Too Much of a Good Thing?

More than one professional in the field of Search and Rescue or Emergency Response Management has been known to say that “hams can be too much of a good thing.” What they refer to is the propensity of hams to respond en-mass to a call out without regard to their own skills, physical limitations, body condition, time commitment, and mental state.

Over time, these professionals, often “hams” themselves, reach a state where they decline to again issue a call out or utilize other hams in their operations. In essence, they’ve been “burned” once too often by the untrained and unskilled responders who think just because they hold an Amateur Radio license they are natural emergency operators. Their experience proves that merely holding a “ham” license does not an emergency responder make. It takes effort, study and training to be a good emergency responder. Search and Rescue teams know that because of their endless training and drills. They welcome with open arms seriously interested Radio Amateurs who have the self-discipline to undergo rigorous training similar to theirs and the commitment to stay with the program. Think about it. What kind of a potential responder are you? Are you in the small, but elite, fraternity of those highly trained and dedicated? Or are you in a larger group of those with a little training, a little knowledge and fluctuating interest? Or are you in the largest group that has no training, no knowledge of emergency communications, but feel you can help just because you have an Amateur Radio license? Which of these three groups would you like to have assisting if YOUR family’s life and well being were at stake? —-Cary Mangum, W6WWW

Originally published as RACES Bulletin 286, by the California Office of Emergency Services, on August 9, 1993

Do you "Ham" a Problem?

This piece is from 1993, but it’s still true to this day!

Let’s face it, for the fact that it is: some governments don’t really understand about Emergency Communications Units; they don’t really understand how to work with and utilize volunteers, including hams, some of whom are professional communicators.

As a friend of mine put it recently, “Some government people have been “had” —- burned and worn out mentally —- by “hams” who are just that, amateurs (with the small letter “a”) with no real ability at communications; no interpersonal people skills; not willing to work cooperatively; who just don’t fit the type of people that an administrator wants to associate with, work with or be around. Unfortunately, the ham who is responsible for such affairs seldom, if ever, can grasp the significance of his/her actions in causing such unfortunate results. Regretably, once an agency person has experienced such an unpleasant situation, it can seriously hamper the efforts of more qualified professionals who come along later.”

Quite true, I agreed. One idea that came to mind after our discussion was this: avoid the use of “ham” or “amateurs”. Speak in terms of professional communicators who work without pay, similar to a Search and Rescue Unit (SAR). Call it an ECS Unit - Emergency Communications Support Unit or something similar and raise the expectation up to the emotional “want” level. Stay away from “ham” acronyms that can confuse or trigger past memories.

S/S Cary Mangum, W6WWW, State OES Chief Radio Officer

Originally published as RACES Bulletin 286, by the California Office of Emergency Services, on August 9, 1993

EMC032 - How to be left OUT!

To: Emergency Communications Units, any place, any where
By: Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS), the volunteer communications reserve of the State of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

Originally Published: June 17, 1996

We get inquiries about why volunteers are not called upon after they have some kind of agreement with a local official. Here, in the words of an unnamed emergency management agency official, is one perspective on why they are left out.

“Volunteers serve the will of the local government. Like it or not and more often than not, if a volunteer embarrasses the local government, they will not be asked to serve again. No reason may ever be given. The volunteers are simply left out in the cold. This is often because the volunteers have often put their own desires and practices before those of the local government. Like it or not, this is not the way to success and long term involvement. That’s one reason the Radio Officer must become intimately familiar with the local government policies, practices, procedures and — yes — politics. The politics of a radio club or association must never get in the way or it can be a one-way road to “out!” Remember, we got along without you before and we can get along without you in the future.”

“I know that many of my counterparts simply won’t say these things to you. But if somebody doesn’t, some of you may wonder why we have had bad experiences with some volunteers. The sheriff doesn’t have these problems with reserve deputies. Any questions?”

Our next series will cover the various types of volunteers, not just those in communications. As we’ve spoken about this around the area it is startling to realize how few people discern that there are actually different TYPES and QUALITIES of volunteers.

We have had good success with using the term “unpaid staff” or “unpaid professionals” rather than volunteers, largely due to the negative images that exist in people’s minds. There is really no way we can know what another person categorizes ’volunteers’ so anything we can do to get beyond those mental images is a step in the right direction.

EMC002 - An Incident or Disaster?

EMC002 - An Incident or Disaster? Posted Spring 1996.

An incident is defined as an occurance or event (either human or natural caused) requiring action by emergency response personnel to prevent or minimize loss of life or damage to property and/or natural resources.

Incident characteristics include:

• usually of a short duration (hours or days)


• primary command decisions made at the incident scene


• strategy, tactics and resource assignments determined on scene


• usually a local emergency will not be declared and a local EOC may not be activated


• a single event (however, there can be more than a single incident; i.e., multiple incidents)


• with a defined geographical area


• will use local resources; but mutual aid may be involved


• may be only one or a few agencies involved (i.e., fire)


• ordinary threat to life and property - limited population and geographic area

A disaster is defined as a sudden calamitous emergency event bringing great damage, loss or destruction. Disasters may occur with little or no advance warning, e.g., an earthquake, or a flash flood, or they may develop from one or more incidents; e.g., a major brush fire.

Distinguishing characteristics include:

• generally affects a widespread population and geographic area


• will last over a substantial time period (days to weeks)


• local goverment will proclaim an emergency (as may other levels, such as state/federal)


• Emergency Operations Centers are activated to provide central overall coordination of jurisdiction assets, department and incident support functions and initial recovery coordination


• single or multiple event (can have many separate incidents associated with it)


• resource demand is beyond local capabilities and extensive outside aid/support is needed


• many agencies and jurisdications involved, including multiple layers of government


• extra-ordinary threat to life and property

EMC001 - Emergency Means What?

In the early 1950s, the California State Office of Emergency Services began issuing bulletins to assist agencies and radio operators to become more familiar with RACES. They were issued periodically until 1985, at which time they began to be issued weekly over voice and digital radio systems of Amateur Radio and in print. Originally intended for California, increased demand, and a 1988 request by the ARRL for national distribution, led to their eventual worldwide distribution. With the development of the Internet, demand for these materials soared, leading to their being put online on several FTP sites and a couple of websites, including mine.

I am re-posting some of these articles/bulletins because the information they contain is still timely and, I believe, necessary if Amateur Radio is going to remain a viable communications source for served agencies and entities. I will post them here, with links on my Twitter and Facebook feeds.

Below is EMC001, originally published in the spring of 1996.  More information on the bulletins is available here.

EMC001 - Emergency Means What?

These bulletins are for Emergency Communications units whatever their nature, makeup, affiliation or sponsor. We share a common goal “to assist when there is a need.”

There is a sign around that reads “Your emergency is not necessarily my emergency!”

That applies to us as people AND to governments. The definition of an emergency varies from place to place either by law, custom or some other reason.

While those involved in emergency communications probably know what an emergency is, that’s not the point; rather, let’s be specific so we are talking a standard meaning.

Some areas define emergency as “a situation of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property”.

The term “emergency” is also used to identify a conditional state, such as a proclamation by a government. Typically, there are three such conditions: State of War Emergency, State of Emergency, and Local Emergency. (Various areas may define these differently, as by the type of declaration: i.e., Federal, State, County, Local.)

Webster defines it as “a sudden or unexpected occurrence or combination of occurrences demanding prompt action.” That definition seems to fit well in communications. Perhaps we can adopt that as a standard meaning.

While all this may seem obvious to experienced responders we cannot afford to assume that we currently share a common language across state and national boundaries. Effective communication systems begin with good understanding of words and meanings. If you think you know what “communication” means, take a look at Roget’s International Thesaurus. You may find it enlightening to discover the many uses for the term.

The next bulletin, will review “incident” and “disaster”.