Coshocton County Emergency Operations Plan

Coshocton County Emergency Operations Plan

COMMUNICATION

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this communications annex is to describe communications procedures and responsibilities used between on site, off site, dispatch agencies.

II. SITUATION and ASSUMPTIONS

1. The primary communications center for Coshocton County is located at the Coshocton Justice Center (Sheriff’s Office), 328 Chestnut Street, Coshocton, Ohio and also serves as the 911 Dispatch Center. There are two dispatchers on duty 24 x 7.

2. From the 911 dispatch center, all calls are directed to the appropriate agency.

3. The primary Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has the following communications capability, county radios (base and portable), MARCS radio, ARES radios, e-mail, phones, cell phones, and FAX. ARES volunteers will staff the emergency radio stations as soon as possible after the activation of the EOC.

III. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

Communications between the on-scene personnel / agencies

Most first responder agencies have radios tuned to the same channels for UHF and VHF communication. See the Transmit Frequency Chart in the Controlled and Sensitive Information Document, Section 6 for specific frequency capability.

Communications between the scene and off-site personnel / agencies

Most first responder agencies have radios tuned to the same channels for UHF and VHF communication. See the Transmit Frequency Chart in the Controlled and Sensitive Information Document, Section 6 for specific frequency capability.

Communications support / coordination between 911 / Dispatch Centers and on-scene agencies

Most first responder agencies have radios tuned to the same channels for UHF and VHF communication. See the Transmit Frequency Chart in the Controlled and Sensitive Information Document, Section 6 for specific frequency capability.

Communications between the EOC, on-scene and off-scene personnel / agencies

Most first responder agencies have radios tuned to the same channels for UHF and VHF communication. See the Transmit Frequency Chart in the Controlled and Sensitive Information Document, Section 6 for specific frequency capability.

Overcome communications shortfalls between CP / off-site locations

Procedures and agencies

1. The City of Coshocton Fire Department is equipped with a 911 call identification system that is a backup system for the Sheriff's dispatch system.

2. The Coshocton Fire Department provides dispatch communications assistance as needed by Sheriff’s Office for fire departments and hazardous materials emergencies.

3. The EOC is equipped with a generator that can relay messages during a power failure.

4. ARES communication van will be able to support the Incident Command with alternate communications capability for most of the frequencies.

5. The EMA office, Sheriff’s Office, Coshocton County Career Center and ARES communication van are equipped with similarly tuned radios and staffed by ARES personnel.

Identify the compatible frequencies (local, state, and private agencies)

Communication will be required for public announcements, communication with hospitals, adjacent jurisdictions and state agencies.

1. The EMA office has fax, phones and four (4) PCs with Internet capability and three commercial TVs.

2. The following agencies are equipped with MARCS radios: Sheriff, EMA, CCMH, ARES van, Coshocton County Health Department and Coshocton City Health Department.

3. The EOC can communicate with transportation, utilities, media, and fuel suppliers.

4. County fire departments and EMS can communicate with peer services in neighboring counties.

Describe provisions for 24-hour communications.

Most agency staff's have additional staff that can be brought in to provide relief and continued service. The more serious the disaster the more likely that multiple shifts will be required.

COMMUNICATIONS ASSIGNMENT

ARES personnel will provide radio operators for the EOC and will, through a rotation process, provide around the clock coverage when necessary.

Volunteers will be utilized in the EOC as phone receptionists, and runners. The EMA Director will insure the roster of trained volunteers is up to date.

IV. ORGANIZATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Organization

During large-scale emergencies, communications personnel of emergency organizations will coordinate response efforts and assist other organizations to the extent possible with the provision of communications capability. They will remain under the direction of the Incident Commander for the duration of the emergency. This includes, but is not limited to, the sheriff, fire, EMS, REACT, ARES, public works and utility agencies with communications capability, etc.

See the Controlled and Sensitive Information Document, Section 6 for list of organizations with operational radio frequencies.

2. Assignment of Responsibilities

Task assignments will be to establish a link from their working area to the activated EOC. The link can be one of the following steps:

A. The agency representative can use a cell phone to remain in contact with the EOC.

The representative can use personal cell phone or a cell phone provided by EMA.

B. The EOC Director and the representative develop a call in protocol for information to flow to and from the EOC.

C. When required or desirable, the agency appoints a representative to report physically

to the EOC.

3. Direction and Control

The Coshocton County EMA Director will monitor information status in the Emergency Operations Center and take subsequent action. The EMA Director will have contact with and periodic reports from the Incident Commander.

V. CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT

The line of succession for communications is based upon availability of qualified volunteers. ARES personnel would be the resource communications staff.

Training and Exercising for Communications

All dispatchers at the Coshocton Justice Center’s Main Dispatch Center have been trained and have qualified dispatchers on duty 24 x 7.

VI. ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS

The communications volunteers support communication requirements by whatever method best fits the situation. It is necessary that they record, report and retain all information received or executed.

1. Accountability would be necessary for reimbursement procedures for communications expenditures.

2. Records are important for historical analysis of response actions that were taken.

The use of the current Coshocton County Emergency Resource Catalog would be valuable in contacting needed personnel within the county, State or Federal governments. Mutual aid agreements that exist with any other entity would be negotiated. Agreements with vendors for extra radios that may be needed would be executed.

If equipment is damaged, provisions must be made to have the equipment repaired or replaced.

The ability to communicate will always be tested to some extent in all exercises. Per 3750 ORC, communications will be tested and evaluated as one of the objectives every four years or as often as needed due to new equipment added, etc. Exercises are performed at least once per year, all include some degree of communications exercise that include ARES and REACT radio groups.

COSHOCTON AMATEUR RADIO (ARES)

The local ARES group participates in the 80-meter Amateur Radio operation on Tuesday evenings between the hours of 1900 and 1915 of each week. During this time, a check-in is made on the Ohio Single Side-band Net (3972.5 KHz), traffic for the State EOC. During emergency situations when traffic on the single side-band net is extremely heavy, the frequency of 3987.5 KHz will be utilized. The local ARES also have a mobile van that is used for communications and can provide backup mobile communications anywhere in the county.

The Packet Amateur Radio personnel are operational on Tuesday evenings between the hours of 1915 and 2000. This Packet station operates on the frequency 221.11 MHz and used the call sign W8SCT.

ORGANIZATIONAL TRAINING

Each agency is responsible for assigning personnel, as requested, to the EOC and is responsible for ensuring those individuals are adequately trained on their equipment and are familiar with the EOC procedures and SOPs. Radio operations are managed primarily by A.R.E.S. members.

VII. COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT PROTECTION

Wind can damage antennas, but these can be quickly repaired. With sufficient warning, protective measures can be taken to some degree.

Restoring telephone service shall be completed as soon as possible for the critical services by preparing a priority list by the EMA Director working with the telephone service providers. Critical services include the essential health providers such as the hospital and nursing homes and also include the main emergency service departments such as the Sheriff’s Office, fire departments and EMS.

VIII. PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE

Refer to Basic Plan Development and Maintenance.

IX. AUTHORITIES AND REFERENCES

Refer to Basic Plan, Authorities and Reference Section.

X. ADDENDUMS TO COMMUNICATIONS

Tab 1 Inventory of radio equipment at the EOC radio work station

Tab 2 Inventory of radio equipment in the EOC vehicle

Tab 3 Inventory of radio equipment in the A.R.E.S. communications van

Tab 4 Inventory of radio equipment at Coshocton County Career Center

Tab 5 Inventory of radio equipment at the Sheriff's Office

Tab 6 Inventory of radio equipment at the Red Cross

Tab 7 Listing of radio communication frequencies for neighboring counties

XI. AUTHENTICATION

______

Sergeant Troy Bricker, Communications Officer Dated

Coshocton County Sheriff Office

______

Bruce Adams Dated

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (A.R.E.S.)

______

James T. Van Horn, Director Dated

Coshocton County Emergency Management Agency

Tab 1 Inventory of radio equipment at the EOC radio work station

(1) Motorola Radio CDM 1250 UHF

(1) Motorola Radio CDM 1250 VHF

(1) MARCS Radio

Tab 2 Inventory of radio equipment in the EOC vehicle

(1) Motorola Radio CDM 1250 UHF

(1) Motorola Radio CDM 1250 VHF

(1) MARCS Radio

Tab 3 Inventory of radio equipment in the A.R.E.S. communications van

The Amateur Radio Station, Control Station (CS), is permanently housed in the County/EMA A.R.E.S communications van that is stored at the County Garage.

The tactical call sign is COMMUNICATIONS VAN.

The primary frequency used is the A.R.E.S. repeater frequency of 145.230 MHz.

This frequency is used to contact the County Control Station (CCS), which serves as a control of Amateur Radio operations and is manned by a Net Control (NC). The van may at times be a CCS or CS.

Antennas include:

Two (2) dual band 2m/70cm verticals mounted on the roof. Other antennas include a dual band 2m/70cm vertical that is on the light bar or 10 m telescoping pole

A 3 element 2m beam is available for mounting on a 10 ft. pole

A 2m mag mount antenna is on the cab roof for the 2m radio in the cab

A 10m and 75 m vertical stick and a 75m wire dipole is available for the HF rig

SSB, CW, FM are available and soon digital modes using Packet.

The following is a list of radio equipment in the ARES communications van:

(2) two Kenwood TM707 transceivers w microphones, fuses.

The DC power cord terminates in Anderson power poles. The TM707 is the same radio installed in Sheriff Office, Communications room in the EMA, and Coshocton County Memorial Hospital. Frequencies stored in radio are the same. This radio is capable of transmitting and receiving on 144-148 MHz, 438-450 MHz.

The radio is capable of receiving the following frequencies: 118-174 MHz, 410-524 MHz.

MEMORY channel 707 rig OARC Repeater Database 2006, plus others

COSHOCTON County

Band Output Input Callsign City County Sponsor Features

1 144 145.2300 144.6300 KE8XM Coshocton COSHOCTON KE8XM oaez packet

2 144 147.0450 147.6450 W8CCA Keene COSHOCTON COSHOCTON CO 144 146.490 3rd backup Coshocton Co.

11 144 146.535 simplex Coshocton

18 144 146.520 calling freq.

23 118 118.875 Wx Coshocton Richard Downing Airport

20 162 162.475 NWS Highhill

21 162 162.425 NWS Tuscarawas, coverage Coshocton (new)

22 162 162.525 NWS Bridgeport

(1) Icom IC 2100, 2 meter transceiver. KE8XM owner. The radio is capable of transmitting from 144-148 MHZ and receiving from 136-174 MHZ. Radio is powered by cigarette lighter.

(1) Yaesu FT 2800, ARES owned. Receive Only. 137-174 Mhz.

Could be used as weather radio.

(1) Icom IC27H, Co./EMA owner. Transceive 144-148 Mhz and receive from 140-150 Mhz.

(1) Radioshack HTX 212, 2m radio. KE8XM. owner. Located rear shelf.

(1) ICOM IC 725 HF radio, w desk mic. Anderson pwr pole ready, rear van shelf.

(1) AEA ET1, HF Tuner. KE8XM. owner. Rear van shelf.

COUNTY RADIOS:

(1) VHF Motorola CDM1250, County/EMA owner. Antenna is in front center roof.

As of December 20, 2006 as follows:

Display output Receive Input Transmit Licensee

EMS 155.265 155.265 Ohio Medical Transp.

Cosh Co. Fire 154.190 154.190 City Fire

Co. Fire Tact 154.415 154.415 City Fire

Weather 162.475 - NWS, High Hill, Muskingum Co.

(1) UHF Motorola CDM1250, owned by County/EMA. Antenna, on passenger side center roof.

As of December 20, 2006 as follows:

Display output Receive Input Transmit Licensee

Street T/A 453.300 453.000 City Street

Street Dept Rpt 453.300 458.300 City Street

City Fire T/A 453.7625 453.7625 City Fire

City Fire Rpt 453.7625 458.7625 City Fire

Sheriff T/A 460.4625 460.4625 Co Sheriff

Sheriff Rpt 460.4625 465.4625 Co Sheriff

Emergency ,EMA Rpt 461.4625 466.4625 B & C Communications

Sheriff Tac 1 T/A 458.100 458.100 Co Sheriff

REACT T/A 462.65 462.65 John Armstrong, REACT

REACT Rpt 462.650 467.650 John Armstrong, REACT

Water T/A 453.075 453.075 City Water

Water Dept Rpt 453.075 458.075 City Water

(1) MARCS Radio, County/EMA owner. Antenna mounted on driver's side of roof in rear position.

Power Sources for the ARES communications van,

AC Inverter (County/EMA owned).

External AC, power cord located in side door compartment

Generator, located in side door compartment. County/EMA owner

Vehicle battery December 20, 2006

Tab 4 Inventory of Radio Equipment at Coshocton County Career Center (CCCC)

Station Details:
The tactical callsign of this Control Station (CS) is CAREER CENTER.

The primary frequency used is the ARES, repeater frequency of 145.230 MHz. This is used to contact the County Control Station (CCS), which serves as a control of Amateur Radio operations and is managed by a Net Control (NC). The CS should have an additional frequency that can be used within the served agency other than the NC frequency.

The radio is located near the main entrance in the office/reception area in a locked box on the wall in room 5. A power supply for the radio is located near the box on the table. The lock combination for the box is known by the EC and AECs. Contained in the box is the Kenwood TM707 transceiver, mic, fuse, connector fitting, roll of coax and instructions.