Twenty-four coverage at the State EOC radio room begins at 0800 on Thursday September 13, 2018.
At 0900 SCHEART conducts weekly communications check with healthcare facilities. After the healthcare net, the SCHEART VHF/UHF will remain linked for the duration of the storm. Periodic nets to brief field staff and/or confirm stations will happen at four-hour intervals. The first net will be at 10:00AM Thursday.
SCHEART Analog VHF/UHF Scheduled Net Times are:
02:00 AM, 06:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 02:00 PM, 06:00 PM, 10:00 PM
SCHEART DMR system is in emergency mode which restricts PRN talk group to South Carolina and terminates all dynamic talk groups. ARES and AUXCOMM members are requested to monitor the PRN talk group for coordination information and instructions and keep the analog system open for tactical and emergency traffic.
Statewide Simplex Channel is 146.595 with PL of 156.7 Hz and can be used for relaying traffic to the SEOC.
HF operations will begin at noon on Thursday. HF is a back-up to the statewide VHF/UHF network. The published frequencies for SC ARES nets are 3.990 or 3.995 +/- for nights and 7.232 +/- days bands permitting.
State EOC will monitor the SCHEART repeater networks, Simplex and HF frequencies. Field operators should follow guidance and frequencies listed in the South Carolina ARES and RACES Auxiliary Communication Tactical Communications Guide which is available for download on the http://ares-sc.org/ website.
Tactical Call Signs will be used during this response effort. Operators are responsible for following FCC regulation on proper station identification. Stations should call “State EOC” when calling the radio room. The State EOC will call County EOC’s by the county and healthcare facilities by name. Stations not associated with with a partner agency will use their normal call sign. All operators are encourage to 1) Keep transmissions short, 2) Pass essential information as clearly as possible, 3) Follow Net Control Station directions 4) When you check into a net indicating you are staffing a partner facility, or offering to assist in the response, do not leave the frequency without obtaining a release from Net Control Station. The only except is at an agency location where there’s multiple operators and the frequency is being monitor by another operator if you step away from the radio.
Field operators who observe a potential life-threatening situation, should immediately immediately contact 911. If you are unable to reach 911, use your county tactical frequency (reference ARES/RACES Tactical Guide link above) to contact the county EOC. If you are unable to make local contact, the emergency may be reported to the State EOC radio room. Information they will need: Complete and specific information on situation location, name of the person making the request, your call sign, and facts about the emergency condition. The State EOC radio room will attempt to assist but the process to get back to local emergency management take longer than making local contact.
All Operators are reminded to be polite and respectful as this situation is very stressful. Please be professional as possible. Field Operators do not self deploy and put yourself in harms- way. ARES/RACES operators should follow direction provide by their field management and local emergency officials.
This plan will adapt as conditions change. All amateur radio operators are encouraged to monitor the SCHEART network for updated information from the State EOC and listen to their county designated repeater for local information and reports .
Roger Mulle – DEC SEOC
Billy Irwin – SEC