Go Kit Checklist
This is the list of required, recommended, and optional equipment for ARES/RACES operators.
2-Hour Carry Kit
- Purpose:
- To be kept nearby at all times for immediate (within minutes) communication of damage reports during Resource Net Level 1 ops. Also used to remain in contact with Resource Net Level 2 while returning home to retrieve 12-hour Go-Kit.
Required:
-
2m/70cm dual-band radio
- HT recommended (min. 5W on 12V/2.5W on batt)
- Mobile 25W optional (if vehicle will not be far away)
- Programmed with Resource Net frequencies
- Charged batteries for 2-3 hours operation
- 2m/70cm dual-band mobile antenna (mag mount, window mount or existing mobile antenna)
- Current SCCo Voice Frequency List
- Modified Mercalli (Mike-Mike) scale
- Notepad / pens
Recommended:
- Cigarette lighter adapter
- Emergency county and city telephone contact list
- Cell phone
- Water (16 oz.)
12-Hour Go Kit
- Purpose:
- For fully independent operation; unknown environment (heat, cold, wind, rain); unknown time (day, night, up to 12 hours). Return home to retrieve.
Portable Radio Equipment
Required:
-
2m/70cm dual-band handie-talkie (HT)
- Minimum 5W on 12V/2.5W on batteries [Note 1]
- Dual-receive recommended
- Radio user manual or cheat sheet
- Earbud or headphones minimum; headset, earbud/mic, or speaker/mic/earbud, or similar recommended
- Charged batteries for 12 hours (min. 3000 mAh) [Note 2]
-
Power cord adapters — connect HT to power sources:
- Powerpoles
- Cigarette lighter socket
- Vehicle battery terminals
- Spare fuses
- Coax adapter: connect HT to coax
- Min. 25 feet of 50 Ohm coaxial cable
Recommended:
- Small backpack, vest, chest harness or other similar method for carrying HT while operating portable
Mobile or Stationary Radio Equipment
Recommended:
-
2m/70cm mobile radio (separate/removable from vehicle)
- 25W minimum
- Dual-receive, cross-band repeat
- Radio user manual or cheat sheet
- Headset (stereo recommended for VFO per ear) w/ inline, handswitch or footswitch PTT
- Battery for 12-hours operation (20 Ah min.; 26 Ah rec.)
-
Power cord adapters — connect mobile to power sources:
- Powerpoles
- Cigarette lighter socket
- Vehicle battery terminals
- Powerpole splitter or fused distribution panel
- Spare fuses
- Coax adapter: connect mobile radio to coax
- Min. 25 add’l feet of 50 Ohm coaxial cable w/barrel conn.
- Extension cord, 3-wire, 3-6 ft., multi-outlet
Optional:
- Extension cord, 3-wire, 50-100 ft.
Antennas
Required:
-
Coax adapters: connect coax to existing antenna jack:
- BNC plug (male) & BNC socket (female)
- UHF plug (PL-259) & UHF socket (SO-239)
- N-type plug (male) and N-type socket (female)
- 2m/70cm dual-band magnetic or window mount antenna
Recommended:
- 2m/70cm high gain HT antenna
- 2m/70cm dual-band portable base antenna (e.g. roll-up J-pole or other)
- Portable mast (elevates antenna base min. 10 ft.)
- Tripod or other self-supporting base for mast
- Window clip antenna mount (for non-metallic vehicles)
Packet Equipment
Optional (required for P2 credential):
- Laptop with current Outpost and PackItForms installed
- USB flash drive (i.e. USB key) with software
- TNC (may be hardware, software or built into radio)
- Cables: TNC to radio; TNC to PC
- Shade cover for display
- Portable printer
- Entire station can operate for min. 1 hr on battery
Other Communications Gear
Recommended:
- Cell phone & charger and/or cigarette lighter adapt.
Optional:
- FRS/GMRS Radio
- Satellite phone
Tools
Recommended:
- Duct tape
- Electrical tape
- Nylon Tie-Wraps/wire ties
- Utility knife
- Small multi-tool or tool kit
Optional:
- Volt-Ohm meter
- SWR/Power meter
Operating Position Equipment
Required:
- Sign(s) for operating position
Recommended:
- Lighting for operating position
- Rope or Dacron cord (50’)
- Folding chair
Optional:
- Magnetic sign for car
- Folding table
- Pop-up Canopy
- Tarp (8’ by 8’ or larger)
- Folding cart
- Safety strobes or flares
- Caution/flagging tape (to mark cables, guy ropes, …)
- Safety cones (to mark cable, tripod, …)
Identification Documents
Required:
- CA Driver’s license or CA-issued ID card
- Amateur Radio license
- County Emergency Responder ID card (DSW Card)
- If issued: SCCo ID badge, city badge, Credential Qual card
Maps
Required:
- Paper or offline maps covering all Santa Clara Co. [Note 3]
- Compass or GPS
Recommended:
- Maps of antenna locations (if available)
- City, county or other detail maps
Forms and Documentation
Required:
- Modified Mercalli (Mike-Mike) scale
- RACES Recommended Form Routing Cheat Sheet (min. 2)
- RACES Radio Routing Slip (min. 5)
- ICS 205-SCCo — Communications Plan (min. 5)
- ICS 211A-SCCo — Communications Check-In (min. 5)
- ICS 213-SCCo — Message (min. 10)
- SCCo EOC 213RR Resource Request (min. 5)
- ICS 214-SCCo — Unit Activity Log (min. 5)
- ICS 309-SCCo — Communications Log (min. 5)
- ICS 314-SCCo — Windshield Survey (min. 2)
- SCCo OA Jurisdictional Status (min. 3)
- SCCo OA Shelter Status (min. 3)
- SCCo Allied Health Facility Status (min. 3)
- Phone message pad (2-part style recommended)
Recommended Item (required for any credential):
- County Performance Standards & Best Practices
Logging / Note Taking
Required:
- Clipboard (covered type recommended)
- Notepads (standard or waterproof)
- At least 2 pens
Optional:
- Highlighters / felt-tip pens
Contact Lists
Required:
- SCCo Voice and Packet Frequency Lists
- DEC/ADEC and city EC telephone contact list
- Police/Fire direct dial phone numbers
Optional:
- Repeater directory
Vehicle
Required:
- Reliable operating condition
- Fueled — minimum ½ full at all times
Recommended:
- Jumper cables
General Personal Items
Required:
- Money (paper and coin) — in case ATMs are down
- Watch or clock
Recommended:
- Trash bags
Personal Safety Gear
Required:
- Flashlight or headlamp and spare batteries for 12 hours
- Safety vest, ANSI Class 2, safety yellow/lime yellow
Recommended:
- Whistle
- Work gloves
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen lotion
- Insect Repellent
- Safety glasses
- Mask (NIOSH-certified N95 or better)
Optional:
- Hearing protection (e.g. foam ear plugs)
- Hard hat (lime yellow recommended)
- Chemical light sticks
Clothing
Required:
- Sturdy, closed-toe shoes (no sandals)
- Long pants (no shorts)
- Hat (broad brim recommended)
- Seasonal jacket / rain gear
Food & Water
Required:
- Food for 12 hours (make your own list)
- Water for 12 hours (3-4 quarts recommended)
Recommended:
- Small cooler or ice chest
Toiletries and Personal Items
Recommended:
- Personal First Aid kit
- Hand soap and/or sanitizer
Optional:
- Pain Reliever of choice
- Antacid tablets
- Prescription medication
- List of medication used
- Eyeglasses & spare
Miscellaneous
Optional:
- Portable AM radio and spare batteries
- Binoculars
- Baggies to seal/protect items
- Shovel
- Fire extinguisher
Notes
- Most recently manufactured hand-held radios ARE capable of 5W output when 12-13.8 VDC is connected to the DC-IN jack and at least 2.5W output power using rechargeable battery packs. Check your radio’s user manual to be sure your radio outputs at least 2.5W on rechargeable batteries. However, most hand-held radios are NOT capable of producing a minimum of 2.5W output power using AA batteries. Some known exceptions are the Kenwood TH-D7 and the Yaesu FT-60. For all other radios, rechargeable battery packs will be needed unless the radio can be shown to have a minimum of 2.5W output on AA batteries (check user manual or test with power meter).
- A review of the most popular handheld radios was conducted. Receive current, transmit current and rechargeable battery pack capacity were reviewed. 3000 mAh was determined to be the minimum capacity needed for 12 hours of operation. (Some radios may require a little more). Depending on the make and model, this translates to 2 or 3 rechargeable battery packs. This minimum requirement correlates well with real-world experience in drills and real incidents such as Katrina.
- Maps must cover the entire Santa Clara County. Offline maps must be usable indoors and without connectivity to any type of network and must have sufficient power for 12 hours. If using maps on your cell phone, they must be useable when in airplane mode.
Extended Go Kit
- Purpose:
- Additional items for fully independent operation over an extended period of time. Used in situations where returning home after shift is not possible or not ideal.
Power Source
- Regulated DC power supply
- Battery charger
- Spare batteries (for charging while operating)
- 12 VDC -to- 120 VAC Power Inverter
- Solar power system
- Portable generator and fuel
Clothing
- Rain gear
- Jacket
- Warm clothing (preferably in layers)
- Under garments (3 sets)
- Socks (3 sets)
- Pants (3)
- Belt
- Shirts (3)
- Alternate boots or shoes
- Sleepwear
- Cold water laundry soap
Food and Water
- MREs (self-heating) or other non-perishable meals
- Water (1 gal/day recommended, depending on conditions)
- Water purification tablets or devices
- Can opener
- Cooler or ice chest
- Bowl and eating utensils
- Coffee cup
Shower Items
- Washcloth and towel
- Soap and shampoo
- Razor and shaving cream
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Comb and/or brush
- Deodorant/antiperspirant
- Wash basin (in case of no sink)
Shelter
- Sleeping pad
- Sleeping bag/blanket
- Pillow
- Blanket
- Tent
- Alarm clock