MODOC OPERATIONAL AREA

EMERGENCY RADIO

COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

implementation of disaster communications

Communications are the weak link most often cited in post-exercise or event critiques. This plan addresses the radio frequencies available for use in Modoc County and assigns frequencies to particular uses. Six Incident Radio Communications Plans forms are attached:

q Incident Command (for incident to Communications Center or within the incident command structure)

q Incident Tactical

q Law Enforcement Tactical

q Medical Command (for medical direction)

q Medical Tactical

q EOC Nets

When an incident occurs, the appropriate forms can be pulled out, any changes unique to the incident made in pen and the Incident Communications Plan will be ready. That can be done by the Communications Unit Leader, if the position is filled, or the Logistics Section Chief or Incident Commander.

LEVEL 1 (Minimal) Emergency Operations Center Activation

Communications needs in the field will dictate radio systems activations. Specific Incident operations will be assigned GOLD TAC by the Communications Center for on scene incident operations. A second incident will be assigned YELLOW TAC. Three alternatives exist for command net depending on the incident’s needs for dispatch support. Local Government (LG) can be used until radio traffic interferes with other county agency dispatching. At this point either the Communications Center coordinator or the incident commander can ask to move command for the incident to GREEN COMMAND. If the needs of the incident overwhelm the primary dispatcher, a second dispatcher will be activated to handle the radio traffic of the specific incident or incidents. BROWN COMMAND is available as simplex command with no repeaters. If these three nets become congested, consider Auxiliary Communication Service or setting up Rose Net to serve the incident(s). (Rose Net is a portable 400 MHz system with a portable repeater that can be set to be accessed from VHF frequencies. Rose Net frequencies cannot be programmed into the VHF radios used for most purposes within the County.)

LEVEL 2 (Partial) Emergency Operations Center Activation

Specific positions within the EOC are filled with Level 2 activation. Because communication becomes critical at the EOC level, activation of Grey Net for the EOC will occur at this level of activation. Local placement of the Grey Net repeater at Tank Hill, Barnes Grade, or other suitable location will facilitate communication for EOC members. If an Incident Command Post (ICP) is established near a single incident, placement of the Grey Net repeater allowing communication back to the IPC may be of value to a limited staffing of the EOC at Level 2. (Grey Net is another portable 400 MHz system like Rose Net.) Rose Net would still be available for other uses in the OA.

LEVEL 3 (Full) Emergency Operations Center Activation

With Level 3 activation of the EOC, management of the limited communications resources is a must. Priorities must be established which allow for the best use of the command, tactical, and Rose and Grey Nets within the county. Activation of the Communications Unit Leader in the ICP(s) and the Communications Officer position in the EOC is a must. Grey Net will be reserved for communications between the EOC staff. The EOC Communications Officer will establish the priority for Rose Net and the Communications Unit Leader(s) assigned in the MOA.

EOC COMMUNICATIONS CHECK LIST

LEVEL 1 EOC ACTIVATION

q Ensure LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LG) is available for new incidents

q Ensure incident command traffic is moved to GREEN COMMAND

q Use BROWN COMMAND for incident command traffic when a repeater system is not needed.

q Ensure GOLD TAC is assigned to first incident occurring in county

q Assign YELLOW TAC if multiple incidents are occurring in one area of the county (Use geography to duplicate use of TACS)

q Consider activating ROSE NET equipment cache if needed as a Command or Tac.

LEVEL 2 EOC ACTIVATION

q Ensure LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LG) is available for new incidents

q Ensure incident(s) command traffic is moved to GREEN COMMAND

q Assign BROWN COMMAND as a command frequency if no repeater is needed to communicate to COMMUNICATIONS CENTER.

q Ensure GOLD TAC is assigned to first incident occurring in county

q Assign YELLOW TAC if multiple incidents are occurring in one area of the county (Use geography to duplicate use of TACS)

q Consider assigning ROSE NET, if needed, as a Command frequency as needed either for incident communications, or as trans-county repeater access.

q Activate GREY NET equipment cache and assign to EOC staff. Consider use of Grey Net repeater to facilitate EOC Intra-staff communications

LEVEL 3 EOC ACTIVATION

q Ensure Local Government Frequency is available for new Incidents

q Move Incident Command radio communications to GREEN COMMAND. Consider use of Rose Net for an Alternate Command Freq.

q Assign GOLD TAC to incident(s)

q Assign Yellow Net on adjoining incidents to avoid interference on GOLD TAC

q Activate GREY NET equipment cache and assign to EOC staff. Consider use of GREY NET repeater to facilitate EOC Intra-staff communications

q Activate ROSE NET equipment cache as needed either as trans-county repeater access or as a command net.

CLEAR-TEXT WORD AND PHARSES

UNREADABLE	Used when signal received is not clear. Try to add the specific trouble “Unreadable noise”
LOUD AND CLEAR	Self-Explanatory
STOP TRANSMITTING	Self-Explanatory
COPY, COPIES	Used to acknowledge message received. Unit ID must also be used. Ex: “Engine 4220 copies”
AFFIRMATIVE	Yes
NEGATIVE	No
RESPOND, RESPONDING	Used during dispatch- proceed to or proceeding to an incident. Ex: Engine 5321 respond……or “Modoc County, Engine 5321 responding”
ENROUTE	Normally used by administrative or staff personnel to designate destination. “Enroute” is not a substitute for responding.
IN-QUARTERS, with Station Name or number	Used to indicate that a unit is on a station. Ex: Modoc County, Engine 4422 in quarters Likely
UNCOVERED	Indicates a unit is not in-service, because there aren’t any personnel to operate it.
OUT-OF-SERVICE	Indicated a unit is mechanically out of service. When repairs have been completed the following phase should be used. “Modoc County, Engine 5220 back in service, available.”
IN-SERVICE	This means that the unit is operating, not in response to a dispatch. Ex: Modoc County, Medic 11, in-service road orientation
REPEAT	Self-explanatory
WEATHER	Self-explanatory
RETURN TO _________	Normally used by COMMUNICATIONS CENTER to direct units that are available to a station or other location.
WHAT IS YOUR LOCATION	Self-explanatory
CALL_______BY PHONE	Self-explanatory
DISREGARD LAST MESSAGE	Self-explanatory
STANDBY	Self-explanatory
VEHICLE REGISTRATION CHECK	Self-explanatory
IS _________ AVAILABLE FOR A PHONE CALL	Self-explanatory
AT SCENE	Used when unit arrives at the scene of an incident
AVAILABLE	Used when a unit is ready for a new assignment or can return to quarters. Modoc County will give the unit a new assignment or direct it to return to quarters.
AVAILABLE AT SCENE	Used when a unit is still committed to an incident, but could be dispatched to a new emergency if needed.
CAN HANDLE	Used when the amount of equipment needed to handle the incident is at scene. Modoc County, MED OPS 15 can handle with units at scene.
BURNING OPERATIONS	Self explanatory
REPORT ON CONDITIONS	Self-explanatory
EMERGENCY TRAFFIC ONLY	Radio users will continue all radio traffic to an emergency in progress or a new incident
EMERGENCY TRAFFIC	Term used to gain control of a radio frequency to report an emergency. All other radio users will refrain from using that frequency until cleared for use by Modoc County Communications Center
RESUME NORMAL TRAFFIC	Self Explanatory
TRANSPORTING TIMES______, CODE_______T0 _____________	For Medical Transport Units, indicating number of patients being transported, code, and destination Ex: Modoc County, Medic 51 Transporting Times 2, Code 3 to Modoc Medical Center
TRANSPORTING TIMES (#) PLUS (#) RIDER, CODE_______T0 _____________	For Medical Transport Units, indication number of patients plus non-patients, code, and destination. Use when family member or other non-patient transported Ex: Modoc County, Medic 51 Transporting Times 2 plus 1 rider, Code 3 to Modoc Medical Center

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INCIDENT RADIO COMMUNICATIONS PLAN			Modoc OA			For use by: Incident		To use as: Command
4. Basic Radio Channel Utilization
Radio Type/Cache	Channel	Function		Frequency/Tone	Assignment		Remarks
	Modoc LG	Incident Comm		T158.835 R153.920			Primary Tone Select Repeaters
	Modoc Green Command	Incident Comm		T153.860(Narrow) R159.090(Narrow)			Incident Command Tone select
	ALTURAS PD	Incident Comm		T155.850 R155.850	WITHIN ALTURAS		Incident Command Tone 110.9
	ALTURAS PD	Incident Comm		T158.910 R154.740	WITHIN ALTURAS		Incident Command Tone 110.9
	ALTURAS PW	Incident Comm		155.O55 TX 110.9	WITHIN ALTURAS		NON LE
	WHITE 1	Incident Comm		154.280	MUTUAL AID COMM		FOR COMMAND W/O COMMON FREQ ABOVE
5. Prepared by (Communications Unit)

INCIDENT RADIO COMMUNICATIONS PLAN			1. Incident Name Modoc OA			2. Date/Time Prepared Incident		3. Operational Period Date/Time Tactical
4. Basic Radio Channel Utilization
Radio Type/Cache	Channel	Function		Frequency/Tone	Assignment		Remarks
	Gold TAC	FIRE/SAR/PW		155.145(Narrow)	Group/Div Alpha		First assigned TAC
	Yellow TAC	FIRE/SAR/PW		156.180(Narrow)	Group/Div Bravo		2^nd TAC
	CALCORD	LE/FIRE/MED		156.075	GRP/DIV Multi-Func		LE-Multi-Function Mutual Aid
	White 2	Fire/MA		154.280	GRP/DIV		Mutual Aid ONLY
	White 3	Fire/MA		154.265	GRP/DIV		Mutual Aid ONLY
5. Prepared by (Communications Unit)

INCIDENT RADIO COMMUNICATIONS PLAN			Modoc OA			For use by: Law Enforcement		For use as: Tactical
4. Basic Radio Channel Utilization
Radio Type/Cache	Channel	Function		Frequency/Tone	Assignment		Remarks
	CLEMARS	LE TACTICAL		154.920	Group/Div Alpha		MUTUAL AID LE ONLY
	NALEMARS	LE TACTICAL		155.475	Group/Div Bravo		MUTUAL AID LE ONLY
	CALCORD	LE/FIRE/MED		156.075	Group/Div Charlie		MULTI-FUNCTIONAL M. A.
	LE TAC 1	LE TACTICAL		-------	Group/Div Delta		NON MUTUAL AID
	LE TAC 2	LE TACTICAL		_____	Group/Div Echo		NON MUTUAL AID
5. Prepared by (Communications Unit)

INCIDENT RADIO COMMUNICATIONS PLAN			Modoc OA			For use by: Medical		For use as: Command
4. Basic Radio Channel Utilization
Radio Type/Cache	Channel	Function		Frequency/Tone	Assignment		Remarks
	MED 5 UHF	MED Control		T468.100 R463.100	Medical Control		Widow Mtn. Repeater Tone 6
	MED 6 UHF	MED Control		T468.125 R463.125	Medical Control		Likely Mtn. Repeater Tone 6
	MED 7 UHF	MED Control		T468.150 R463.150	Medical Control		Lake City Repeater Tone 6
5. Prepared by (Communications Unit)

INCIDENT RADIO COMMUNICATIONS PLAN			Modoc OA			For use by: Medical		For use as: Tactical
4. Basic Radio Channel Utilization
Radio Type/Cache	Channel	Function		Frequency/Tone	Assignment		Remarks
	Big Valley MEDNET UHF	Incident TAC		T468.200 R463.200	Medical Group/Div		Big Valley Area Only Tone 110.9
	MMC MED VHF	Incident TAC		154.515 Tone 110.9	Medical Group/Div		Alturas Area Only
	MED 9A UHF	Incident TAC		462.950	MED GRP/Div Alpha		County Wide Tx & Rx 167.9 Tone 8
	MED 9B UHF	Incident TAC		467.950	MED GRP/Div Bravo		County Wide Tx & Rx 167.9 Tone 8
5. Prepared by (Communications Unit)

INCIDENT RADIO COMMUNICATIONS PLAN			Modoc OA			For use by: EOC		For use as: NETS
4. Basic Radio Channel Utilization
Radio Type/Cache	Channel	Function		Frequency/Tone	Assignment		Remarks
	GREY NET	EOC Field TAC		T465.250 R460.250	EOC INTRA-OP		Cache of 400 MHZ radios with Cross Band Repeater ; frequencies are not programmed on VHF radios in use by first responders
	ROSE NET	EOC FIELD TAC		T465.200 R460.200	EOC INTRA-OP		Cache of 400 MHZ radios with Cross Band Repeater ; frequencies are not programmed on VHF radios in use by first responders
5. Prepared by (Communications Unit)