The following is an abbreviated summary of the mutual aid process for Amateur Radio resources. For the complete procedure, see the Details section below.
Requesting Jurisdiction
- If a local jurisdiction has exhausted its local amateur radio operators and needs more, then ...
- Local jurisdiction Radio Officer (RO) creates a RACES/ACS Mutual Aid Request.
- Local jurisdiction Emergency Manager (EM) approves the request.
- The approved RACES/ACS Mutual Aid Request form is sent to the SCCo Op Area Mutual Aid Coordinator: the SCCo RACES Chief Radio Officer (or deputy). Transmission methods include:
- Scan and E-mail to the CRO
- Send via Packet Radio to the CRO at the Op Area EOC
- Fax to the CRO at the Op Area EOC
- Once resources arrive, the local jurisdiction RO regularly reports on status of received mutual aid resources.
Operational Area
- The Op Area CRO receives and reviews the mutual aid request and forwards to the SCCo Office of Emergency Management (OEM) for approval.
- If amateur radio has not already been activated, the CRO also forwards a request for RACES/ACS activation to SCCo OEM.
- Upon approval, the CRO notifies the EC/RO from the requesting jurisdiction.
- The county Resource Net is activated to make assignees, activate and track the movement of mutual aid operators.
- The EC/RO from the other (unaffected) jurisdictions in the Op Area are also notified and requested to solicit operators and have them join the Resource Net.
Other Jurisdictions
- Upon request from the Op Area CRO, each EC/RO activates their phone tree, radio nets, or other method of notifying their members that mutual aid help is needed.
- Operators are instructed to check into the Resource Net if available for assignment.
Individual Amateur Radio Operators
- Radio operators available for assignment check into the county Resource Net.
- The Resource Net will verify DSW status and credentials and seek to match the right operators to the mutual aid request.