARRL may provide volunteers to assist the American Red Cross with communications in support of disaster relief roles…

Ohio Buckeye – Disaster Services Technology Team 3

ARRL – Red Cross MOU

5. Red Cross members supporting the ARRL – Red Cross members affiliated with a local chapter that hold a valid FCC Amateur Radio License are encouraged to participate in the ARES program…

6. Radio station operations – It is understood and agreed that amateur radio operators, being licensed and regulated by the FCC, shall …exercise sole and exclusive control over the operation of their radios stations …

7. Radio operators – It is understood and agreed that radio operators have skills that extend beyond amateur radio frequencies… skills may be applied to operate on Red Cross frequencies

Ohio Buckeye – Disaster Services Technology Team 4

ARRL – Red Cross MOU

8. FCC Licenses – The Red Cross is responsible for any licensing arrangements necessary for Red Cross operations that occur outside amateur radio licenses…

In Summary:• This MOU provides a broad framework for working together• The Ohio Buckeye Region, has begun meeting with ARES

groups and developing Statements of Cooperation • We want to establish a relationship with each groups prior to

the disaster

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Ohio Buckeye Region

Disaster Emergency CommunicationsGray Skies

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DST team is alerted and arrives at chapter within 120 minutes

Packs up and travel to scene and / or opens Disaster Communication Center in Columbus

Seeks out disaster information (where, how large, impact, road conditions…)*

Provides comm. assistance to Damage Assistance teams

* Some of the activities where ARES can assist

Disaster Emergency CommunicationsGray Skies continued

8Ohio Buckeye – Disaster Services Technology Team

Provides Dispatching services to other Red Cross teams (logistics, sheltering, feeding…)

Provides assistance identifying a HQ location (that must support DST needs)

Assists with testing of Red Cross comm. equipment, esp. Emergency Relief Vehicle Radios

Assists with communication needs throughout the Disaster

Day-to-day Emergency CommunicationsBlue Skies

9Ohio Buckeye – Disaster Services Technology Team

DST provides support for day to day Red Cross

activities such as:

Apartment Fires Disaster Drills

Training Preparedness Events

Preparedness Events

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Red Cross has launched a five year program to

Educate residents on fire protection

Work with local Fire Departments to test and

install smoke detectors

Every chapter is going to run these events. Typical event:

teams go door to door talking with residents a team member carries a radio for security, to

provide status & communicate with leader

Preparedness

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For Columbus, DST provides the equipment and a

dispatcher.

We need your HELP!!!

DST can not cover every chapter in the Buckeye

Region.

Preparedness

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One support scenario:

a. ARES members can become team members and

travel with teams providing comm. support along

with a dispatcher

b. DST will provide training

c. ARES can use amateur equipment and frequencies or

Red Cross will supply Public Safety radios

Ohio Buckeye – Disaster Services Technology Team 13

• We are very flexible

• Consider helping us out

• Just let us know.

• Let us know how we can help you out

Disaster Comm. Center Capabilities

- Main console for lead dispatcher- Secondary console for Amateur and

support team members- Disaster Radios - multiple- Televisions- Computers- Telephone- Supplies and Parts

DCC Capabilities - Radios- Motorola XTL 5000 700/800 MHz

- State-wide Red Cross Comm. from and within disaster area- Provides comm. with community partners (Ohio State Highway Patrol, sheriff

office radio rooms, local EMAs, health depts. and hospitals.

- Vertex 5500 and 6000 VHF low and high band- support to comm. suburban and rural fire departments (Ross, Delaware, and Knox County frequencies.

- IC7000 and VX1700 amateur radio provides comm. on variety of spectrums.

- Two meter and 70 centimeter spectrum - supports majority of ham operators providing emergency comm. for government and non-government agencies.

- Vertex 459 UHF and VHF Hand Held Radios 6 each - supports DA, shelter, feeding operations

MCC Capabilities

- 17, 000 lb. load limit- Cab holds two people- Comm. module 8’ W, 15’ L, 13‘ H- 2 operator workstations and storage

- 13.5kW propane gas generator Generator provides 75 amp 12VDC - Equipped with 100 foot reel of 30 amp

120VAC cord to provide lighting - Able to provide 1,500 watts of light

MCC Capabilities continued

• Equipped with a 43‘ pneumatic mast

• Mast holds platform for public safety radio antennas, Wi-Fi hot spot, 4G cellular phone antenna and camera

• 4G Cellular broadband and Wi-Fi services

• Router is very secure• Allows USB interfaces• Cloud based and managed

Same Public Safety and Amateur Radios as DCC

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Contacts: Nick Riehl - 614 560-9009 Nick.Riehl@redcross.org Jim Sage – 614 306-1155 James.Sage@redcross.org

Questions?