american red cross gold country region red cross … · gold country region red cross disaster...

55
1 American Red Cross Gold Country Region Red Cross Disaster Communications and the Amateur Radio / ARES Community

Upload: hangoc

Post on 10-Jun-2018

219 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

1

American Red CrossGold Country RegionRed Cross Disaster

Communications and the Amateur Radio / ARES

Community

2

American Red CrossGold Country Region

● Jim Piper, RN & N6MEDDisaster Health ServicesDisaster Services Technology: Liaison to ARES / Amateur Radio

● American Red Cross since 2014● Amateur Radio interests: EmComm, Public Service

Comms● ARES 1994-2012● DEC Santa Cruz County late '90s● CERT Santa Cruz County 2002-2008● NDMS Disaster Medical Assistance Team CA-11,

Sacramento● Numerous FEMA and other disaster training

courses

3

American Red CrossGold Country Region

26 Counties

4

● Disasters “Small” localized incidents:

family burned out of their home Residents burned out of an apartment

building Wide-area disasters:

Wild-land fire threatening occupied structures (e.g., 2015 Calif Fires fires)

Earthquake (e.g., '89 Loma Prieta and '14 Napa quakes)

American Red CrossGold Country Region

For What Kind of Incident Does the Red Cross Activate?

5

Wild-land fire Flooding Train Derailment (think toxics shipped by

rail) Major power outage

American Red CrossGold Country Region

What Major Disaster Threats in NorCal?

6

American Red CrossGold Country Region

100 Year Flood

Resources spread to the limit (ya think?!?)

7

American Red CrossGold Country Region

● Depends on the incident Small incident (house or apartment house fire) by

the Incident Commander on the scene. Call made to the Red Cross on-call Disaster Action Team

How and By Whom is the Red Cross Activated?

8

American Red CrossGold Country Region

● Red Cross on-call Disaster Action TeamHow is the Red Cross Activated ... (con't)?

**Photo from the public domain

9

American Red CrossGold Country Region

Large incident (earthquake, wild-land fire, etc), if EOC activated, request from EOC officials to the EOC Red Cross representative for an evacuation center or shelter close to the affected area an approx number of affected individuals

How and By Whom is the Red Cross Activated?

10

American Red CrossGold Country Region

● LARGE shelters:

How is the Red Cross Activated ... (con't)?

11

American Red CrossGold Country Region

Small incident, the Red Cross on-call Disaster Action Team responds to the sene to attend to the disaster victims for immediate needs of shelter, clothing, food, unmet medical needs.

How is the Red Cross Activated ... (con't)?

12

American Red CrossGold Country Region

● When a large incident (earthquake, wild-land fire, etc) the Red Cross representative at the EOC contacts the Disaster Program Manager (DPM) responsible for the affected area.

● Response might be to take over a shelter already opened by the county

Or● Activate a previously unopened shelter

How is the Red Cross Activated ... (con't)?

13

And the Red Cross Operation Begins ...● DPM via support from headquarters

(Exposition Blvd., Sac) contacts Shelter Manager and other support staff

● Ideally, DPM or COML (Liaison to ARES) contacts ARES leadership in the area affected to request radio resources

● Contacts other partners according to the need (i.e., number of clients needing to be served)

● Contacts Nurse On Call according to client unmet medical needs

American Red CrossGold Country Region

14

How Red Cross Operates in a Disaster Response

● ICS regardless whether for a Local Response (Gold Country Region local resources) and National Response (resources from across the country)

● Part of the NIMS National Response Framework as Emergency Support Function 6: Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Housing, and Human Services (Ref: ICS 800 National Response Framework – An Introduction)

● Uses ICS disaster management model with positions renamed as appropriate to Red Cross functions

American Red CrossGold Country Region

15

Red Cross ICS Structure: Primary Job Titles

American Red CrossGold Country Region

● DRO or Job Director = Incident Commander

● Assistant Director (AD) External Relations

● AD, Operation = Operations Chief● AD, Information and Planning =

Planning Chief● AD, Logistics = Logistics Chief● AD, Finance = Finance Chief

16

Red Cross ICS Structure

American Red CrossGold Country Region

Job Director(Incident Commander)

AD Operations(Ops Chief)

AD Planning(Plans Chief)

AD Logistics(Logs Chief)

AD Finance(Finance Chief)

DHS Nurse Lead

AD External Relations

Government Liaison

Public Affairs

17

Red Cross ICS Structure (con't)

American Red CrossGold Country Region

AD Operations(Ops Chief)

AD Planning(Plans Chief)

AD Logistics(Logs Chief)

AD Finance(Finance Chief)

DSH Nurse Lead

Bulk Distribution

Client Services

Feeding

Sheltering Lead

Disaster Assessment

Information Dissemination

Statistical Information

Supply / Procurement

Staff Services

Shelter DHS Nurse Manager

Disaster Services Technology

COML(Communications

Lead)

18

Red Cross ICS Structure & Radio Comms● DST sets up and manages telecom (cell phone)

and datacom network at the DOC, issues cell phones to functions (e.g., Shelter Manager(s), Disaster Health Services, etc.)

● COML Reports to DST

● COML Fills role of Incident Comm Center

Manager Manages the tech and ops aspects of

radio communications Supervises Radio Operators Develops Incident Radio Comm Plan Particiaptes in ops & planning meetings Understands the realities of deployment

American Red CrossGold Country Region

AD Logistics(Logs Chief)

Disaster Services Technology

COML

19

Disaster Response (DR) Communications

● Initial, heavy reliance on cell phone

● As support resource needs expand, Disaster Services Technology brings in equipment to support phone, intranet and internet infrastructure: cell phones, server(s), laptops, printers, and earth station.

● But for cell phones, DST equipment supports the local DOC only, not the shelters

● Verizon Wireless Crisis Response Team (VCRT) might be called which responds within 24-48 hours

American Red CrossGold Country Region

20

ARES Responds to During Red Cross Disaster Response (DR)

Ideal world: DPM or COML (Liaison to ARES) contacts

ARES leadership in area affected (as noted previously)

ARES responds radio operators to areas of need, e.g., evacuation centers, shelters, Disaster Ops Center (DOC), Local HQ, etc.

Radio Operators respond self-contained with appropriate equipment and personal items.

American Red CrossGold Country Region

21

Telecommunications Infrastructure “Normal” telecom infrastructure:

POTS Cell phone Internet

Most carried by fiber backhaul

American Red CrossGold Country Region

22

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Disaster “event” can interrupt all

Mountain Ranch (Calaveras County) lost above ground public utilities during Butte Fire

American Red CrossGold Country Region

23

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Disaster “event” can interrupt all

'89 Loma Prieta Quake interrupted all utilities in Santa Cruz County (POTS d/t subscribers overloading system)

Fiber cut 2009 Santa Clara County interrupted all telecom & datacom traffic in/out Santa Cruz County

American Red CrossGold Country Region

24

Disaster Telecommunications Infrastructure

No “graceful degradation” built in as a major consideration/component (unfortunately the norm):

Normal everyday: Dial up POTS Cell phone High Speed Internet

Crash, Boom, Ka-Pow:

Loss of Dial Up d/t copper and / or fiber connections to CO d/t poles down, fire burning out lines, etc.

Loss of Cell phone d/t loss of tower (saturated cell sites, power utility failure, back-up power loss, cell towers physically down, etc.

Sneaker net is left intact

American Red CrossGold Country Region

25

Disaster Communications InfrastructureIdeally, with “graceful degradation” built in as a major consideration/ component:

● Normal everyday infrastructure:– Dial up POTS– Cell phone– High Speed Internet

● Loss of Dial Up d/t copper and / or fiber connections to CO d/t poles down, fire burning out lines, etc.

● Loss of Cell phone d/t loss of tower (saturated cell sites, power utility failure, back-up power loss, cell towers physically down, etc.

● Radio repeaters carrying both voice and data traffic

● HF radio carrying both voice and data traffic

● (Verizon Crisis Response Team) ● Sneaker Net

American Red CrossGold Country Region

26

Disaster Communications Infrastructure

● Amateur Radio as an important piece of the “graceful degradation” component:

Ham Radio, by carrying both voice and data traffic, can help keep the wheels of the Red Cross disaster response moving:

Consider:● Voice for “tactical” traffic between shelters, Disaster

Assessment Teams, and Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) and Disaster Operations

● Data for all message traffic >25-50 words

American Red CrossGold Country Region

27

What Type of Traffic During Red Cross Disaster Response (DR)?

● Tactical: “To Mary Pearce, Solid Rock Shelter Manager: call John Williams AD for Logistics @ 800-555-1212”

● Data: logistics requests, daily shelter manager and Disaster Health Services reports, personnel assignments

Note: Anticipate radio traffic will have a precedence of Routine (most typical), Immediate/Urgent (occasional) or Emergency (rarely). Ask originator for precedence (Do not presume).

American Red CrossGold Country Region

28

What About Health and Welfare Traffic?

American Red CrossGold Country Region

● The Red Cross processes general welfare messages through the Red Cross Safe & Well web site.

● Radio operators encouraged to assist in registering people on the Safe & Well website by passing the required information from a point in the disaster area to someone outside the disaster area who can enter the information on the Safe & Well website.

https://safeandwell.communityos.org/

29

What Does the Red Cross Need / Expect for Message Handling?

● “Mr. Radio Op, here is my message to recepient (addressee)”

● If on a form (Red Cross uses ICS forms modified for Red Cross purposes), the addressee should receive the delivered message exactly as it was given to the radio operator.

● It is up to ARES how to get the message from the near end to the far end intact and delivered in its original form.

American Red CrossGold Country Region

30

What About Confidentiality and

Health Information Privacy Accountbility Act (HIPAA)? ● As a policy, Red Cross keeps confidential the names of its

clients.

● “ If the President declares an emergency or disaster and the Secretary declares a public health emergency, the Secretary may waive sanctions and penalties against a covered hospital that does not comply with certain provisions of the HIPAA Privacy Rule ...

● “ … the HIPAA Privacy Rule permits disclosures for treatment purposes and certain disclosures to disaster relief organizations. For instance, the Privacy Rule allows covered entities to share patient information with the American Red Cross so it can notify family members of the patient’s location. (45 CFR 164.510(b)(4).”

http://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/faq/1068/is-hipaa-suspended-during-a-national-or-public-health-emergency/index.html

American Red CrossGold Country Region

31

More Disaster Health Services Messages & HIPAA...

● Red Cross nurses are well acquainted with HIPAA and are highly protective of client information. If Disaster Health Services has a message regarding a client, the client would not be identified by name, but rather by initials or first name and last initial. E.G., “Client John S.” or “Client JS.”

American Red CrossGold Country Region

32

More Disaster Health Services Messages & HIPAA...

Except as allowed as described previously, radio operators can expect that they will not be asked to pass DHS confidential traffic.

American Red CrossGold Country Region

33

What Forms Does the Red Cross Use? ● ARC ICS 201 Incident Briefing

● ARC ICS 202 Incident Objectives

● ARC ICS 204 Work Assignments*

● ARC ICS 207 Incident Organization Chart*

● ARC ICS 208 Safety Message*

● ARC ICS 213 General Message*

● ARC ICS 230 Daily Schedule

● ARC ICS 233 Incident Open Action Tracker

American Red CrossGold Country Region

34

Red Cross Forms IMPORTANT:

Noted previously, the Red Cross follows the ICS disaster management model, including ICS forms, though modified specifically to Red Cross purposes.

● ICS imperative for a consistent form and function for “One Red Cross”

● Especially important as responders come from all across the country

● ICS prevents a “Tower of Babel”

● ARC ICS213 approved at the ARC National level (template available as a file and in printed form with shelter kits)

American Red CrossGold Country Region

35

Red Cross Forms ● ARC ICS213 approved at the ARC National level (template

available as a file)

● Other ICS forms templates “works in progress”

● Goal: create form templates in an object file size to facilitate efficient transfer over a data link, regardless AX.25 packet, WinLink/RMS Express, or other transfer mode of radio operator's choosing.

● Nota bene: (You already know this) message transfer over a data path ensures maximum speed and efficiency by way of minimum auto repeats, no transcription errors (when created by the message originator), with delivery precisely in the form sent.

American Red CrossGold Country Region

36

Red Cross ICS 213 Form American Red CrossGold Country Region

37

Red Cross Forms IMPORTANT:

Noted previously, the Red Cross follows the ICS disaster management model, including ICS forms, though modified specifically to Red Cross purposes.

● ICS imperative for consistent form and function for “One Red Cross”

● Especially important as DR responders come from all across the country

● ICS prevents a “Tower of Babel”

American Red CrossGold Country Region

38

Shelter: How to Check-In / To Whom to Report for Duty / Expectations

● On reporting to a shelter Sign-in on volunteer check-in sheet Ask for and report to Shelter Manager If 1st operator to shelter, ask where to set-up radio

station If shift relief, ask to be directed to radio station.

● Frequently first 24 hours of shelter operations tend to be a cluster f**k

● Might need to suggest a place for setting up the radio position

● Be advised: Shelters are noisy!

American Red CrossGold Country Region

39

DOC: How to Check-In / To Whom to Report for Duty / Expectations

● On reporting to Sac Disaster Operatons Center (DOC) Sign-in on volunteer check-in sheet Ask for and report to COML or DST Manager Radio station at back of DOC

● On reporting to “field” DOC Sign-in on volunteer check-in sheet Ask for and report to COML or DST Manager If 1st operator to DOC, ask where to set-up radio

station If shift relief, ask to be directed to radio station

● Frequently first 24 hours of operations tend to be a cluster f**k

American Red CrossGold Country Region

40

Check-Out Procedure ● At the Sac Disaster Operatons Center (DOC) or 'field'

DOC ADO would likely release you Advise COML or DST Manager of being released

and availability for reassignment● At a Shelter

Shelter Manager would release you Advise COML or DST Manager of being released

and availability for reassignment

American Red CrossGold Country Region

41

What can ARES bring to the Party? How many radio operators per shift*? Well, it depends on the situation. Typical at start and as determined by COML:

2 max for the Sac Disaster Ops Center (radio room is very space limited).

2 for local DOC 1-2 at a shelter 1 in a vehicle (E.G., Damage Assessment

Teams) 1 Community Outreach Center

Nota bene: Inadvisable to repond with more operators than requested.

* Red Cross shelter staff works 12-hr shifts. Size of the DR response, DOC might work same. Else 8-10 hour days.

American Red CrossGold Country Region

42

What can ARES bring to the Disaster Response?

Trained Communicators who: Understand the greater Red Cross mission

Understand the mission of the communicator / radio operator when serving the Red Cross

Speak Red Cross language

Can work in a managed ICS structure

Can improvise, adapt, and overcome

American Red CrossGold Country Region

43

What can ARES bring to the Party? Self-containedDepending on commitment, personal supplies, sleeping gear, etc. according to the assignment location.

American Red CrossGold Country Region

44

What Can ARES Bring to the Party? ● Expertise

Most Red Cross volunteers (other than DST personnel) have no understanding of radio comms and depend on radio operators to get the job done

● Need no supervision. Shelter & DOC staff have too much on their plates to supervise supporting partners.

● Equipment DOC Sacramento has a radio room complete with

VHF, UHF, Low-band (47MHz) radios, computer on DOC LAN. No HF as of today.

Shelters and Vehicles: No radio equipment available. Radio operators need to be completely self contained.

American Red CrossGold Country Region

45

What Can ARES Bring to the Party? ● Equipment – Special Considerations

Shelters: No radio equipment available. Radio operators need to be completely self

contained. Headphones & noise-cancelling mic

advisable. Vehicles – consider

Mag-mount antenna Cig power connector 2M amplifier ERVs have fiberglass roofs

American Red CrossGold Country Region

46

Most Important ...

Willingness to be flexible

within the parameters of the ARRL-ARC MOU

American Red CrossGold Country Region

Semper Gumby

47

Training: A Continuous Work in Progress Red Cross in-house training for:

● What ARES can do for us during a disaster

● How to use an ARES radio operator at HQ and in a shelter

● What do we need to provide the radio operator

● When to use a general message form

● Most Important: when to request ARES support (when we need them is a bit late ...)

American Red CrossGold Country Region

48

Gold Country Region periodically has shelter exercises based on some kind of disaster event.

April 2015 “Golden Pineapple” where 9 shelters across region were opened. ARES was not formally written into exercise but was invited to participate.

The Disaster Program Director intends to specifically write Amateur Radio into the next exercise (date 2016 tbd). The script will not be disclosed before the exercise.

ARES support would be requested via normal channels:

● Call(s) from Disaster Program Manager(s)

● Call(s) from COML at Red Cross DOC

American Red CrossGold Country Region

We Can Train Together

49

ARES annual SET● Work together to create scenarios.● ARES opp to practice supporting a “served

agency”● Practice with Red Cross-specific traffic● Opp to familiarize with Red Cross

operations and equipment

American Red CrossGold Country Region

We Can Train Together

50

● AEC assigned to the Red Cross● ARES 'first responders' to the Red

Cross DOC● Help for creating digital templates for

Red Cross forms, suitable for transmission over a digital path

American Red CrossGold Country Region

Other Ways We Can Use ARES Support

51

Red Cross offers numerous free self-paced, on-line disaster training courses.

ARES members might find some of the disaster basics classes highly useful as a basis to understand Red Cross operations:

● Disaster Cycle Services

● Shelter Fundamentals

● Damage Assessment Basics

https://embarc-learning.sabacloud.comHighly Recommended if you take nothing else:

CPR / AED / Basic First Aid

American Red CrossGold Country Region

Red Cross Free Disaster Training

52

American Red CrossGold Country Region

Red Cross Disaster Communications and the Amateur

Radio / ARES Community

Now that you know our disaster comm needs, what can ARES do to help us?

53

American Red CrossGold Country Region

Red Cross Disaster Communications and the Amateur

Radio / ARES Community

Questions?

54

American Red CrossGold Country Region

Thank you!

55

American Red CrossGold Country Region

Recommended Resources:● QST Public Service column Aug 2015 Interfacing with

Local Emergency Officials

● ARRL/ARC MoU (Search ARRL web site)

● American Red Cross training https://embarc-learning.sabacloud.com

– Disaster Services Cycle: an Overview

– Shelter Fundamentals

– ARC Concept of Operations (classroom)