Emergency Plan

STATE WIDE EMERGENCY PLAN

FLORIDA COUNCIL OF REACT TEAMS

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PURPOSE

The purpose of this plan is to provide a means and a guide for a coordinated response from the State Council of REACT Teams. This plan is not intended as a ridged set of regulations. It is intended to provide guidance and promote uniform procedures among Florida REACT Teams.

SCOPE

This plan includes and coordinates all actions of REACT on a state level. It includes the State Council, and its family of Florida REACT Teams.

DEFINITIONS

1. ACS - Auxiliary Communications Service. This is a cooperative radio net using a variety of groups, and modes of communications.

2. ARES - Amateur Radio Emergency Service. This is a volunteer field organization of the American Radio Relay League. This group can provide emergency amateur radio communication.

3. AEC - Assistant Emergency Coordinator

4. Area of Operation - The operational area of any given REACT Team. This may be city wide, county wide, or several counties. Several Teams may be coordinated in a Zone.

5. ARC American Red Cross

6. BBS - Bulletin Board System. BBSs allow computers to exchange information via phone lines. (See E-Mail)

7. DEM - State of Florida Emergency Management. Also FDEM.

8. Disaster - An event that causes massive loss of life or property.

9. EC - Emergency Coordinator

10. E mail - Electronic Mail. usually associated with messages exchanged via computer. This includes BBS systems, Packet radio, The Internet, and other on line computer services.

11. Emergency - Any situation that exist that is a threat to life and or property

12. EOC - Emergency Operations Center. This is an emergency headquarters.

13. Jump Team - This is a group of trained and experienced REACT volunteers who can mobilize in short notice to meet an emergency. They must be completely self supporting upon reaching a disaster area. DCAT, Disaster Communications Assistance Team.

14. Liaison Team - This Team is not in the impact area of a disaster. This Team will act as a liaison between the State Council and other inquiring Teams, Councils, REACT International.

15. Net - This is an organized radio network. Its usually consists of a control point, relays, and units in the field. Other secondary nets may exist to support the main net.

16. Net Control - This is the control point of the Net. It may be identified as Net Control, Operations, Control, or other tactical identification.

17. RACES, Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. Where they exist in Florida these amateur radio nets are controlled by county EM’s and sometimes supported by REACT ham operators.

18. REACT- Radio Emergency Associated Communications Team. International organization comprised of local Teams. Teams monitor emergency channels and use CB, Amateur, Cellular, GMRS, Marine and other radio services. Teams perform communications, and a variety of other functions.

19. Resources - Resources are personnel, and equipment.

20. Salvation Army - relief organization.

21. SCEC - State Council Emergency Coordinator.

22. Staging Area - This is a temporary assembling point of resources before being deployed into an area.

23. Zones - Zones are established for the purpose of alerting and notification of designated Teams.

POLICIES PAGE 2

All the policies, by laws, and regulations set forth by the State Council of Florida REACT Teams shall apply to this plan.

1. The Council may only be activated only by the direction of the State Council's Emergency Coordinator, President, Vice President, or any member of the Board of Directors.

2. Any Council response must be coordinated with the Official agency or agencies involved.

3. Any Team that is activated for a disaster and is need of additional support, the State Council Emergency Coordinator or designee should be contacted by what ever means are available.

4. Any incident that requires the response of more than one Team, the SCEC should be contacted.

REACT STATE LEADERSHIP, EMERGENCY OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE

State Council Emergency Coordinator (SCEC). This individual has responsibilities for all matters relating to emergency response by the State Council. He/She will cooperate with Council Officers, and Teams, so that Teams that are activated work together effectively when responding to a large event.

The State EC is also responsible for, but not limited to the following;

1. Developing, and maintaining the State Council Emergency Response Plan.

2. Maintaining up to date emergency contact list for all Florida REACT Teams and State Council Personnel.

3. Establishing, and maintaining relationships with the State Division of Emergency Management, State Red Cross, ARES, and any other state wide emergency organizations that we may be working with.

4. Assessing Each REACT Team's capabilities on a six-month basis. Assessment should include number of members, types of communications capabilities, vehicles, and any specialties.

5. Maintaining contact with REACT International during any Council activation's.

6. Insure that records are kept of Teams that are activated and for what duration.

7. Coordinate multiple REACT Teams responding to a disaster. This may include establishing staging areas.

8. Coordinate any response from REACT International.

9. Coordinate REACT response with other State agencies and organizations.

10. Keep Liaison Team up to date on current status with situation reports.

11. Publishing State Council Personnel Emergency Contact Information to all Florida Teams and International.

12. Briefing all State Council Officers of the situation at regular intervals.

13. Assignment of regional State Council Officers as AECs to Zones. Each will remain in contact with SCEC and relay to appropriate Teams in each respective Zone.

Assistant State Council Emergency Coordinator (ASCEC). Assistants can be appointed by the State Council as needs require. Assistants will work regional Zones and assist the SCEC as needs require.

Team Emergency Coordinator (EC). Each Team is responsible for appointing an EC. Each EC will be responsible for all emergency response actions of their respective Team. The Team EC can appoint Assistants as required. The Team EC will serve as a point of contact of the SCEC.

The Team Emergency Coordinator is responsible for, but not limited to the following;

1. Developing and maintaining a Team emergency response plan.

2. Maintaining as part of the plan, an activation and call out procedure.

3. Maintain a working relationship with the agencies and organizations that your Team works with. This includes county emergency response agencies, ARES, Red Cross, Law Enforcement, etc.

4. Conduct emergency drills and test plans and procedures. (Special events can serve this purpose).

5. Provide the State Council Emergency Coordinator an up to date list of members and emergency Team contacts. This information should be updated every six months.

REACT STATE LEADERSHIP, EMERGENCY OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE Cont.
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6. Notify the State Council or Zone AEC of any large disaster activation by the Team. Attempt to keep State Council as up to date as possible on status of your Team. This is done with Situation Reports (SITREPS).

7. Keep records of all volunteer hours during any activation of their Team.

8. Coordinate response of their local Team.

9. Coordinate response of Teams that are arriving in your area.

Liaison Team A Team that is not in the impact area may be designated by the State Council as a Liaison Team. This may be done if State Council is burdened with coordinating Florida Teams.

The Liaison Team is responsible for but not limited to;

1. Contact REACT International. Advise International to have any Teams from out of state that wish to assist to contact this Liaison Team.

2. Pass on any status information from State Council to REACT International.

3. Contact any other organizations if required.

4. Contact other Florida Teams and establish communications with each Team if Council is unable to do so.

5. Will relay instructions to out of state responding Teams from Florida Council, and Zone AECs

6. Will relay any information to State Council and Zone AECs

7. Will give situation reports to State Council on REACT International response.

PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS

1. The State Council will attempt to re establish communications with Teams in the disaster area.

2. REACT Teams that are in a disaster area may not be able to communicate with the State Council readily.

3. REACT Teams in the affected area may not have enough resources to meet their needs.

4. Travelers on our highways may call on CB radio looking for information on disaster conditions.

5. Trucks that are transporting relief supplies may use CB to attempt to gain local directions in the affected area.

6. Telephone communications in the affected area may become disrupted.

7. Weather and other factors may prevent REACT Teams from being able to access a disaster area.

8. Amateur Radio may be the ONLY means that communications can be sent in or out of the impacted area.

9. Initial reports of the status of REACT Teams in the impact area may be fragmented and difficult to maintain.

10. Other REACT Teams will attempt to contact the State Council to offer assistance.

11. Existing repeaters, and antennas may be destroyed.

12. Existing radio services may become overloaded.

13. Confusion will abound.

CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

Each Team is responsible for their local plans and response. If State Council response is required then under the leadership of the State Council, other Florida REACT Teams can respond.

LEVELS OF RESPONSE
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Alerting and Notification

1. Any Team EC can activate their Team when a situation requires it. Teams may activate upon request from agencies requesting assistance.

2. If the operation appears that it will last for more than six hours, the EC should contact the State Council by what ever means are available.

3. The State Council will then advise Teams in appropriate Zone, and adjoining counties if necessary.

4. The State Council may contact other Teams via Zones in Florida as the situation requires.

5. The State Council may contact REACT International and advise them of the status of the situation.

6. The State Council may appoint a Team that is not in the impact area to become a contact point in the State for REACT Teams, REACT International, and other State Councils. That Team will be responsible to stay in touch with Council Leadership. That Team will act as a liaison for Florida REACT.

7. The Teams Emergency Coordinator of Officer shall be the Councils point of contact for each Team.

Levels of Alert and Response

These levels determine reaction to an incident. One or all Zones may be activated as conditions warrant.

LEVEL 0 Routine - Normal, No state of alert exist. Normal monitoring and operations.

LEVEL 1 Notification - State Council Emergency Coordinator will notify all Council Officers. Officers will assess the situation. Key Teams may be notified.

LEVEL 2 Alert - State Council alerts Teams in any given Zone. State Council will roll call all Teams in the Council and get a status check. Contact information should be checked at this time. A Liaison Team may be appointed at this time to stand by.

LEVEL 3 Partial Activation - State Council is now partially activated at this time. All REACT Teams in affected area, or Zone are fully activated.

LEVEL 4 Full Activation - All resources are now in use. Council may request assistance from Teams in other areas.

LEVEL 5 Disaster Operation - Council may request assistance from REACT International.

1. These Levels of Response may be implemented at any time under the direction of the State Council Emergency Coordinator. The State Council can be activated at any level required to meet the situation at hand. Each Team can activate their own Plans and own level of response.

2. The Level of Response designates activity of the FCRT at any given time.

3. The Council may activate at any level that is required.

4. The Council may also lower the response level has conditions warrant.

5. Teams will activate and designate their own level of response.

6. It is recommended that Teams use this structure in their planning. It will create the same response at all levels of FCRT.

LEVELS OF RESPONSE CONTINUED
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OPERATIONS OF STATE COUNCIL AND TEAMS

State Council

The State Councils main responsibilities will be to coordinate response of multiple Florida REACT Teams, and REACT Teams from out of state. State Council Officers shall endeavor to stay in touch with each other. Possible actions that the State Council could take;

1. Alert and cross check contact information for Teams that might impacted by a disaster. Contact information should include phone and beeper numbers, amateur radio links, and Team radio channels.

a) Designate a State Council Officer to act as an AEC in a regional Zone. That AEC will be responsible for contacting all Teams within that Zone, and report back to SCEC.

2. Relay requests from Teams for assistance from other Teams or Zones.

3. Designate staging areas for REACT Teams that have activated Jump Teams.

4. Match types of assistance required to the Teams that are best suited to handle that request.

5. Coordinate response of Florida Teams and Teams from out of State.

6. Keep REACT International informed of status. (Can be done with Liaison Team)

7. Can direct Teams along main highways to broadcast advisories on CB 19.

8. Can direct Teams to establish Safety Breaks along main routes.

9. Establish liaison with the Florida Amateur Radio Emergency Service. This will help get messages to Teams in stricken areas.

10. Re establish contact with Teams that have lost contact in a disaster impact area.

11. Upon contact assess Teams status and any needs.

12. Attempt to maintain contacts with all Council Officers, SCEC, and ASCECs.

Teams in Impact Area

A Team in an Impact Area is going to very pre occupied with meeting its own needs and needs of the community it serves.

Possible actions a local Team could take to assist State Council

1. Attempt to contact Zone AEC or State Council as soon as possible.

2. Prepare a situation report (SITREP) to the State Council.

3. Prepare to coordinate any other REACT Teams that may respond to your requests.

4. A Team in a disaster area should put priority on serving out its obligations to the community it serves.

5. Team should establish a contact with County or local ARES networks. The ARES could assist in relaying messages to State Council, and beyond.

6. Team should follow its own emergency plan.

Teams that are outside Impact Area

Teams that area outside the area of impact that area may be able to support State Council response.

The following actions may be taken;

1. Stay in touch with State Council, Zone AEC, or designee on a regular basis.

2. Advise State Council of your Teams capabilities and specialties.

3. Keep your membership advised on what is going on.

4. If another Team, Organization, or Agency request your Team to respond into a disaster area , advise the State Council of your Teams actions.

OPERATIONS OF STATE COUNCIL AND TEAMS Cont. PAGE 6

Liaison Team

The Liaison Team may be the only link between the State Council & REACT International & outside Teams.

The following actions may be taken upon notification from State Council;

1. Secure all contact information possible from State Council leadership, including Zone AECs.

2. Contact REACT International. Advise them that you are Florida's Liaison Team. All inquiries from other REACT Teams & Councils should be directed at your Team.

3. Advise REACT International of ALL your Teams current contact information.

4. Establish contact with local ARES if contact is lost with Council Leadership. ARES should be able to relay any messages.

5. Pass on all situation reports to REACT International.

EACH TEAM SHOULD HAVE A DESIGNATED POINT OF CONTACT FOR STATE COUNCIL AND ALTERNATES.

STANDARD RADIO AND NET PROCEDURES FOR MULTI TEAM RESPONSE

The Team in or the first Team to arrive in a disaster area will be responsible for establishing REACT radio

nets. Each Team is responsible for establishing plans for their local REACT radio net. A Unified Net Control Station is established for a multi Team operation.

The following should be followed for establishing a net that involves more than one Team or accommodates Teams that respond to a disaster area.

Unified Net Control

1. Net Control Station should establish a primary net on a pre designated frequency. The frequency chosen should be the easiest to utilize by the Teams involved.

2. Establishing a net. Follow these basic guidelines on establishing a net on designated channel.

a) EXAMPLE THIS IS REACT UNIT______(Plus any call signs) ACTIVATING UNIFIED REACT NET OPERATIONS ON __________(Channel of Operation). All REACT UNITS & STATIONS PLEASE CHECK INTO NET CONTROL (or Operations) WITH YOUR UNIT NUMBER( or call sign ). THIS NET IS SUPPORTING__________(Agency) FOR_________(Type of operation).

3. Every 30 minutes, Net Control should poll all units in the Net.

4. The Net Control Station need not be located at the coordination point in the event. It should be located at a location that will be the most efficient and useful for all units in the net.

5. Net control IS RESPONSIBLE for keeping track of units in the field.

6. Identification of Net Control may be REACT Net Control, REACT Operations, REACT Control, or other tactical call.

Units in Field.

1. Check into REACT Net Control .

2. Keep Net Control advised of your status.

3. Advise Net Control at any time when you will be away from your radio.

Identification of REACT Units

REACT Units that are out of their area of operation shall identify their unit in this manor.

1. Prefix their Team Name with their Team Unit Number.

a) EXAMPLE Unit ____ Becomes (Team Name) Unit______. (Plus any call signs)

2. Net Control of a multi Team operation may I.D. as REACT Operations, REACT Net Control or any other tactical call.

3. The Host Team will also I.D. their units in the same manor, prefixing their Team Name with Unit Number.

STANDARD RADIO AND NET PROCEDURES FOR MULTI TEAM RESPONSE Cont.
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Communications

1. All radio communications during a multi Team response shall be in clear text. No Ten Codes or Signals are to be used.

Channels of Operation

The following is a list of channels that should be used in a multi Team response. The most efficient channels or frequencies should be chosen at time of operation. The channels used are not limited to this list;

1. Citizens Band Channel 9

2. General Mobile Radio Service 462.675. CTCSS 141.3, either Simplex or repeater. Disable tones.

3. 27.490 MHz REACT Disaster Low Band.

4. Local Teams Amateur Radio Frequency or National Calling, 146.520.

5. Designated contact channel.

Each Team is responsible for supplying State Council a list of the frequencies and channels that they are currently using. This list is to be updated every six months.

MUTUAL AID REQUESTS

When a Team is need of assistance from another REACT Team;

1. If a another Team is near by the Team that needs assistance may contact that Team directly.

a) A Team may contact the State Council for assistance. State Council will appoint a Zone AEC.

2. After contact The Team that is responding should notify State Council as soon as possible.

3. If the State Council is contacted they will advise the closest Team and inquire if they can assist.

4. The State Council and SCEC after receiving a request for assistance, will then check its Team List to ascertain which available Team is best suited to meet the request of the Team in need.

5. The SCEC will contact that Team and ask if they can respond.

6. The SCEC will designate any staging areas if required.

a) The local Team is responsible for establishing local Staging Areas.

7. The local Team will advise State Council or SCEC when the other Team arrives.

8. The local Team will be responsible for coordinating responding Teams. If unable, control will be appointed by SCEC.

Mutual Aid Request Procedure.

1. What kind of assistance is required. ( Communications, Red Cross, Traffic etc.).

2. When and how long is this assistance required.

3. Who will they contact and on what channel. (Who is in charge).

4. To what exact location will this assistance report to.

STAGING AREAS

A Staging area is the designated meeting point for resources and is where responding Teams would respond to, then be dispatched out to the area that needs assistance. Staging areas are critical in any operation.

PLANNING

State Emergency Plan.

1. The State Emergency Plan is to be updated when needed. A full review should be conducted every two years. All State Council Emergency Contact Information should be distributed to all Teams in Florida.

2. Team contact information should be checked and updated every six months.

3. Contact information on State Agencies should be checked and updated on an annual basis.

4. Team Capabilities should be updated every six months.

5. Contact information on State Volunteer organizations should be included and updated.

DRILLS AND TRAINING
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Local Team Emergency Plans.

1. Each Team is responsible for developing their own Emergency Response Plan.

2. The Plan should allow the Team to operate independently but allow for smooth inter Team coordination.

3. The Team should provide procedures for alerting, notification, and activation.

4. The plan should designate Team operating channels & frequencies.

5. Contact Information on local Agencies and Organizations should be included and updated.

6. Each Team is responsible for developing their own severe weather plans.

State Drills

Drills and training should be carried out on regular intervals to familiarize personnel with all procedures within this Plan. Most drills will be table top versions.

1. The State Council shall participate in the State Wide Hurricane Exercise, conducted each year by State DEM.

2. FCRT may conduct it’s own state wide paper exercises with it’s Teams.

Local Drills

Each Team should carry out Local Training Drills. This will insure that your Team can meet your established Emergency Plan. Try conducting drills at your Team meetings.

1. Local Drills can be held in conjunction with local County Drills.

2. Drills can be held in conjunction with the State Council.

3. Call a surprise Alert Drill for your members. See how many respond.

4. Call a drill and disable your repeater. Test communications capabilities with out repeater.

MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING

REACT International holds a written memoranda of understanding with the follow agencies and organizations.

1. American Red Cross

2. Salvation Army

3. National Weather Service.

4. ARRL (American Radio Relay League).

REACT International is also a member of VOAD.

Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters

JUMP TEAMS

A Jump Team is a mobile REACT Team that can be quickly assemble and dispatched to a location.

Each Jump Team should be self supporting and carry its own food and supplies.

Jump Team Kit

1. Take all the normal gear you would take on a camping trip. This includes sanitary items, non perishable food. first aid kit, extra clothing,

2. Emergency Flat Tire Kits. One of the biggest problems is flat tires in disasters.

3. A small first aid kit.

4. Bug Repellent.

5. EXTRA BATTERIES. EXTRA BATTERIES ! ! !

6. Personal Cash. (ATMs may not be working where you are going!)

7. Emergency repair kit for fixing antennas.

8. Any needed radio equipment.

9. Extra base antennas.

JUMP TEAM Cont.
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Jump Team Call Out.

When your Team is requested to respond to another area the following information is required.

1. Exactly what kind of assistance is requested. (Radio, Traffic Control, etc.)

2. Exactly where does your Jump Team report when you arrive at the scene.

3. Exactly who do you contact and where, and on what channel when you arrive on the scene.

4. How long do you expect to need assistance.

Jump Team Procedure

When a Jump Team is activated the following should followed.

1. All members report to a designated local staging area.

2. After establishing contact all units should move to a common channel.

3. Everybody departs from the same place at the same time.

Convoy procedure

1. Run at normal speed, Do not exceed safe speed.

2. All vehicles should have their lights on.

3. keep the vehicle in front of you in sight at all times.

Other Instructions

1. No revolving lights are permitted.

2. No fire arms are to be carried.

3. Bring REACT I.D. cards and magnetic signs.

4. Bring any radio licenses.

Arriving at destination

1. Go straight to designated Staging Area. All should arrive in one group.

2. Switch to designated contact channel or frequency.

3. Contact your contact person as soon as possible.

DCAT TEAM

The Disaster Communications Assistance Team (DCAT) is made up of elements of REACT, ARES, MARS, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and others. It is a cooperative effort among REACT and members of other groups to provide a mobile response team in the State during disasters.

1. The DCAT Team is available through the FCRT. All DCAT activations must be routed through FCRT.

2. FCRT will contact the DCAT leader who will coordinate DCAT response.

3. DCAT provides multi mobile communications capabilities.

RACES NETS

Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service nets are cooperative amateur radio networks made up of hams from a variety of organizations. RACES nets , where they do exist are controlled by their county EM’s. Other cooperative amateur nets may also operate under different names, but all fall under RACES FCC regulations. These include Auxiliary Communications Service, etc.

1. REACT amateur radio operators should form liaisons with their local amateur radio groups and organizations.

2. Incorporate your emergency plan to support and tie in the amateur radio networks.

DISASTER ROLE
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REACT Teams can provide many different support functions in a disaster. Each REACT Team is unique in the services it can provide.

REACTs support is not limited to this list. This is just a guide to basic REACT Functions. Support is governed by each Teams capabilities.

Communications

1. Amateur Radio equipped Teams can support RACES, ACS, ARES nets and activities.

2. CB Teams can establish monitoring on CB 9, broadcast advisories to the public and guide trucks bringing relief supplies. This is especially true if phone service is out.

3. REACT Teams can provide direct communications support to overloaded or disrupted communications systems. This could be done with CB, GMRS, Ham, Cellular, or any other service.

4. REACT Teams can provide "runners" or messengers for an EOC or other location.

5. Teams can provide extra or relief operators for radio communications posts.

6. Teams can provide personnel support for telephone banks and other communications posts.

Traffic/Transportation

1. Teams can provide parking and traffic control functions.

2. Teams can provide transportation of personnel and equipment.

3. Teams can provide directions via CB Radio or in person for relief personnel.

4. Teams can establish emergency coffee breaks for relief workers and the public.

Relief Functions

1. Teams trained in Damage Assessment can provide that service.

2. Teams can supply personnel support Red Cross shelters.

3. Teams can assist Red Cross in a variety of other support functions.

4. Teams could guide personnel not familiar with the local area.

EOC Support

1. Teams could provide extra radio operators.

2. Teams can provide messengers in an EOC.

3. Teams can provide back up communications for overloaded or disabled systems.

4. Teams can provide other logistic support.

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