Town of Babylon
Amateur Radio Emergency Services
Emergency Plan

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AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICES EMERGENCY PLAN
FOR THE TOWN OF BABYLON, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Town of Babylon Amateur Radio Emergency Services (TOBARES) is comprised of FCC-licensed Amateur Radio operators who have voluntarily registered their capabilities and equipment for Public Service Communications duty with the American Radio Relay League's (ARRL) Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and/or the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES).

1.2 Under Federal regulations, Amateur Radio Service Communications are furnished without compensation of any kind.

1.3 The Town of Babylon Amateur Radio Emergency Services (TOBARES) operate by using this Emergency Plan under the direction of the Town of Babylon ARRL ARES Emergency Coordinator (EC), who is appointed by the ARRL New York City / Long Island Section Emergency Coordinator in consultation with the ARRL District Emergency Coordinator and Section Manager for NYC/LI. The ARES EC also is the Town Radio Officer (RO) for RACES and oversees the that operation when it is called up under Article 2B of the Executive Law in an emergency. The EC/RO liaisons with the Town via the town's appointed Emergency Preparedness Director.

1.4 The EC/RO may appoint assistant EC/ROs as needed for the unit to function efficiently.

2. PURPOSE

2.1 The purpose of this plan is to provide a written guide containing the minimum information that would be needed in an emergency. Each emergency is different and flexibility to provide an adequate response to each is a necessity.

2.2 The primary responsibility of the Town of Babylon ARES/RACES is to furnish communications in the event of an emergency, when regular communications fail or are inadequate.

2.3 Drills, training, and instruction shall be carried out to insure readiness and quick response in providing effective
emergency communications whenever necessary.

2.4 The following agencies may require communications during an emergency: The American Red Cross; local hospitals; Babylon Town Hall; local village halls; local Fire Departments including Central Alarm; Suffolk County Police Dept. 1st Precinct; Salvation Army; The National Weather Service; LIPA (Keyspan); and any other agencies requesting communications assistance from the Town of Babylon Amateur Radio Emergency Services.

2.5 The TOBARES will make every effort to promote coordination with any other emergency preparedness group that assists the Town during emergencies.

3. ACTIVATING THE PLAN

3.1 Any member of the Town of Babylon ARES/RACES or any local Amateur Radio operator who for any reason suspects an emergency that may require ARES/RACES activation exists should monitor the assigned frequencies for activity and attempt to notify any of the EC/RO's of the emergency if no such activity is found.

3.2 EC/RO and/or assistant EC/ROs will be notified by any means available by an official of the group requesting assistance. The EC/RO's will then notify the members using any means available. This may include Amateur Radio, telephone, commercial pager, Suffolk County RACES pager, Long Tone Zero (LITZ); broadcast radio/TV, etc.

4. ARES/RACES MOBILIZATION PROCEDURE

4.1 Local broadcast stations may be contacted by the EC/RO or other officials, as needed, for spot announcements alerting ARES/RACES members and the community.

4.2 If telephone service is available, the telephone tree may be activated.

4.3 Upon the awareness or notification that an abnormal situation exists, members of the Town of Babylon ARES/RACES will call into the Town of Babylon ARES/RACES Emergency Net on the 146.685 FM repeater, WB2FKZ, which is maintained by the Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club. As an alternate frequency the 147.255 FM repeater, KB2UR, which is maintained by the South Shore Amateur Radio Club, is used. If for any reason a repeater is not on line the output of the repeater maybe used for net operations. 146.535 FM simplex is also used within the town for ARES/RACES communications.

4.4 The EC/RO or his designate will become the Net Control Station (NCS). Net Control will be from the Town of Babylon Civil Defense (Emergency Preparedness) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Babylon Town Hall in the basement whenever possible. This station is designated as an "Official Emergency Station" and will be used as the main communications center in an emergency.

4.5 Operators and units will be activated and dispatched as needed by the Net Control Station (NCS) under the direction of the EC/RO or his designate.

5. DUTIES OF NCS

5.1 The TOBARES Emergency Net will be called to order by the NCS.

5.2 Members of the Town of Babylon ARES/RACES will check into the net from their mobiles, portable and home stations to await further instructions from the NCS.

5.3 Liaison Stations that have been previously assigned permanent duties as "Official Emergency Stations" will be
dispatched to their tasks as required. Any additionally required liaisons to nets and/or agencies will be assigned
as required by the NCS.

5.4 Radio operators that are assigned to handle radio communications will be designated as an "Official Emergency
Station" for the duration of the Net or their participation.

5.5 Radio operators of home based stations will be coordinated to effectively assist the NCS and operate as "Official
Emergency Stations" as required.

6. OPERATIONS

6.1 All Official Messages will be written down and saved. Packet radio communications will be used where possible.

6.2 All Official Messages must be signed by the official who originates them, with his/her title, thereby taking
responsibility for the contents of the message.

6.3 Message precedents of Emergency, Priority, Welfare, and Routine, as defined on ARRL form FSD-3, shall be used on all messages.

6.4 Stations in an Emergency Net do not transmit unless invited to do so by Net Control. The only exception to this is for
a station that has messages for the NCS.

7. DRILLS, TESTS AND ALERTS

7.1 A minimum of one annual test will be conducted to test the effectiveness of the communications system. This exercise
may be on 3rd weekend in October in conjunction with the nationwide ARRL Simulated Emergency Test.

7.2 TOBARES may supply Public Service Communications in support of local events (marathons, bike-a-thons, etc) to test the effectiveness of the system.

7.3 TOBARES will operate a weekly on the air net to assist with training and passing on information required to facilitate
communications for the township.

7.4 At the discretion of the EC/RO, TOBARES will be activated on an unannounced basis at least once per year.

7.5 At the discretion of the EC/RO, TOBARES will participate, if invited, in drills conducted by other emergency preparedness groups.

Revised 9/14/94 KA2RGI

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Town of Babylon Amateur Radio Emergency Services Emergency Plan

Town of Babylon
Amateur Radio Emergency Services
Emergency Plan