Overview:
Before, during and immediately after a storm of disaster proportions, all
Amateur Radio operations in the Greater Sun City Center area focus on backing
up the Emergency Squad.
One licensed operator, located at the Emergency Squad building on Ray Watson
Place, will coordinate communications as "Chief Operator". The Amateur station
there will use the call sign KE4ZIP.
The Chief Operator will have the capability of communications with the
Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and will constantly
monitor the 147.105+ repeater for that purpose.
The Chief Operator will also constantly monitor 147.225 MHz to hear emergency
traffic from area hams.
Within the area, all Amateurs will monitor 147.225 MHz. In normal operation
this is a "+" repeater. If the repeater fails, go simplex on 147.225 MHz.
Emergency traffic from area hams, i.e., damage and medical-need reports,
must be transmitted to be heard on 147.225 MHz by the Chief Operator.
W4KPR operations are described in detail at Items 28a & 28b.
Operations in the Sun City Center radio room are described in detail at Items
28c & 28d. Operators in this room will use their own call signs when
transmitting.
Before the Storm: "Hurricane Watch" Period
When a Hurricane "Watch" is announced by the EOC, the Emergency Squad will
initiate participation by area Amateur Radio operators by calling the Overall
Amateur Radio Emergency Coordinator:
Vacant
Vacant (Alternate)
The Overall Amateur Radio Emergency Coordinator will alert the Sun City Center
and Kings Point Emergency Radio Coordinators. The Emergency Coordinators
for the two clubs are:
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KP Emergency Coordinator: Vacant
-
SCC Emergency Coordinator: Vacant (Alternate)
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The KP Emergency Coordinator will alert Kings Point Amateurs by telephone,
and prepare a chart of availability. Assignments in the W4KPR station will
be discussed with each operator as well as possible assignments at KE4ZIP.
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The SCC Emergency Coordinator will initiate assembly of the emergency Amateur
station at the Emergency Squad building by calling:
-
Vacant
-
Vacant
NOTE: Details on this installation begin at item 14.
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The SCC Emergency Coordinator will alert SCC Amateurs by telephone, and prepare
a chart of operator availability. Assignments for KE4ZIP and for SCC Radio
Room operations will be discussed at this time with each Operator.
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Amateurs holding a current Technician Class license and above are eligible
to be Chief Operators at the Emergency Squad building.
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Amateurs holding a current General Class license and above are eligible to
operate the hf equipment in the two club radio rooms.
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Kings Point and SCC availability lists will be coordinated by the KP Emergency
Coordinator and the SCC Emergency Coordinator.
Installing KE4ZIP at the Emergency Squad
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During the Hurricane "Watch" period (prior to a Hurricane "Warning"),
will install two 2-meter transceivers at the Emergency
Squad building and test their satisfactory operation:
-
One mobile-style transceiver (recommend using the Kenwood mobile rig normally
in use in the SCC Radio Room) shall be connected to a mag-mount mobile
antenna so that reliable communications with the 147.105+ MHz repeater at
the EOC is achieved. Nowhere in the County plan is there mention of an
alternate channel to the 147.105+ repeater. However, the Tampa ARES and RACES
personnel will be operating on a 146.94- repeater for internal communications.
It might serve as an alternate for us to reach the county EOC.
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One other mobile-style transceiver (recommend using the Azden mobile rig
stored in the metal cabinet in the SCC Radio Room) shall be connected
to a mag-mount antenna suitable for local communications on the 147.225+
MHz repeater. It must be capable of reliable communications throughout the
area as a simplex operation in case the repeater becomes inoperative.
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The mag-mount antennas are stored in the metal cabinet in the SCC Radio Room.
The antenna can be mounted on the roof of any vehicle parked nearby outside.
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12-volt power for each transceiver can be provided by a 50-foot battery cable
with large clips for connection to any 12-volt battery on a golf cart or
automobile parked outside nearby. Alternatively, regular power supplies may
be used if the Squad's generator is operational. The large battery clips
connect onto the regular power supplies easily. Recommendation: One
transceiver should be outfitted with earphones. It is important that the
operator be able to hear clearly through the earphones and, at the same time,
be alert to messages being received on the other transceiver. It is expected
that the 147.105 MHz channel will be the lesser used.
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Where to set up our base of operations at the Emergency Squad: The Chief
of the Emergency Squad has approved the use of the Captain's Conference Room
(one of three new rooms with external exposure) as the most suitable for
the Ham Radio base of operations. This should be reviewed with the Emergency
Squad Chief at the time of need.
Before the Storm: "Hurricane Warning" Period
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The KP Emergency Coordinator will confirm and initiate operational assignments
at W4KPR.
-
The SCC Emergency Coordinator will confirm and initiate operational assignments
at KE4ZIP and, if deemed appropriate, at the SCC Radio Room. The SCC Emergency
Coordinator will coordinate with the KP Emergency Coordinator a list of available
Technician Class (and above) licensees for assignment at the Emergency Squad
at that time.
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When sustained winds exceed 35 mph, no volunteers are expected to stay in
either radio room or at the Emergency Squad.
After the Storm
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Once the storm winds have dropped to below 35 mph, assignments will be started
once again at KE4ZIP, W4KPR and in the SCC radio room.
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Transportation to/from the Emergency Squad building may be hazardous. If
so, assigned operators should determine if a Squad car can be dispatched
to provide the needed transportation. It should be clear to the reader
that actual operations will be determined by the damage and medical-needs
situation in the area following any disaster. Common sense must prevail,
and a spirit of cooperation between all relief organizations, including that
of the Amateur Radio fraternity, must be maintained to the highest
degree.
The Amateur Radio priorities are:
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To support the Emergency Squad and Hillsborough County EMS by maintaining
contact with county and state emergency centers, and by advising the Squad
and EMS of area problems they might not otherwise know about.
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To alert area ham operators of what's going on in preparation for operations
requiring their participation.
The Chief Operator
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The Chief Operator is the Amateur operating the KE4ZIP equipment in the Emergency
Squad building. Responsibilities include advising the assigned Emergency
Squad person of appropriate radio reports received from county, state and
local sources.
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Reporting shall be done on forms provided by the Emergency Squad. (The forms
indicate specific types of information needed.)
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If, in the judgment of the Chief Operator, emergency information is received
not conforming to the specified categories, the Operator shall so advise
the assigned Emergency Squad person.
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The Chief Operator shall make contact with local, county or state emergency
personnel at his discretion.
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The KE4ZIP equipment may be used by anyone provided the Chief Operator is
in control of the equipment at all times.
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The Operator shall "broadcast" reports of the local situation to area hams
listening on 147.225 MHz who need such information to carry out their
assignments. Special care shall be exercised to minimize such reports and
to assure that the Disaster Information Officer does not disagree with such
"broadcasts".
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It will be assumed that all area hams are constantly monitoring the 147.225
MHz frequency. It will not be necessary to check with each of them on any
regular basis such as we do in a 'network' operation.
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In the event 147.225 MHz becomes unavailable for our use as a repeater, all
operations will continue to use that frequency but operate in simplex mode.
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The KE4ZIP equipment must be made inoperable if a licensed Amateur operator
is not present at the operating position.
Operations in the Club Radio Rooms
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Operations in the two radio rooms are virtually identical.
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At W4KPR, continual monitoring (and 2-way communication as appropriate) on
CB Channel 1 will be maintained. Information requiring attention of the Emergency
Squad will be transmitted to the Chief Operator at KE4ZIP who is monitoring
147.225 MHz.
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Also at W4KPR, continual monitoring of 3.940 MHz in case this channel is
used by Hillsborough County. Information requiring the attention of the Emergency
Squad will be transmitted to the Chief Operator at KE4ZIP who is monitoring
147.225 MHz.
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At the SCC Radio Room, continual monitoring (and 2-way communication as
appropriate) on CB Channel 1 will be maintained. Information requiring attention
of the Emergency Squad will be transmitted to the Chief Operator at KE4ZIP
who is monitoring 147.225 MHz.
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Also at the SCC Radio Room, continual monitoring of 7.247 MHz in case this
channel is used by State authorities. Information requiring the attention
of the Emergency Squad will be transmitted to the Chief Operator at KE4ZIP
who is monitoring 147.225 MHz.
Operations in the Field
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After attending to their immediate medical and well-being needs, local hams
should patrol their neighborhoods and report back (1) who needs urgent medical
care and (2) the general condition of the houses, roadways, etc. This should
only take a few hours at most and then they can return to their personal
needs but continue to monitor their radios for further information.
Coordination with other Amateur Operators
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If Sun City Center is singularly damaged by a storm, it is likely that other
Amateur Radio operators will come to offer their assistance. All such contact
should be coordinated by the Overall Amateur Radio Emergency Coordinator.