"Books" from JR

Some of you asked me about reading material for Emergency communications training. Let me go one step further and give you some overall information for building your qualifications for ECom.

1. Get licensed - Duh

2. Get CERT Trained. CERT is an acronym for Community Emergency Response Team. The training is

available through CCFD1 and if you ask me I can get you into a future class. Key: Read the book ahead of

time which is available online at http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/IS317/

3. Please also get up to date on you First Aid and CPR

4. Take the Incident Command Structure or as FEMA calls it National Incident Management System. The

courses are: IS-700 / IS-100 / IS-200 (all required by federal mandate). These are available through the

county (contact David Kidd for more information) or online at http://training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp

5. But wait, there more! Next comes the ARRL courses on Emergency Communications. Actually they are

worth the time, especially if this is new to you. Those classes are the EC01 (We are all required to have

this one by the ARRL who set the standards with the feds) / EC02 / EC03.

Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course -- Level I $45.00
-- This manual provides an introduction to Amateur Radio Emergency Communications.

Contents:

Introduction to Emergency Communications
Amateurs as Professionals - The Served Agency Relationship
Emergency Communication Organizations & Systems
Served Agency Communication Systems
Basic Communication Skills
Introduction to Emergency Nets
Basic Message Handling
Net Operating Guidelines
Equipment Choices for Emergency Communication
Operations & Logistics
And much more

About the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program:
ARRL training is available for individuals via 3 methods. Through the on-line courses, “Hybrid” classroom courses, and self-study. This manual is not intended as a stand-alone course. Rather, it is a great reference tool no matter which study method you choose. If you prefer self-study, review this material, and pass a 25-question assessment, administered by Certification Examiners. Anyone wishing to receive the certificate and ID Card for the training through self-study, should notify their local, accredited Certification Examiners through the CE/CI Search Page and watch for local Certification Exams.

Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course -- Level II $45.00
An intermediate course in voluntary emergency communication service. A publication of the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program (ARRL CCE).

Contents:

Key ARES Management Positions

ARES Staff and ARRL Section Support Positions

A Review of Basic Net Operations

The Net Control Station

NCS Operator Practices

The Net Manager

Introduction to the National Traffic System (NTS)

Health and Welfare Traffic Management

Working with Volunteers

Human Resource Issue for The Net Manager and NCS

Training and Classroom Skills

Making Effective Use of Spontaneous Volunteers

Working with Served Agencies

Rapid Response Teams (RRTs)

Severe Weather Nets

Designing Successful Exercises

ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET)

Special Events as Training Opportunities

HF Propagation Considerations

Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course -- Level III $45.00
-- This manual provides advanced instruction for the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course.

Contents:

Leadership – Simplified
Relevance in a Changing World
Building Relationships with Public Safety Agencies
Changing the Way We Think About RACES in the 21st Century
ARRL Memoranda of Understanding
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters
Introduction to the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
The National Response Plan
Key NRP Emergency Support Functions
DHS Citizen Corps and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Communications Support
Hospital Emergency Communications
Building an ARES Organization
Strategies for Preparedness in Low-Risk Areas
Designing the Emergency Communication Plan
ARES Management and the Incident Command System
Managing the Response Effort
Training From a Management Perspective
Mutual Aid and the ARESMAT Concept
Using Districts within ARES Sections
FCC Rules on Emergency Communications
Mobile Communication Vehicles
Relations with REACT International
Appendix A Level III quiz answers

6. Finally, Books! Here is a short list of worthwhile reading.

The ARRL Emergency Communication Handbook $19.95
-- Intended for all hams that volunteer their skills in public service applications (or who are interested in doing so). Includes details on basic emergency communication skills, message handling, and more. Understand what to expect and what to take along.

This book encompasses the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course—Level I manual, but adds a substantial amount of additional material.

CONTENTS

Amateurs As Professionals--The Served Agency Relationship. Who “works” for whom? What kind of non-amateur communications systems do they use?

Network Theory and the Design of Emergency Communication Systems

Emergency Communication Organizations & Systems. ARES, RACES, MARS and other organizations.

Served Agency Communication Systems

Basic Communication Skills

Introduction to Emergency Nets

Basic Message Handling

Net Operating Guidelines

The Incident Command System

Preparing for Deployment. Where and when to go. What to expect. What to take along.

Equipment Choices for Emergency Communication

Emergency Activation

Setup, Initial Operations, and Shutdown

Operations & Logistics

Personal Safety, Survival and Health Considerations

Alternative Communication Methods

What to Expect in Large-Scale Disasters

Hazardous Materials Awareness

Marine Communications

ARES Field Resources Manual $12.95
-- This manual is intended to serve as a quick trainer and field resource guide for the emergency communicator. It is a reference for amateurs deployed in the field for emergency services work, primarily through the Amateur Radio Emergency Service^® (ARES^®). It provides basic program information, forms, operating aids, and templates to be customized for the local area to include reference information such as important phone numbers, emergency frequencies, maps, organizational details, and more.

The ARRL Digital Technology for Emergency Communications Course $49.95
-- "This course is a great starting point for anyone interested in the public service applications of digital communications technology." Steve Ford, WB8IMY-Course Author and QST editor/ARRL Publications Manager

In this course, we will introduce you to all the ways Amateur Radio operators are using digital technology as a valuable emergency communications tool. The topics discussed during the course include:

Packet radio APRS
Winlink 2000
IRLP
EchoLink and WIRES-II
D-STAR
APCO25
HF sound card modes
Automatic Link Establishment (“ALE”)

Well, This is my short list. From here there is lots on the net to be learned as well as learning from each other. I hope this will keep you busy for the next few days and get you ready to serve. Thanks for your willingness to your hobby to the next level.