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- RACESBUL.285
- TO: ALL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES VIA AMATEUR RADIO
-
- INFO: ALL RACES OPERATORS IN CA (ALLCA: OFFICIAL)
- ALL AMATEURS U.S. (@ USA: INFORMATION)
-
- FROM: CA STATE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
- (KH6GBX @ WA6NWE.CA)
- 2800 Meadowview Rd., Sacramento, CA 95832
- (916)262-1600
- Landline BBS open to all: (916) 262-1657
-
- RACESBUL.285 DATE: August 2, 1993
-
- SUBJECT: OPS - Familiarization and the EOC
-
- In an emergency the fire chief, police chief and mayor don't
- go to a home and run things from there, but to the emergency
- operations center or designated command post.
- So it is with communications reserve participants. They are
- expected to go to the government's communications facility and to
- other locations that need such support. A home based station is
- of little use in those situations.
- Going to the place where they will be functioning helps
- familiarize them with not only the equipment, but the place and
- the people. If they participate only once in a while they really
- don't understand their role and relationship to the agency. They
- need help in understanding how regular participation is indeed a
- joint recognition of their worth. After all, if they don't come
- in regularly to help as help is needed, how can they get to know
- us; or we, them?
- Familiarization has many facets, from learning to use
- equipment, to what systems do what, to discovering a radio that
- interferes with the telephone system, or a computer that doesn't
- work, or a secretary who doesn't know their name; or an agency
- person who doesn't know there is a RACES unit. Or an Amateur who
- is an unrepresentative example of those who DO participate on a
- professional level.
- Communications reserve participants need to become a
- familiar face at the emergency response agency. Help them tackle
- needed tasks and prove worth - NOW - long before it is needed.
- Then, when it is needed there will be mutual benefits that all
- will share. Yes, this may take a change of attitude to
- accomplish, but humans have that characteristic: we can change!
-