Contents

Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC)

Requirements

Technician class license or higher; Full ARRL membership

The SEC is the assistant to the SM for emergency preparedness. The SEC is appointed by the SM to take care of all matters pertaining to emergency communications and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) on a sectionwide basis. The SEC post is one of top importance in the section and the individual appointed to it should devote all possible energy and effort to this one challenging organizational program for Amateur Radio. There is only one SEC appointed in each section of the ARRL Field Organization.

Responsibilities

Encourage all groups of community amateurs to establish a local emergency organization.
Advise the SM on all section emergency policy and planning, including the development of a section emergency communications plan.
Cooperate and coordinate with the Section Traffic Manager so that emergency nets and traffic nets in the section present a united public service front, particularly in the proper routing of Welfare traffic in emergency situations. Cooperation and coordination should also be maintained with other section leadership officials as appropriate, particularly with the State Government Liaison and Public Information Coordinator.
Recommend candidates for Emergency Coordinator and District Emergency Coordinator appointments (and cancellations) to the Section Manager and determine areas of jurisdiction of each amateur so appointed. At the SM’s discretion, the SEC may be directly in charge of making (and canceling) such appointments. In the same way, the SEC can handle the Official Emergency Station appointments.
Promote ARES membership drives, meetings, activities, tests, procedures, etc., at the section level.
Collect and consolidate Emergency Coordinator (or District Emergency Coordinator) monthly reports and submit monthly progress summaries to the SM and ARRL Headquarters. This includes the timely reporting of emergency and public safety communications rendered in the section for inclusion in QST.
Maintain contact with other communication services and serve as liaison at the section level with all agencies served in the public interest, particularly in connection with state and local government, civil preparedness, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Red Cross, Salvation Army, the National Weather Service, and so on. Such contact is maintained in cooperation with the State Government Liaison.
Section Emergency Coordinators are encouraged to complete ARRL Emergency Communications training Introduction to Emergency Communications (EC-001) and Public Service and Emergency Communications Management for Radio Amateurs.

Recruitment of new hams and ARRL members is an integral part of the job of every ARRL appointee. Appointees should take advantage of every opportunity to recruit a new ham or member to foster growth of Field Organization programs, and our abilities to serve the public.

Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator (ASEC)

Requirements

Technician class license or higher; Full ARRL membership.

Responsibilities

May serve as a general assistant to the Section Emergency Coordinator or as a specialist. That is, the ASEC may assist the Section Emergency Coordinator with general leadership matters as the Section Emergency Coordinator’s alternate, or the ASEC may be assigned to handle a specific important function that does not fail within the scope of the duties of the Section Emergency Coordinator’s other assistants. The ASEC will act as the SEC in his/her absence or in emergency response operations to maintain continuity of leadership when 24 hour activity requires multiple shifts.
At the Section Manager’s discretion, the ASEC may be designated as the recommended successor to the incumbent Section Emergency Coordinator in case the Section Emergency Coordinator resigns or is otherwise unable to finish the term of office.
Should be familiar with the “Official Appointment Description for the ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator,” which contains the fundamental responsibilities of the SEC.
Encouraged to complete Levels 1, 2, and 3 of the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course.

District Emergency Coordinator (DEC)

The ARRL District Emergency Coordinator is appointed by the Section Manager (or at the SM’s discretion, the SEC may make the appointment). The DEC supervises the efforts of local Emergency Coordinators in the defined district.

Requirements

Technician class license or higher; Full ARRL membership.

Responsibilities

Coordinate the training, organization and emergency participation of Emergency Coordinators in your district of jurisdiction.
Make local decisions in the absence of the SEC or through coordination with the SEC, concerning the allotment of available amateurs and equipment during an emergency.
Coordinate the interrelationship between local emergency plans and between communications networks within your area of jurisdiction.
Act as backup for local areas without an Emergency Coordinator and assist in maintaining contact with governmental and other agencies within your area of jurisdiction.
Provide direction in the routing and handling of emergency communications of either a formal or tactical nature, with specific emphasis being placed on Welfare traffic.
Recommend EC appointments to the SEC.
Coordinate the reporting and documenting of ARES activities in your district of jurisdiction.
Act as a model emergency communicator as evidenced by dedication to purpose, reliability and understanding of emergency communications.
Be fully conversant in National Traffic System routing and procedures as well as have a thorough understanding of the locale and role of all vital governmental and volunteer agencies that could be involved in an emergency.
Encouraged to earn certification in Levels 1 and 2 of the ARRL Emergency Communications Course.

Assistant District Emergency Coordinator (ADEC)

Requirements

Technician class license or higher; Full ARRL membership.

Responsibilities

The Assistant District Emergency Coordinator (ADEC) may serve as a general assistant to the District Emergency Coordinator or as a specialist. That is, the ADEC may assist the District Emergency Coordinator with general leadership matters as the District Emergency Coordinator’s alternate, or the ADEC may be assigned to handle a specific important function that does not fail within the scope of the duties of the District Emergency Coordinator’s other assistants. The ADEC will act as the DEC in his/her absence or in emergency response operations to maintain continuity of leadership when 24 hour activity requires multiple shifts.
At the Section Manager’s discretion, the ADEC may be designated as the recommended successor to the incumbent District Emergency Coordinator in case the District Emergency Coordinator resigns or is otherwise unable to finish the term of office.
The ADEC should be familiar with the “Official Appointment Description for the ARRL District Emergency Coordinator,” which contains the fundamental responsibilities of the DEC.
Assistant District Emergency Coordinators are encouraged to complete Levels 1 and 2 of the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course.

Recruitment of new hams and League members is an integral part of the job of every League appointee. Appointees should take advantage of every opportunity to recruit a new ham or member to foster growth of Field Organization programs, and our abilities to serve the public.

Emergency Coordinator (EC)

The ARRL Emergency Coordinator is a key team player in ARES on the local emergency scene. Working with the Section Emergency Coordinator, the DEC and Official Emergency Stations, the EC prepares for, and engages in management of communications needs in disasters.

Requirements

Technician class license or higher; Full ARRL membership

Responsibilities

Promote and enhance the activities of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) for the benefit of the public as a voluntary, non-commercial communications service.
Manage and coordinate the training, organization and emergency participation of interested amateurs working in support of the communities, agencies or functions designated by the Section Emergency Coordinator/Section Manager.
Establish viable working relationships with federal, state, county, city governmental and private agencies in the ARES jurisdictional area which need the services of ARES in emergencies. Determine what agencies are active in your area, evaluate each of their needs, and which ones you are capable of meeting, and then prioritize these agencies and needs. Discuss your planning with your Section Emergency Coordinator and then with your counterparts in each of the agencies. Ensure they are all aware of your ARES group’s capabilities, and perhaps more importantly, your limitations.
Develop detailed local operational plans with ”served” agency officials in your jurisdiction that set forth precisely what each of your expectations are during a disaster operation. Work jointly to establish protocols for mutual trust and respect. All matters involving recruitment and utilization of ARES volunteers are directed by you, in response to the needs assessed by the agency officials. Technical issues involving message format, security of message transmission, Disaster Welfare Inquiry policies, and others, should be reviewed and expounded upon in your detailed local operations plans.
Establish local communications networks run on a regular basis and periodically test those networks by conducting realistic drills.
Establish an emergency traffic plan, with Welfare traffic inclusive, utilizing the National Traffic System as one active component for traffic handling. Establish an operational liaison with local and section nets, particularly for handling Welfare traffic in an emergency situation.
In times of disaster, evaluate the communications needs of the jurisdiction and respond quickly to those needs. The EC will assume authority and responsibility for emergency response and performance by ARES personnel under his jurisdiction.
Work with other non-ARES amateur provider-groups to establish mutual respect and understanding, and a coordination mechanism for the good of the public and Amateur Radio. The goal is to foster an efficient and effective Amateur Radio response overall.
Work for growth in your ARES program, making it a stronger, more valuable resource and hence able to meet more of the agencies’ local needs. There are thousands of new Technicians coming into the amateur service that would make ideal additions to your ARES roster. A stronger ARES means a better ability to serve your communities in times of need and a greater sense of pride for Amateur Radio by both amateurs and the public.
Report regularly to the SEC, as required.
Encouraged to earn certification in Level 1 of the ARRL Emergency Communications Course.

Official Emergency Station (OES)

Amateur Radio operators can be appointed as an Official Emergency Station (OES) by their Section Manager (SM) or (at the Section Manager’s descretion) by their Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) at the recommendation of the EC, or DEC(if no EC) holding jurisdiction. The OES appointee must be an ARRL member and set high standards of emergency preparedness and operating. The OES appointee makes a deeper commitment to the ARES program in terms of functionality than does the rank-and-file ARES registrant.

The OES appointee is appointed to carry out specific functions and assignments designated by the appropriate EC or DEC. The OES appointee and the presiding EC or DEC, at the time of the OES appointment, will mutually develop a detailed, operational function/assignment and commitment for the new appointee. Together, they will develop a responsibility plan for the individual OES appointee that makes the best use of the individual’s skills and abilities. During drills and actual emergency situations, the OES appointee will be expected to implement his/her function with professionalism and minimal supervision.

Requirements

Full ARRL membership; Experience as an ARES registrant; Regular participation in the local ARES organization including drills and test; Participation in emergency nets and actual emergency situations; Regular reporting of activities; Encouraged to earn certification in Level 1of the ARRL Emergency Communications Course.

Responsibilities

OPERATIONS–Responsible for specific, pre-determined operational assignments during drills or actual emergency situations. Examples include: Net Control Station or Net Liaison for a specific ARES net; Manage operation of a specified ARES VHF or HF digital BBS or MBO, or point-to-point link; Operate station at a specified emergency management office, Red Cross shelter or other served agency operations point.
ADMINISTRATION–Responsible for specific, pre-determined administrative tasks as assigned in the initial appointment commitment by the presiding ARES official. Examples include: Recruitment of ARES members; liaison with Public Information Officer to coordinate public information for the media; ARES registration data base management; victim/refugee data base management; equipment inventory; training; reporting; and post-event analysis.
LIAISON–Responsible for specific, pre-determined liaison responsibilities as assigned by the presiding EC or DEC. Examples include: Maintaining contact with assigned served agencies; Maintaining liaison with specified NTS nets; Maintaining liaison with ARES officials in adjacent jurisdictions; Liaison with mutual assistance or “jump” teams.
LOGISTICS–Responsible for specific, pre-determined logistical functions as assigned. Examples include: Transportation; Supplies management and procurement (food, fuel, water, etc.); Equipment maintenance and procurement–radios, computers, generators, batteries, antennas.
MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT –Responsible for serving as an assistant manager to the EC, DEC or SEC based on specific functional assignments or geographic areas of jurisdiction.
CONSULTING–Responsible for consulting to ARES officials in specific area of expertise.
OES appointees may be assigned to pre-disaster, post-disaster, and recovery functions. These functions must be specified in the OES’s appointment commitment plan.
The OES appointee is expected to participate in planning meetings, and post-event evaluations. Following each drill or actual event, the EC/DEC and the OES appointee should review and update the OES assignment as required. The OES appointee must keep a detailed log of events during drills and actual events in his/her sphere of responsibility to facilitate this review.
Continuation of the appointment is at the discretion of the appointing official, based upon the OES appointee’s fulfillment of the tasks he/she has agreed to perform.