Tactical Interoperable Communications Plan
District 6 October 20, 2018
TacticalInteroperableCommunications Plan (TICP):
PUBLIC SAFETY SENSITIVE – FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY1
Tactical Interoperable Communications Plan
District 1
Table of Contents
A.Overview
A.1Plan Goals
A.2How to Use This Plan
A.3General Communications Guidelines
A.4Evaluation and Response Checklist
B.District Communications Contacts
C.Dispatch/Communications Centers (PSAPs)
D.District Agencies
D.1Amateur Radio
D.2Amateur Radio Liaison Contact Information
E.Shared Channels and Talk Groups
E.1National Mutual Aid Channels
E.2Statewide and Regional Channels/Talk Groups
E.3Shared Channel/Talk Group Recommendations
E.4Shared Channels/Talk Groups in CASM
F.Gateways (e.g., ACU 1000)
G.Mobile Communications Units (MCUs)
H.Radio Caches
I.Communications Contacts
J.Radio Communications Incident Command Form
List of Tables
Table 1: District Two Communications Working Group
Table 2: Frequency by County
Table 3: IN-RACES and IN-ARES Statewide Frequencies
Table 4: Pre- and Post-Rebanding National Channels
Table 5: Regional and Statewide Mutual Aid Talk Groups
Table 6: Tactical Interoperable Communications Recommendations
Table 7: Gateways
Table 8: Gateway Points of Contact (POCs)
Table 9: Mobile Communications Units (MCUs)
Table 10: Communications Contacts
Table 11: Dispatch Center Points of Contact (POCs)
Table 12: Participating Agencies in the District
Table 13: Radio Caches
Table 14: Amateur Radio Contacts by County
List of Figures
Figure 1: Indiana's Interoperable Communications Plans
Figure 2: Evaluation and Response Checklist
Figure 3: Statewide Interoperability Map
Figure 4: Statewide Interoperability Talk Groups
Figure 5: National Interoperability Channels
Figure 6: ICS 205 Radio Communications Plan
1
Tactical Interoperable Communications Plan
District 1
A.Overview
District 1 consists of five counties: Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, and Jasper. The counties of District 1 are often referred to as “the region”. This region neighbors Lake Michigan, and is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The region's largest city is Gary; other municipalities in Northwest Indiana include Crown Point, Dyer, East Chicago, Griffith, Hammond, Highland, Hobart, Merrillville, Michigan City, Munster, Portage, Schererville, and Valparaiso.The northern portion of Northwest Indiana is noted for its heavy industry. Gary, Portage, Burns Harbor and East Chicago are home to major steel mills, including the largest North American facilities for both U.S. Steel (Gary Works) and Arcelor Mittal (Indiana Harbor). Whiting and Hammond are home to the largest oil refinery in the Midwestern U.S., operated by BP. Other industrial outputs include fabricated metals, transportation equipment, and food products.
Since the 1990s, casino gambling has become a significant component of Northwest Indiana's economy. Four casino boats, with approximately 7,000 slots and 200 table games, are located along Lake Michigan in Lake County. An additional 1,724 slots and forty nine table games are in Michigan City.
A number of Northwest Indiana's suburban towns and cities, such as Munster and Valparaiso serve as bedroom communities for Chicago. Retail trade, health care and other service industries represent the dominant economic activities in these areas.
Colleges and universities located in Northwest Indiana include Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Indiana University Northwest (IU Northwest) in Gary, Purdue University Calumet in Hammond, Purdue University North Central in Westville, and Valparaiso University in Valparaiso (the largest independent Lutheran University in the United States). These institutions offer a variety of degree programs in fields such as business administration, engineering and engineering technology, law, education, computing and information technology, and the liberal arts. Additionally, Northwest Indiana is proximate to numerous other universities elsewhere in Indiana and in the Chicago metropolitan area
The district is crossed by a number of major interstates including I-65, I-80, I-90, the Indiana Toll Road, I-94, US 6, US 12, US 20, US 30, US 35, US 41, US 231, and US 421.
The district has rail service, the South Shore Line connecting Chicago to South Bend, Indiana, passing through Gary and Michigan City. The region also has a significant reliever airport, Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) which has substantial corporate aviation.
The ability of local emergency response agencies across disciplines and across jurisdictions to communicate during a large-scale incident is critical. Over two hundred public safety and related agencies serve the 800,000 residents of these counties. These public safety agencies provide mutual aid on a daily basis within their own counties as well as to their surrounding counties.
The agencies identified in Table 12are included in the District Interoperable Communications Plan for Indiana Department of Homeland Security District.
A.1Plan Goals
This District plan and related materials have been prepared with two goals in mind:
- Assist in the establishment and maintenance of routine communications interoperability to support public safety operations. This goal is largely administrative in nature and includes system engineering, programming, design, and architectures.
- Assist those responsible for communications with the establishment and maintenance of emergency plans and backup procedures to maintain emergency communications in the event of a catastrophic situation that compromises all or part of the communication system.
A.2How to Use This Plan
The Base Plan sets forth administrative components and technical aspects of both routine and emergency interoperability. Much of routine interoperability is achieved through system design, architecture and engineering. These administrative and technical matters are generally the same throughout the ten regions within the state and are therefore contained in the Base Plan.
The District Specific appendices[1] are designed to be used with the Communication Assets Survey and Mapping(CASM) tool to achieve emergency interoperability and backup in the event of a catastrophic failure of all or part of the communications system. Plan authors recognize that a complete failure of an entire communications system is unlikely, but it is not impossible. The District-Specific materials are designed to facilitate emergency operations during the period between discovery of the catastrophe and recovery from it.
The District TICP is comprised both of the statewide Base Plan and the District-specific Appendix. Appropriate public safety and communications personnel should review both documents, in detail, prior to planning or executing interoperable communications. County communications plans provide further detail regarding local communications equipment and procedures (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Indiana's Interoperable Communications Plans
A.3General Communications Guidelines
These are suggested communication guidelines to follow when using this TICP.
- Use plain English – no codes or jargon. (This is required by Federal Law)
- Be certain the message is received and understood.
- Use Incident Command.
- Stay Ahead of the Incident.
- Remember that radio communications are one of several communications tools.
A.4Evaluation and Response Checklist
This figure contains checklists and emergency action steps that should be used to evaluate a systemic failure or interruption. The table should be used left to right, to evaluate the problem and respond to it. It is specifically designed to address the unique facts and circumstances of the problem at hand and to assist in the crafting of an appropriate response.
Figure 2: Evaluation and Response Checklist
EVALUATION AND RESPONSEEVALUATION MATRIX / INTEROPERABILTY RESPONSE
□What is damaged?
□PSAP/Call Center
□911/Telephone
□Electricity
□CAD
□Alerting/Paging/Mobile Data
□Data/Records System
□Transmission Equipment
□Tower(s)
□What caused the damage?
□Is the facility safe to occupy & use?
□How long will it take to restore?
□What resources are needed? / □Onsite Redundancy/Backup
□County Redundancy/Backup
□Radio to Radio
□Mobile Communication Van(s)
□Alternate Facility within District
□Alternate District
□SAFE-T (IPSC)
□Amateur Radio (RACES)
□Public Cellular
□Voice
□Text Message
□Internet Access
□Wireline Telephony
□Voice
□Outbound Messaging (Reverse 911)
□Internet (Web) Tools
□WebEOC
□Electronic Mail
□Social Media (Facebook, etc.)
□Hardcopy Messenger
□Fire Station(s)
□Convenience Store(s)
GENERAL RESPONSE / NOTIFICATIONS
□Identify nature and extent of problem
□Determine whether protective action is needed (including personal protective measures and evacuation)
□Warn others as needed
□Call for more help than you need
□Assess situation
□Evaluate action options
□Secure assets
□Initiate best course of action / □Field Personnel (system users)
□Call Center Manager(s)
□District PSAP’s
□County Officials/EMA
□IDHS
□Coordinate State/Federal Resource requests
□Coordinate Damage Assessment
□Disaster Declarations
□Resource requests
□Regional Support
□Public Carriers
□Utilities
□Media
□Provide Warning
□What has happened
□When it happened
□Where it happened
□Who/what is involved
□What is being done in response
□What people should do
□What services are available
□Why it happened (if known)
□How it happened (if know)
□What investigative steps are being taken
□What is being done to repair/restore normalcy
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Tactical Interoperable Communications Plan
District 1
B.District Communications Contacts
The primary and secondary points of contact (POC) for copies of or questions regarding this TICP are:
Ray Chambers
Director
Newton County EMA
3218 W. 100 N.
Morocco, IN 47963-8218
(219) 285-0833
This district also has a Communications Working Group to oversee communications governance for the included counties. Members are as follows:
Table 1: District One Communications Working Group
District 1 Communications Working Group InformationMember #1
First Name: / Ray / Agency: / Newton Co. EMA
Last Name: / Chambers / Title/Position: / Director
County Represented: / Newton / District Number: / 1
Email Address: / / Phone Number: / (219) 285-0833
Month/Year Appointed: / N/A / Term Number: / N/A
Member #2
First Name: / Paul / Agency: / Porter Co. EMA
Last Name: / Patterson / Title/Position: / Communications
County Represented: / Porter / District Number: / 1
Email Address: / / Phone Number: / (219) 405-0329
Month/Year Appointed: / N/A / Term Number: / N/A
Member #3
First Name: / Fran / Agency: / LaPorte Co. EMA / Federal Parks
Last Name: / Tibbot / Title/Position: / Dep. Director / Radio Operator
County Represented: / LaPorte / District Number: / 1
Email Address: / / Phone Number: / N/A
Month/Year Appointed: / N/A / Term Number: / N/A
Member #4
First Name: / Russ / Agency: / Crown Point PD / FD / EMA / Comm
Last Name: / St. Myers / Title/Position: / Radio Operator Supervisor
County Represented: / Lake / District Number: / 1
Email Address: / / Phone Number: / (219) 808-1083
Month/Year Appointed: / N/A / Term Number: / N/A
Member #5
First Name: / Harold / Agency: / Jasper Co. Sheriff’s Department
Last Name: / Williams / Title/Position: / Radio Operator Supervisor
County Represented: / Jasper / District Number: / 1
Email Address: / / Phone Number: / (219) 866-4991
Month/Year Appointed: / N/A / Term Number: / N/A
Member #6
First Name: / Ron / Agency: / Lake Co. Fire Chiefs Association
Last Name: / Svetic / Title/Position: / Coordinator
County Represented: / Lake / District Number: / 1
Email Address: / / Phone Number: / (219) 712-8654
Month/Year Appointed: / N/A / Term Number: / N/A
Member #7
First Name: / Garry / Agency: / Gary Fire Department
Last Name: / Kotvasz / Title/Position: / Asst. Chief / Communications
County Represented: / Lake / District Number: / 1
Email Address: / / Phone Number: / (219) 881-4095
Month/Year Appointed: / N/A / Term Number: / N/A
C.Dispatch/Communications Centers (PSAPs)
Dispatch/Communications Centers, many of which are also Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) are listed inTable 11 with the Points of Contact and phone number.
D.District Agencies
Participating agencies in the district representing the following disciplines are listed in Table 12. The list below includes all disciplines used for Indiana in the Communication Assets Survey (CAS) database, specifying the types of agencies included in each discipline.
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS): EMS agencies and private ambulance services (contracted with public agencies) that provide ambulance transport services
- Fire: Fire departments (EMS are listed separately)
- Health Care: Hospitals and Medical Centers
- Police: Police and County Sheriff Departments
- Public Health: Health Departments
- Public Safety Communications: Integrated Public Safety Commission and local emergency communications/dispatch agencies
- Public Works: Highway Departments and Indiana Department of Transportation
- Other: Emergency Management Agencies (EMA), American Red Cross, higher education, railroads, state agencies and ports
1
Tactical Interoperable Communications Plan
District 1
D.1Amateur Radio
Table 2: Frequency by County
County / Primary Freq / Alternate Freq / RemarksJasper Co / 145.330 (Standard PL)
Lake Co/W9EMA (Out of service) / 146.700- (PL 82.5) Tx 146.100 / 443.450+ (PL 82.5) Tx 448.450 / These repeaters are not in service at this time.
Lake Co/W9LJ / 147.000+ (PL131.8) Tx 147.600 / 442.075+ (PL-131.8) Tx 447.075 / These repeaters belong to the Lake County Amateur Radio Club, Inc.
LaPorte Co / 146.970 / 146.610
Newton Co / N/A
Porter Co
Note: Tactical Talk Groups will be assigned at the time of the incident or deployment.
Responding RACES/ARES Resources
Responding Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)/Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) resources are expected to utilize the recognized “coordinated VHF/UHF repeater” channel for the response area. Regular ARES/RACES amateur radio operating practices will be utilized for reporting to the staging area or other assignment.
In all situations and in the event of catastrophic infrastructure failure or otherwise a lack of usable repeater facilities in the affected area, the following protocol should be followed and frequencies utilized by responding amateur radio communications personnel:
Table 3: IN-RACES and IN-ARES Statewide Frequencies
Designation / Frequency MHz / ModeINARES (Primary) / 3.910 +/- 0.020 / LSB
INARES (Fail Over) / 7.280 / LSB
INARES VHF / 146.490 / FM Simplex
INARES UHF / 446.100 / FM Simplex
IN RACES / 3.920 / LSB
IN RACES / 7.298 / LSB
- In event of “Primary” failure, “Fail Over” should be monitored until further instructions are received.
- An official liaison station will be appointed by the NCS to report on the IN RACES frequency above on either 75 or 40 Meters.
- Simplex Frequencies should be monitored along with local Frequencies in times of emergencies.
- As required, net operations will be conducted on the frequency best suited for operations, or as degrading conditions require.
- If it becomes required to move completely off the designated frequencies above then a station will be assigned monitoring duties to redirect late or new incoming personnel to the net.
- The Indiana ARES net frequency should always be monitored by an EC, DEC or his appointee and RACES frequencies monitored by the county RACES Officer or his designee in times of emergencies.
- Net operations will begin on the primary frequency.
- Individuals may monitor other frequencies as needed, during an event this informationmay only be treated as supplemental:
- Public Service and emergency frequencies
- Served Agencies Frequencies as available
- NOAA Weather Radio should be monitored at all times for alerts by at least one or more stations on the net.
D.2Amateur Radio Liaison Contact Information
In addition to shared systems, each region also has access to the Amateur Radio Network (HAM). Amateur Radio (HAM) networks and contact information are listed inTable 14.
E.Shared Channels and Talk Groups
E.1National Mutual Aid Channels
NPSPAC Mutual Aid Resources
For incidents and events in the range of a NPSPAC tactical repeater the COM-L is to telephone the appropriate Indiana State Police (ISP) Regional Dispatch Center (RDC) to activate their NPSPAC tactical repeater and verify which tactical repeater channel they have and conduct a radio check with them to verify that it can be used for the incident from that location using hand held radios.
Lowell RDC(219) 696-6242for Tac 3 repeater in Lowell
(All counties)
At the end of the incident or event, the Incident Commander or Logistics Officer or COM-L if assigned shall call the ISP dispatcher to inform them the event is complete and they can disable the repeater.
NOTE: Large scale incidents in the counties served by the IPSC system will require the sharing of local talkgroups programmed into the radios. There are also regional and statewide talkgroups available. When possible these talkgroups should be utilized for long range or command. NPSPAC channels should be utilized when possible to prevent overloading of the local towers. There are rules concerning the patching of IPSC talk groups.
Table 4: Pre- and Post-Rebanding National Channels
Name / System / Tx Freq / Rx Freq / Tx Tone / Rx Tone / ID / CommentsPre-rebanding Channels (Same as former 8TACs or NPSPACs - renamed in CASM)
866.0125 ICALL / 866.0125 ICALL / 866.01250 / 821.01250 / 156.7 / 5A / 156.7 / 5A / ICALL / National Interoperability, pre-rebanding
866.0125 ICALLD / 866.0125 ICALLD / 866.01250 / 866.01250 / CSQ / None / 156.7 / 5A / ICALLD / National Interoperability, Pre-rebanding
866.5125 ITAC1 / 866.5125 ITAC1 / 866.51250 / 821.51250 / 156.7 / 5A / 156.7 / 5A / ITAC1 / National Interoperability, Pre-rebanding
866.5125 ITAC1D / 866.5125 ITAC1D / 866.51250 / 866.51250 / CSQ / None / 156.7 / 5A / ITAC1D / National Interoperability, Pre-rebanding
867.0125 ITAC2 / 867.0125 ITAC2 / 867.01250 / 822.01250 / 156.7 / 5A / 156.7 / 5A / ITAC2 / National Interoperability, Pre-rebanding
867.0125 ITAC2D / 867.0125 ITAC2D / 867.01250 / 867.01250 / CSQ / None / 156.7 / 5A / ITAC2D / National Interoperability, Pre-rebanding
867.5125 ITAC3 / 867.5125 ITAC3 / 867.51250 / 822.51250 / 156.7 / 5A / 156.7 / 5A / ITAC3 / National Interoperability, Pre-rebanding
867.5125 ITAC3D / 867.5125 ITAC3D / 867.51250 / 867.51250 / CSQ / None / 156.7 / 5A / ITAC3D / National Interoperability, Pre-rebanding
868.0125 ITAC4 / 868.0125 ITAC4 / 868.01250 / 823.01250 / 156.7 / 5A / 156.7 / 5A / ITAC4 / National Interoperability, Pre-rebanding
868.0125 ITAC4D / 868.0125 ITAC4D / 868.01250 / 868.01250 / CSQ / None / 156.7 / 5A / ITAC4D / National Interoperability, Pre-rebanding
Post-rebanding Channels (Newly created channels)
851.0125 8CALL90 / 851.0125 8CALL90 / 851.01250 / 806.01250 / 156.7 / 5A / 156.7 / 5A / 8CALL90 / National Interoperability
851.0125 8CALL90D / 851.0125 8CALL90D / 851.01259 / 851.01259 / CSQ / None / 156.7 / 5A / 8CALLD / National Interoperability
851.5125 8TAC91 / 851.5125 8TAC91 / 851.51250 / 806.51250 / 156.7 / 5A / 156.7 / 5A / 8TAC91 / National Interoperability
851.5125 8TAC91D / 851.5125 8TAC91D / 851.51250 / 851.51250 / CSQ / None / 156.7 / 5A / 8TAC91D / National Interoperability
852.0125 8TAC92 / 852.0125 8TAC92 / 852.01250 / 807.01250 / 156.7 / 5A / 156.7 / 5A / 8TAC92 / National Interoperability
852.0125 8TAC92D / 852.0125 8TAC92D / 852.01250 / 852.01250 / CSQ / None / 156.7 / 5A / 8TAC92D / National Interoperability
852.5125 8TAC93 / 852.5125 8TAC93 / 852.51250 / 807.51250 / 156.7 / 5A / 156.7 / 5A / 8TAC93 / National Interoperability
852.5125 8TAC93D / 852.5125 8TAC93D / 852.51250 / 852.51250 / CSQ / None / 156.7 / 5A / 8TAC93D / National Interoperability
853.0125 8TAC94 / 853.0125 8TAC94 / 853.01250 / 808.01250 / 156.7 / 5A / 156.7 / 5A / 8TAC94 / National Interoperability
853.0125 8TAC94D / 853.0125 8TAC94D / 853.01250 / 853.01250 / CSQ / None / 156.7 / 5A / 8TAC94D / National Interoperability
E.2Statewide and Regional Channels/Talk Groups
Table 5is a listing of the designated Regional and Statewide mutual aid talkgroups on the IPSC 800 MHz statewide trunked system, also known as Hoosier SAFE-T. Agencies are encouraged to program as many of these talkgroups into their radios as possible for interoperability. The map following the regional and statewide talkgroups,Figure 3, displays the Statewide Interoperability Map and the respective talk group assignments throughout the state.
Table 5: Regional and Statewide Mutual Aid Talk Groups
Talk Group Names / Talk Group NamesSW-1 / Statewide Mutual Aid 1 / H-MA1 / Terre Haute Mutual Aid 1
SW-2 / Statewide Mutual Aid 2 / H-MA2 / Terre Haute Mutual Aid 2
SW-3 / Statewide Mutual Aid 3 / H-MA3 / Terre Haute Mutual Aid 3
SW-4 / Statewide Mutual Aid 4 / I-MA1 / Putnamville Mutual Aid 1
SW-5 / Statewide Mutual Aid 5 / I-MA2 / Putnamville Mutual Aid 2
SW-6 / Statewide Mutual Aid 6 / I-MA3 / Putnamville Mutual Aid 3
SW-7 / Statewide Mutual Aid 7 / J-MA1 / Indianapolis Mutual Aid 1
SW-8 / Statewide Mutual Aid 8 / J-MA2 / Indianapolis Mutual Aid 2
SW-9 / Statewide Mutual Aid 9 / J-MA3 / Indianapolis Mutual Aid 3
SW-CALL / Statewide Mutual Aid CALL / K-MA1 / Connersville Mutual Aid 1
A-MA1 / Lowell Mutual Aid 1 / K-MA2 / Connersville Mutual Aid 2
A-MA2 / Lowell Mutual Aid 2 / K-MA3 / Connersville Mutual Aid 3
A-MA3 / Lowell Mutual Aid 3 / L-MA1 / Bloomington Mutual Aid 1
B-MA1 / Bremen Mutual Aid 1 / L-MA2 / Bloomington Mutual Aid 2
B-MA2 / Bremen Mutual Aid 2 / L-MA3 / Bloomington Mutual Aid 3
B-MA3 / Bremen Mutual Aid 3 / M-MA1 / Seymour Mutual Aid 1
C-MA1 / Fort Wayne Mutual Aid 1 / M-MA2 / Seymour Mutual Aid 2
C-MA2 / Fort Wayne Mutual Aid 2 / M-MA3 / Seymour Mutual Aid 3
C-MA3 / Fort Wayne Mutual Aid 3 / N-MA1 / Versailles Mutual Aid 1
D-MA1 / Lafayette Mutual Aid 1 / N-MA2 / Versailles Mutual Aid 2
D-MA2 / Lafayette Mutual Aid 2 / N-MA3 / Versailles Mutual Aid 3
D-MA3 / Lafayette Mutual Aid 3 / O-MA1 / Evansville Mutual Aid 1
E-MA1 / Peru Mutual Aid 1 / O-MA2 / Evansville Mutual Aid 2
E-MA2 / Peru Mutual Aid 2 / O-MA3 / Evansville Mutual Aid 3
E-MA3 / Peru Mutual Aid 3 / P-MA1 / Jasper Mutual Aid 1
F-MA1 / Redkey Mutual Aid 1 / P-MA2 / Jasper Mutual Aid 2
F-MA2 / Redkey Mutual Aid 2 / P-MA3 / Jasper Mutual Aid 3
F-MA3 / Redkey Mutual Aid 3 / Q-MA1 / Sellersburg Mutual Aid 1
G-MA1 / Pendleton Mutual Aid 1 / Q-MA2 / Sellersburg Mutual Aid 2
G-MA2 / Pendleton Mutual Aid 2 / Q-MA3 / Sellersburg Mutual Aid 3
G-MA3 / Pendleton Mutual Aid 3
E.3Shared Channel/Talk Group Recommendations
Regional Mutual Aid talk groups are available for use by any participant in Project Hoosier SAFE-T; they do not belong to any one agency. The opportunity to use regional mutual aid talk groups vary with the type of incident, number of responding agencies and varied services.