PVENART Radio Operators
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
Our Roles and Responsibilities
NART members work with the Police Department, the DDP Coordinators and CERT Volunteers. They use their own radios, and resources provided by the City, to relay timely, critical information from neighborhood patrols to each of the 6 Disaster District commanders. The most critical of these situations, as determined by the DDP site commander, will then be relayed by radio to the PVE Emergency Operations Center (EOC), where city-wide emergency operations are assessed and coordinated. Responses are likewise relayed back through this chain to keep all parties informed of the status.
These messages relate to the condition and welfare of the citizens, buildings and infrastructure. They give the City’s Emergency Operations Managers a better strategic overview of the condition of the city and facilitate the efficient and effective allocation of resources.
In an emergency, NART personnel report to the DDP Logistics Function, following the ICS (Incident Command System) as outlined by the Department of Homeland Security under FEMA. NART members deployed to serve Disaster Districts handle radio network communications using a hub-and-spoke structure with a control operator as the “hub” at each level of organization. This operating structure is carried from the EOC all the way to the local neighborhood.
NCO - Net Control Operator
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DDP - Disaster District Plan Location
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EOC - Emergency Operations Center (City Hall or Mobile Command Post)
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ICS - Incident Command System
To provide orderly flow of messages during NART disaster communication activities involving a network of radio operators, NART employs “directed” and “closed” nets. This means that the net control operator (NCO), usually at the overall Incident Command Headquarters, is in charge of the communications process, and use of the frequency is controlled by that person. Likewise, tactical Net Control Operators at local DDP locations serve as hubs for communications involving resources deployed in those districts. A “closed” net means that only NART members participate in these nets.
Volunteers equipped with FRS radios who need to pass tactical traffic will do so through a similar “hub” person located at the DDP communications table. Any relay of FRS traffic to the EOC will be handled by the NART NCO at the DDP site as directed by the DDP site commander. FRS radios are incapable of communicating on the NART system.
Answering the Call
To be ready for the sudden and extended demand for radio connectivity in the event of a disaster in our City, upwards of 100 operators are needed for the City of Palos Verdes Estates.
Why so many? With two operators per shift, 3 shifts/24 hours, and nine city operations locations, the minimum subsistence level is 54 operators. Combine this base with search and rescue support, personnel unavailability due to travel, family needs, and other communications needs of the community, and the requirement for trained operators rapidly increases.
Requirements and Expectations
Neighborhood Amateur Radio Team members are required to hold a Technician Class Amateur Radio License or higher.
Members are expected to become familiar, through training, with the operation of the EOC and Mobile Command Post equipment and the proper procedures for operating the equipment and running a “net”.
Members are also expected to check into weekly NART Nets on Monday nights as often as possible and to conduct a “net” by being the Net Control Operator at least once a year.
In case of an emergency, once the team member is assured his/her family and property are in no danger, he/she is expected to check into the NART net and be prepared to help as requested.
Also, NART members are encouraged to join the LA County Disaster Communications Service.
What Comes Next?
Once your application is made, you will complete a two-hour orientation class taught by members of NART, be sworn in by a City Official as a Disaster Service Worker and obtain a Police Department-issued ID card. NART members also receive shirts bearing the police department emblem and hats designating their affiliation. NART members are requested to join a weekly “net” of NART participants to exercise radios and to practice passing message traffic.
NART members also participate in PVE’s public events that highlight disaster preparedness. These include the PVE Disaster Fair and July 4th Events.