SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
	Amateur Radio Club
	P.O.Box 1033 Lancaster, Pa. 17608-1033

  Introduction

The general purpose of ARES/RACES along with SPARC's equipment and support capabilities have been described on other pages.  Following is some additional detail which explains how the system in Lancaster County is activated and operated, who could participate, what equipment is available, and how the system is controlled.

• The role of Lancaster County ARES/RACES in county emergency operations
• Differences between ARES and RACES
• Eligible control operators
• Available Infrastructure
• Radiocommunications nets
• Incident Command Structure (ICS).
• Types of Emergency Situations
• Summary/Conclusions

  What is the role of Lancaster County ARES/RACES in county emergency operations?

In the general scheme of county emergency communications:

• Wire, both leased line and common user, is the primary means of communications.
• County VHF radio is the secondary means of communications.
• Lancaster County ARES/RACES is the tertiary means of communications.

  What are the differences between ARES and RACES?

ARES and RACES both exist to provide a means of communications in an emergency.  They both use the same equipment and in many cases the same operators.  There are some important and significant differences between the two, however, as shown in the table below.  RACES  is a government sponsored amateur radio emergency communications service whereas ARES is a nongovernment sponsored amateur radio emergency communications service.  RACES engages in authorized civil defense type traffic.  ARES is limited to health and welfare type traffic.  RACES operations are governed by County appointees and may be conducted by any licensed amateur designated by the county.  ARES operations are governed by ARRL appointees and may be conducted only by ARRL-affiliated operators.   Finally, RACES operators protected by a compensation-type insurance plan provided by the state.  ARES operators are not afforded that coverage.

About personnel:  The term "ARRL County EC" designates  "ARRL County Emergency Coordinator".  This individual is appointed by the ARRL Section Manager.  The current ARRL County EC is SPARC member and President James "Yogi" Bear.  The term "EMC" is used to designate the "County Emergency Management Coordinator."  That position is appointed by the Pa State Governor and is currently filled by Randy Gockley, an employee of Lancaster County.
 

  What qualifications are required of Lancaster County RACES control operators?

Operators must meet two fundamental criteria:

• They must hold a valid FCC-issued amateur operator license. §97.407(a).
• They must be certified by LEMA as enrolled in that organization. §97.407(a).

  What is the Lancaster County ARES/RACES Infrastructure and how is it funded?

There are three major centers of operation.  They include a radio room in the Manheim EOC, the repeater and equipment building at the Ironville site, and the mobile Field Support Van.  These centers and their equipement were funded in part by SPARC and in part by grants and equipment from Lancaster County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  The following table shows these major assets, their use for emergency communications, and an approximate breakdown of the funding source.
 

  What Lancaster County ARES/RACES radiocommunications networks exist and what is their status?

There are three fundamental networks used for ARES/RACES.  The first, Direction and Control, is a general-purpose voice communication network that is used to relay ordinary traffic and messages.  The Data network consists of packet and pactor equipment which transmits digital data.  Its major advantages include accuracy, speed, and the possibility of unattended operation.   Included in the Data network is the APRS system, which provides exact, real-time location information.  The Image network consists of both slow-scan and fast-scan television systems.  As its name implies, it is used to transmit real-time images between the Field Support Van and the EOC headquarters in Manheim.  These three systems and their operational status are detailed below.
 

  What is the Incident Command Structure (ICS)?

The Incident Command Structure is a heirarchical organizational structure that is used to identify, deploy, and control both human and material assets during a situation.  It consists of several major functional groups and objectives as well as the heirarchical Echelons of Command structure itself.  The Incident Command Structure is designed to work well for all types of incidents, from a simple one-person rescue lasting perhaps a day to a full-fledged regional disaster lasting several weeks.

The Incident Command Post (ICP) consists of the following sections and branches:

• Command Section
• Logistics Section
• Service Branch
• Communications Unit
• Medical Unit
• Food Unit
• Support Branch
• Supply Unit
• Facilities Unit
• Operations section
• Planning Section
• Finance/Administration Section
• Incident Documentation

• Command
• Section
• Branch
• Division/group
• Unit
• Resource

  Conclusions

Lancaster County ARES

• Is the primary means of communication for the Red Cross
• The ARRL County EC exercises operational control.
• Operators are  FCC-licensed and approved by the ARRL County EC

Lancaster County RACES
 
• is a tertiary means of communications for LEMA
• The County EMC exercises operational control
• Operators  are FCC-licensed and LEMA certified