Subject: FW:Y2K emergency communications ideas Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 16:36:00 -0600 From: ("Tyler Griffiths") To: southpaw@sisna.com Name: Name045.rtf Name045.rtf Type: Rich Text Format (application/rtf) Encoding: 8bit --------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------( Forwarded letter 1 follows )--------------------- Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 22:49:13 -0700 To: tyler From: Boyd.Humpherys[boydh]@cc.usu.edu Subject: Y2K emergency communications ideas Good morning Tyler: Following are some ideas that may be useful in our participation with the County Emergency Communications exercise on New Years eve and the following day(s). We probably ought to get acquainted with our respective Mayors, city officials, and reiterate that we are acting as a volunteer emergency communciations operation and are doing so at their pleasure. We will provide insofar as possible, a communications link between the city office or other specified location and the Cache County EOC should the normal means of communications fail or otherwise become inoperative. As such, we are not in a position to act officially or make administrative decisions on behalf of the respective city. NOTE: It is important that we refrain from the temptation to do so. We are acting as communicators only. If the city officials decide to publicize the city sites as an information and emergency location for the city, some thought ought to be given to the consideration that they may want to have official personnel present to handle decisions, answer questions, and direct other necessary business should that become necessary. It appears there may be some variation on how each community handles this publicity. It is understood that an informational article might appear in the local newspaper(s) and this may clarify some questions as well as suggest some sort of action by the city officials. It probably would be wise to request city officials to generate a personnel resource list, Mayor, council persons, public works, roads, etc. Names, addresses, tele nos. Leave room by each name to note where they may be at various times over the period of the scheduled exercise. Post this list. Some suggestions for the operations position at each location. Others undoubtedly will come to mind as individual locations may suggest. Post operator duty list--times, names, addresses, tele nos., calls. Post UP & L emergency names & nos. where applicable. Post Questar Gas emergency names & nos. where applicable. Post Ward and /or Stake personnel names, addresses, tele nos., where applicable. Suggestions for operators. It appears to be desirable to have another person on duty as well as the Amateur operator. This could be a city official, a spouse, a friend, etc. It would be well if that person could operate and have a vehicle available. You may have to send someone to find the mayor or other person(s). You need to remain on post. Bring fuses, tools, and jump and go kit, hope you have one. Coat and other warm clothing for any contingency. Flashlight or other form of illumination, adequate batteries. Pens and/or pencils. Supply of ARRL type message forms. If you have to relay a 911 or other emergency request, it is well that we not commit this type of information to memory only. Handy Talkie, if you have one bring it, also adequate coaxial adaptors to allow connection to the city antenna if commercial power fails. Most antenna installations will have the coaxial down lead with a UHF male conntector on it. Don't forget spare batteries. Applicable first aid kit. A bite to eat to silence the growling stomach after 24 hours and no relief. Availability of a plug in NON-ELECTRONIC type telephone, (one without a plug in transformer). With a power failure, those varieties will not work. Check any phone out ahead of time. Some considerations we are looking at at the River Heights city office. Spare 2 meter rig, with backup outside antenna, and necessary coax. Adequate battery, heavy duty gel cell, deep cycle, with adequate dist. box. Scanner, powered by above battery. Selectable frequencies. Couple of fluourescent lanterns, Coleman camp type, check charge on batteries. Etc, Etc, Etc.