64. Even though there will not be enough people to initially
deal with
emergencies, many available personnel will never be identified and never
used. After the initial shock, there will be too many volunteers.
COMMENT: This phenomena, known as "convergence", is universally reported in emergency and disaster situations. I direct your attention to the portion of the SV Section Mutual Aid Plan (copied below) that addresses this problem. (The entire MA Plan may be viewed at: http://www.qsl.net/k6soj/mutual_aid.htm
Excerpted from the Sacramento Valley Section Mutual Aid Plan:
COORDINATING YOUR RESOURCES
As an EC, DEC, or SEC, your primary job is to "coordinate" the amateur radio resource for your area. During an actual event, be sure to THINK...AND PLAN AHEAD. Talk to local officials and attempt to determine what will be needed for emergency or auxiliary communications in 12, 24, 48, 72, or more hours down the road. Develop a plan, and put it into motion.
The FIRST RESOURCE is the locally registered, trained, and equipped ARES team members.
The SECOND RESOURCE are the registered and trained ARES members or a team from an nearby jurisdiction.
The THIRD RESOURCE are the amateur operators who just "show up". This phenomena, known as "convergence" is common in emergency and disaster situations. These helpers are usually undisciplined and unfamiliar with ARES procedures and the emergency plan; and they often cause more problems than they solve. However, there are exceptions, so it is important that each individual be evaluated and judged on his or her own merits. This can be time consuming, so it is suggested that you delegate that task to an AEC (or possibly a visiting EC.) Those that are selected to work should be given an orientation to the ARES plan and procedures, and be briefed on the incident. Then, they must be registered with ARES and the served agency.
REMEMBER:
1. Only skilled, disciplined, equipped and registered ARES personnel should respond in mutual aid situations; and all personnel should be directed to a command post or staging area to "sign in". If not already registered, every volunteer must be registered with the "served agency", before they are assigned to the field. Be sure to have the registration forms or logs readily available.
2. Responding teams should be given clear directions to the command center or staging area. Inform them of a "talk-in frequency" (it could be shared with operations, but ideally it will be a frequency dedicated to logistics.)
3. As a general rule, an ARESMAT (ARES Mutual Assistance Team) should come with its own leader(s). (The ICS recommends a 1 to 5 ratio). A team may be given a specific task and utilized as a team. Or, individuals may be assigned to work with your team members, or (once oriented to the operation) they may be given independent assignments.
4. Circumstances usually change rapidly. But, if at all possible, use the outside help you have summoned; and utilize their skills as much as possible. Some may be leaders, others may posses technical skills, computer skills, traffic handling, clerical or other valuable skills.