[SARC] Some Thoughts on Mutual Aid

[Dale Sewell]

Some Thoughts on Mutual Aid

In Northern Florida there have always been difficult discussions regarding the relationship between ARES and other programs as they exist from county to county.  Some counties, for example have plans using a Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) plan.  This creates a conflict as the State of Florida has no RACES program.  Other counties in the Northern Florida Section have their own plans such as the Marion Amateur Radio Club.  The important thing to remember is that Amateur Radio resources serve the client and do not dictate to the client how they will run their Emergency plans.  In other words it would be impossible to dictate to the entire Section that there would be an ARES plan imposed upon every county's Emergency Management program.  

Another way of looking as this is within the context of the Incident Command System (ICS).  When a major disaster occurs within an area requiring the Incident Command System, a set of rules engages that places ARES, SERT, RACES, MARS, DMATs, and other entities using communications into perspective.  In other words the ARES plan or RACES plan will then be subject to the ICS, which will place communications into its organizational chart.  For example, ARES communicators may fall under Emergency Support Function Two (ESF-2 for Communications) whereas a Disaster Medical Communications Team (DMAT) may have their communications team fall under ESF-8 for Health and Medical.  The point is at this point, the tail does not wag the dog.  The Incident Commander calls the shots and the ARES plan gives way to the ICS system in effect for that disaster scene.  This is why ICS training is essential for ARES members.  

The Incident Command System was designed decades ago to eliminate turf wars for jurisdiction in small and large disasters.  This is why it should not be the case today that the Northern Florida Section experience issues over whether a county's EMCOMM plan determines how mutual aid of amateur operators  are deployed.  This also applies to other states and beyond for that matter.  The ICS applies to emergencies that extend beyond the means of one jurisdiction incidents.

This does not negate the Section Plan for ARES by any means.  The Section Plan applies to the overall communication plan for the Section as a whole.  This includes how deployments are prepared for and executed for ARES teams.  It also outlines the communications strategy and organizational chart for communications for the entire Northern Florida Section.  Some disasters, such as Hurricanes Charley and Francis covered the significant portions of the Section during their event.  This requires large scale coordination by the Section Emergency Coordinator and subordinate officers.  

On a personal note, having worked a few of these with ARES and with NDMS/DMATs, the key thing to remember is that health and safety is of paramount importance.  Black and white turns into grey and the objective is to get things done with a minimum of BS.  In the real McCoy rules are broken, deals are made between agencies, stuff is traded, locks are broken to get necessary supplies, and real amateurs give their own gear to other amateurs to get the mission done with the promise that when it's over, things will get squared away somehow.  That's ham radio spirit.  

As we go deeper into the 2008 season, perhaps the rhetoric of the past can give way to a move toward cooperation that opens the opportunity for smooth operations and less conflict over organizational issues.  

73, Dale Sewell W4NBF
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