Self Evaluation Primer of Disaster Communications
Using Internet and Cellular Telephone Services

The basic text of this document was an Internet message written and sent by James R. "Ric" Sohl, in March 1997. It was written primarily for USAF Auxiliary - Civil Air Patrol and for Amateur (Ham) radio emergency service personnel, but it relates to any disaster relief agency.

The idea came during a Ham radio club meeting where the reliance of Cellular telephone service and the Internet during disaster events was discussed. A concern that government and private sector agencies that provide disaster support were beginning to rely on more on Cellular and Internet services, could create problems during actual disaster events.

This is because the main training and evaluation program for disaster relief training and planning is simulated disaster events. Most, of these, do not provide a realistic situation regarding a major event and the loss of a large percentage of public communications services.

This "Internet / Cellular Communications Exercise" is designed as a self evaluation for any disaster relief agency. Be honest, you only hurt yourself and your agency, by not doing a true evaluation.

Even though the event is directed toward Civil Air Patrol and Amateur radio staff, if can be used by any agency or group.

It does assume some factors, that do not relate to the general public. Most disaster relief agencies have trained members, who are better prepared to deal with a disaster event. Therefore the following are assumed:

1. Each member has received training in disaster relief, including:
2. First Aid training,
3. Survival training at least to a basic level,
4. Expect to (and possibly have) travel to a disaster event and are prepared to,
5. Perform some duty to provide relief / support to the event at hand,
6. Understand, that disaster relief work is hazardous and dangerous.
7. Understand, that communications between the disaster area and surrounding areas is required,
8. and communications are required within the disaster area,
9. These communications provide a vital link to coordinate support and prevent loss of life,
10. that the efficiency and safety of ones staff is greatly improved with good reliable communications.
11. Are somewhat aware that a disaster can occur in your own home city and have,
12. Made prior plans to have a "Disaster Kit" readily available to provide for necessary,
13. Equipment and personal gear for a 72 hour (or longer) time period.

The scenario for this simulation, was based on my experience for more than thirty years in disaster / relief ground and air support missions. The training records are noted at the end of this document.

I know that some Civil Air Patrol (CAP) members, and amateurs are thinking that our radio networks are outdated, in particular our High Frequency long range networks. This not limited to CAP and amateur, as many key staff people in many agencies / departments, feel the same way. Because of that, I have created the following:

Here is a little Internet / Cellular phone, communications exercise.

Your community has just been hit by a disaster. The following conditions now exist.

A disaster noted above is a rare occasion, or is it, check out Arkansas right now and check out the state of Washington in the last two years. Much of what I described has occurred to many communities during the last two years.

Is your community and are YOU prepared. Not just to survive but can you help your community or the community 40 miles away. Do you have emergency radio's, both local (FM, 26.620) and HF, do you have spare/portable antennas, tools, food, water ect.

Civil Air Patrol and Amateur (ham) radio communications are a life saver, it may be the only communications available to contact the Outside world for Help and take over the load for the local networks.

When Alpine Texas was hit by an earthquake and a year or two later, by a serve storm, the land line and cellular telephone systems were total useless (overloaded). CAP and Amateur radio became the primary communications link to the outside world for the first few hours. Most of Alpine people were not even aware that we where out of communications, or why.

Of note, most of the smaller areas feed by fiber optic cable, to Midland for all long distance service. One time I saw no long distance service available for two hours. You could not call outside of the Alpine area. Not Ft Davis nor Marfa, nor Ft Stockton. Every thing is switched through Midland.

Granted if need came up, the phone company should be able to rig up something in a few hours that should allow some communications outside the area. But how much communications can you provide with only a few lines available. Ten outside lines (if your lucky) to the more than 3,000 local phones. Your going to have problems calling the hospital, much less someone outside the area.

During a disaster all communications circuits will become over loaded and additional networks must be put into service to provide the needed communications to help your community get support and aid from outside as well as provide additional communications capacity to fill in between hospitals, Emergency Operations Center, supporting local government communications needs (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service RACES) health and welfare (Amateur Radio Emergency Service ARES), emergency shelters, disaster support agencies (Red Cross, Salvation Army) and providing local radio and television broadcast stations with emergency information for the public.

The communication requirements will vary and will be needed everywhere, as the event proceeds and outside support becomes available, the needs will change and may decrease.

All amateurs both local and from the surrounding areas will be needed to provide the mail communications support role. Local and long range networks will be required. After the initial support is put into place, the Ham radio networks will began to handle "health and welfare" messages with the outside world and between shelters, hospitals, ect.

All Civil Air Patrol units and members will be needed to provide many forms of emergency services, your local CAP network can provide additional communications to support local needs, as well as providing communications for your units non-communications disaster response / support.

Read this message, close your eyes, and imagine that it just occurred, your radio tower (if you have one, many CAP member only use a portable radio) came down, your home lost 40% of its roof. You can put up a 20 foot pole for an emergency antenna support.

I hope that I have made you think about what it can be like during a disaster situation. I have seen some units that only use their radios when on a mission and worst of all some units have no HF capability at all. (This only applies to Amateur and CAP staff. )

During the last three years I have called on local Texas CAP repeaters and stated "This is a simulated emergency radio communications test, I need a CAP station to answer my call to test your capability to provide emergency communications on this repeater. Is there any station available?" More than 50% of the time I have failed to receive an answer. What would happen if a CAP member was in an automobile accident, with a CAP radio who tried using your repeater? (This only applies to Amateur and CAP staff. )

During a disaster your repeater may fail, can your unit still provide support communications without the repeater? (EVERY BODY, do your radios have "talk around", if not, your out)

Internet, E-Mail, facsimile, cellular and land line telephones have made our daily communications simple, easy and very handy to conduct our business, but during a disaster all of these services will be overloaded, or not useable. They can not be relied upon for a true disaster event. During a disaster some of these may work, and if they do, that will make things easier, but you can not depend on that until it happens.

The thing that scares me is that many local governments, disaster support agencies, and even CAP units and members are relying on non tactical communications and are not maintaining their local and long range radio communications capabilities or relationships with RACES, and ARES.

You should use your all of your radios at least one every week. Check into a local and HF net each week, and your station will work when the need arises. Do not forget to pack up those emergency back up portable antenna (including coaxial cables, ropes, anchors, ect) systems for each band.

If your unit does not have two (one should be yours) High Frequency radio systems, that can operate on 4 MHz and 7 MHz, with at least the capability to operate mobile, then, Shame on you and your unit. Your not fully prepared. (This only applies to Amateur and CAP staff. )

I am open to any comments or ideas that you may wish to pass on. This document may be re-printed as long as the original source and author are noted. I would like notice of any publication that uses this material, but prior notification is not required unless you make changes in it. If you wish to change or edit it, please send your changes for approval by E-Mail. I have no problems with improvements as long as I have a copy for my records.

By:

Maj. James "Ric" Sohl

USAF/AU-CAP Texas Wing Asst. DOK

Radio Calls: WB5MPX [HAM] TEXAS CAP [USAF/AU] AFA4ZV [USAF/MARS]

EMAIL: PRI: rsohl@apex2000.net SEC: sohl@juno.com

Maj. J R Sohl, CAP

2712 HALIFAX AVE.

ODESSA, TX 79762-8004

915-550-7959, Voice Mail and FAX.

915-556-1877 Cellular with Voice Mail

Training and Experience of the author:

James R. Sohl, Licensed as a First Class Radiotelephone Operator, with Ship Radar Endorsement, that was changed to a General Radio Telephone Operator, with Ship Radar Endorsement. All such licensee's were converted by an FCC rule change. Licensed as an Advanced Class Amateur Radio Operator, with a station call sign of WB5MPX. FAA Licensed Pilot, with more than 300 hours mission flight time and 1,200+ hours total time.

Training and experience, as a communications officer for several Sheriff and Police departments, as well as serving as a Civil Defense Director / Coordinator for Brewster County and the City of Alpine.

Provided industrial communications service for many years to all types of systems, from 200 kHz to 14 GHz, transmitters, receivers and associated equipment. Designed and build specialized communications equipment.

More than 20 years service in the Civil Air Patrol as a Communications Officer at both Squadron and Group level, and as an Assistant Director of Communications for Texas.

Active in training and service as a Military Affiliate Radio Service (USAF/MARS) and active and qualified as one of six SHARES stations assigned to USAF/AU Texas Wing.

More than 20 years training and experience with Amateur (Ham) radio emergency services, including, Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the National Weather Service SKYWARN program.

Actual experience in many disaster events, starting with the Flood at Sanderson, Texas in 1965. Experience as ground team member, , deputy sheriff, fireman, rescue squad leader, ambulance attendant, Mission Coordinator, Mission Communications Officer, Mission Pilot, Counter Drug Pilot, Transport Pilot, Safety Officer, Air and Ground Operations Officer, Net control operator for ARES, and RACES networks.