VOLUNTEERS - CHANGE YOUR FUTURE!
Have an interest in communications, such as between
emergency response agencies during emergencies?
Whether it's with YOUR local government or with the
California Emergency Management Agency, opportunities
exist for those with appropriate backgrounds and interest.
The Auxiliary Communications Services (ACS) is what we, in California, call all communications-related volunteer organizations. This is not just a euphemism for RACES. ACS is a program identifier of RACES, ARES, REACT, CAP, MARS, RCU, DCS and any other volunteer-based telecommunications organization. ACS is a part of California's Citizen Corps/AmeriCorps Program called California Volunteers. More information on CA Volunteers is located here. The State ACS Coordinator is appointed to the CA Volunteers Citizen Corps Council within the Disaster and Emergency Management Department and is:
Ben J. Green {WD8CZP}
Assistant Chief, Telecommunications
ACS Program
State of California, Emergency Managment Agency
3650 Schriever Avenue
Mather, CA 95655
(916) 845-8603
Email: ben_green@oes.ca.gov
An ACS Program that is a part of a government entity is usually not a home based activity. Rather, it is active in, or directly relative to, a particular government facility. Activities and operations vary by the particular unit as the needs and situations of each differ. That mission is to serve its sponsoring governmental jurisdiction in support of any possible need relative to communications in an emergency. This means far more than being activated in sporadic emergencies, or just operating radios in the field or at an EOC. It includes thorough familiarity with any form of interpersonal or agency communications. It is on-going. Its personnel are involved in day-to-day affairs of that agency so the ACS Unit becomes an integrated aspect of the sponsoring agency staff, albeit unpaid. Its leaders participate in the agency meetings of appropriate interest or to those assigned due to their resource talents and skills. For instance, a lawyer-trained participant might be assigned to aid in drafting or wording plans or for grants affecting emergency response. ACS is a broad spectrum in aid of emergency response communications for a government or a private organization. It is adopted by those jurisdictions and organizations that prefer a dedicated unit of volunteer experts.
The California Emergency Managment Agency (CalEMA) Auxiliary Communications Services Program (ACS) is called the Reserve Communications Unit (RCU) operating as the State Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) Unit. Follow the link provided to find out more about CalEMA's RCU. Interested in participating at the State level in emergency response preparation and actual hands-on opportunities with equipment and people? Contact your CalEMA Region RCU Officer, State ACS Officer, or CalEMA Region or ACS Program Communications Coordinator.
The CalEMA ACS Program goal is two-fold:
1. Provide trained emergency communications personnel from the Reserve Communications Unit (RCU) to the CalEMA Telecommunications Section for deployment, implementation and use of:
(a) Field deployable communications assets, like Communications Vans, Equipment Caches and Mobile Earth Stations (OASIS Satellite units).
(b) State Emergency Operations Center (SOC) and three Regional Operations Centers (REOC's: Sacramento, Oakland and Los Alamitos.) Activities may include on-going activities with the FEMA and other government radio systems as well as all forms of day-to-day and emergency response inter-communication systems.
(c) Special Assignments in line with background experience and interests of the each participant.
2. Assist each city, county (Operational Area) and relevant state agency to develop and maintain a program of skilled communications volunteers to serve that government in emergencies and to be a resource to other entities for mutual aid.
CalEMA RCU personnel operate Federal and State Public Service Systems and well equipped Amateur Radio facilities. Systems are not limited to radio, microwave or satellite. While most CalEMA RCU personnel hold FCC Amateur Radio licenses, the unit includes non-licensees with experience in other communication forms including the public switched telephone networks.
Another activity is that of the Region RCU Duty Officer. The trained RCUDO serves a 7 day on-call standby, equivalent to the career Telecommunications Duty Officer that the Communications Coordinators serve. Their task is to schedule and provide qualified CalEMA RCU personnel for emergency response for an assigned mission, whether to an incident command post for USFS, CDF or to other agencies. CalEMA RCU deployments can range from a day to several weeks depending on the event or situation, such as a remote fire camp or in support of law agencies including the FBI or DOJ at a major public events like the SuperBowl.
For more information and/or application contact the appropriate Region RCU Officer, the State ACS/RACES Officer or the appropriate Region or ACS Program Communications Coordinator.
ALL OA ACS OFFICERS, ARES SEC's and other leaders in Auxiliary Communications: Please visit the following link to the ACS-ANNEX if you would like to participate in a discussion listserver run by the CalEMA ACS Program. The list is moderated and is self-subscribing.
POLICY ON THE USE OF AMATEUR RADIO:
The Amateur Radio Service is a valuable resource to the State and local governments in time of emergencies large and small. Many jurisdictions use trained "hams" on a regular basis, yet others, unfortunately, not at all. This is due in large part to the retirement of government people familiar in this area and the lack of written guidelines and expertise in managing and using volunteers. Many local governments use volunteers. They're called deputy sheriffs, reserve police officers, and volunteer firefighters. They must meet certain qualifications and training. Ham radio operators used by government are, in effect, deputy communicators. They are recruited, enrolled and administered in much the same manner as the other volunteers--the reserve law enforcement and fire personnel.
These deputy communicators are sometimes identified as the RACES--the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. The RACES is a communications unit of government sanctioned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In California all RACES are considered part of the ACS Program and all auxiliary radio services using Amateur Radio for government are considered RACES. No local government should use volunteers unless they are registered Disaster Service Workers. This applies to the use of Amateur Radio operators as well. The legal risks to government, its managers, the volunteer and their families today are too great. The enclosures can help take the mystery out of the ACS Program and clear up misunderstanding about the what, who, why, when, where and how. The ACS is not a collection of names to be filed away as a "doomsday resource" anymore than one would with police and fire reserves. A communications unit of government should be exercised and trained as would any reserve component of that government.
ACS PLAN DEVELOPMENT
Operational Area & City ACS Officers – is your ACS plan current? Does it comply with the SEMS requirements? California considers all Local & State ACS Plans to include requirements as set forth within the DHS/NCS/FEMA and FCC Rules & Regulations including the Federal RACES requirements. Here are some examples to help in formatting your City or County ACS Plan.
STATE AGENCY ACS PROGRAMS:
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Caltrans)
Caltrans ACS Program Coordinator
Caltrans ACS Officer
Robert W. Pattee, Jr
Caltrans Amateur Radio Service (CARS)
Associate Information Systems Analyst
703 B St, Marysville, CA 95901
530-740-4873, Cell 916-825-7675
Email: Bob Pattee, N6HQ
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS)
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CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY SERVICES (DTS),
RANCHO CORDOVA DATA CENTER
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CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES (DGS-TD),
TELECOMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
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