My disaster management experience goes back
a long, long...long way. And I cannot recall of one
single instance when it was necessary to send any kind of
"inventory" via radio. Good management and
effective pre-planning requires very little need (if any) for
long lists of supplies or orders. Logistics messages
can be (and should be) quite brief. If the people
involved know what they are doing, everything has already
been inventoried, hopefully pre-packaged, and
"cached" for most all contingencies.
Examples of texts of messages that will communicate
the need. (Assuming that the managers have done their
home work.):
(Red Cross)
SEND SHELTER KIT FOR 500
(Incident Command or Medical Officer):
NEED FIELD HOSPITAL AND TEAM
FOR 1000 CASUALTIES
SEND SIX 10ML VIALS OF
REGULAR HUMULIN TO FIELD
HOSPITAL
AT BEAVER HOLLOW SHELTER ASAP
(IC Operations):
NEED TWO TYPE TWO CREWS
ON NORTH FLANK ASAP X
ACCESS VIA RED ROCK RD
REQUEST WATER TENDER TO CAMP
SIX STAGING AREA
(IC Logistics):
NEED ONE TYPE I ARCT
ASAP X DEPLOY TO STAGING
AT JACKSON MS X ADVISE
REPLY TO LOGISTICS IC AT
JACKSON STATE FAIRGROUNDS
(And a favorite):
SEND CARRIER BATTLE GROUP TO
MIDWAY ISLAND
Note that the word count (or
"check") for these messages ranges from 5 to 23
words. Also note that it is not necessary to itemize
anything. (E.G. - 1 Aircraft Carrier complete
with 32 fighter/bombers, 4 Cruisers, 6
Destroyers, 1 Oiler, how many cooks, barbers, officers, etc.
etc.)
The principle of resource typing
(known by many names) and ordering by cache has been
around at least since as the exodus from Egypt, and can
be found with only slight variation down the through history.
Only in the past few decades does it appear to have gotten
lost and only in some organizations.
Regarding the long message about
"how to fix a generator":
First of all if the generator was deployed
without a manual, a tool kit, and some spare parts...shame on
who ever is in charge. And if person assigned to keep
the generator running can't make a repair, you'd
better just order another generator...and/or operator!
Regarding transmitting
"medical images" via amateur radio:
Without a signed consent by the
involved patient specifically granting permission to
release the confidential information to each person that
may see the document or image...it is illegal. Ref: "HIPAA"
- (HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF
1996) http://www.emcomm.org/em/february2005.htm
Also these may be business
communications (also illegal). Does anyone actually
believe that amateur radio operators should be doing this when
we are in such short supply anyway?
I'm sure someone will write and tell about how a CAT scan,
ultrasound, or an x-ray was successfully transmitted via
amateur radio on such and such a date from "Point A"
to "Point B". Wonderful. Now find a
doctor who will trust these medical images and find two
operators who are willing to accept the liability for a missed
diagnosis if that should occur. The real issue here that
message traffic rarely originates at "Point A" and
rarely is addressed to someone at "Point B". I
heard one report that 40,000 messages went undelivered during
Katrina. Now that's a problem we might be
able to help fix!
Finally, if anyone is so sick that they need some medical
image transmitted, perhaps the medical staff should originate
a message more like:
NEED AIR MEDEVAC ONE ADULT
AT JAUNDICE COUNTY HOSPITAL IN
ANEMIA IL X LZ ON
FOOTBALL FIELD ON
SOUTH SIDE
X ADVISE ETA
Regarding
"disaster assessment photos":
Has been done using SSTV and/or ATV.
But again, it is equipment intensive and what's wrong with a brief,
accurate verbal or written description?
Regarding "other complex
message ICS forms":
The so called ICS-213 (Office Speed Memo)
works well for written messages within an EOC or across a fire
camp, but it is much too complex for radio relay work.
Regarding "privacy
considerations":
This question occasionally
has been raised in reference to sending "long
lists" of names, addresses, etc. of evacuees over amateur
radio on behalf of the Red Cross. It is often
used by proponents of digital modes as being "more
private". But since amateur radio messages
may not be "encoded" (Part 97.113 (a)(4), the
potential exists that transmissions could be intercepted
by criminals and used to learn who isn't going to be
home for a few days and result in a burglary or worse.
Bluntly stated: third party confidential information should
never be transmitted over amateur radio without the
consent of the persons involved.
Some will say, "Well, what
about a RADIOGRAM? They aren't
confidential." Certainly, but the difference
between some agency sending the names and addresses of
disaster victims over the air and a RADIOGRAM...is that the
signature on a RADIOGRAM is an implied authorization
to send THAT message. The counter person (or whoever
originates the message) should always inform the
sending party that a RADIOGRAM is not 100% private.)
And finally regarding: "those,
like yourself, who are not in favor of learning
anything new":
I rarely reply to personal
attacks...but in this case I will make an exception and say:
I'll put my home library up against yours any day! (It
includes the classics, literature, history, philosophy,
religion, humor, poetry, art, health and medicine...and even
some home improvement, gardening, outdoor lore, and even some
technical books.) Learning and the quest for knowledge
should only end when we each take our last breath. But I
also realize, (my choice) that I will never be a neurosurgeon,
astronaut, or computer software engineer.
Urr...on second thought maybe you do
have a point. After listing my choice of
disciplines in which I choose to spend time expanding my
knowledge, I now see that I truly do prefer the older, simpler
ways! Yet, I have no quarrel with others who
pursue whatever area of interests they wish (including
advanced computer technology)! I am, however,
unconvinced that such complicated contraptions belong in
emergency work (when they must function every time);
often under adverse conditions, and be easily repaired or
replaced when it fails. My tolerance for frustration is
minimal when trying to use something that is
unnecessarily complex, that I do not understand and cannot
repair.
My real gripe is that the basics of radio and radio
operating are being by passed. This "neglect of the
basics" pervades our entire educational system.
Young people are handed pocket calculators in grade school
before they learn arithmetic. I know high school
grads who can't write a letter or make change when they land a
job at MacDonald's. And try ordering a McFish sandwich
sometime "with extra tartar sauce". The clerk
may freak out because there is no button to push
for that!
Then there are the hams. If hams want to a learn
advanced skills beyond radio...that's fine. I just think
they should learn the basics of radio communications first!
Things like the Morse language, how to format, relay, and
deliver a universal RADIOGRAM; and know how to solder
two wires together.
WRAP UP
Transmitting long messages via amateur
radio is rarely (if ever) justified. Especially in an
emergency or a disaster setting. Our time would be
better spent learning how to communicate. If
and when any of us find ourselves in a situation where we have
hundreds of messages to send or receive...we'd better pray to
God that those who originated them knew how to format a
RADIOGRAM properly and used brevity in the text.
While others may pursue methods for
transmitting long messages and imagery, the WRRL will
continue it focus on building a national and international "communications
safety net". Our goal is 6,000
prepared, trained and dedicated operators with stations
capable and ready to handle emcomm traffic between Points
"A to Z", and everywhere in between. This
will be accomplished through "N.E.T.S." (see
above) and through the ARCTS program.
2 + 4 = 1
Those who have reviewed the ARCT Resource typing
system will see that a TYPE I ARCT is simply one
TYPE II ARCT + four (or more) TYPE IV ARCTS. The end
result is a self sufficient communications team that can be
deployed to a stricken area and establish a network composed
of "hub" station and 4 (or more) perimeter
stations and cover an area up to 25,000 sq. mi. (an
area with a radius of 50 miles). Add a few more ARCTs
and the service area expands exponentially. Add an
effective network of qualified traffic stations and it
becomes national and yes...international!
Finally, if emergency managers and
planners, (whether they be government or NGOs), do their planning
homework and establish good protocols and standard
operating procedures, long lists over radio will not be
necessary.
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