PURPOSE:

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

The Emergency Communications Plan is designed to supplement or replace existing public safety communications systems during times of emergency or disaster. The plan divides Mason County into several communication areas including South County, East County, North County, West County, and Canal Area. These areas of the county are defined as follows:

* South Fire District 4 and 11 (including the city of Shelton)

* East Fire Districts 3 and 5

* Canal Fire Districts 1, 6, 9, 17 and 18

* West Fire Districts 12, 13, and 16

* North Fire Districts 2 and 8 (including the city of Belfair)

        Each of the areas will have an area Communication Center (ACC) that will coordinate efforts within its area on a 2 meter simplex net. Communications with other ACC's or with EOC will be on 2 meter voice or packet. Additionally a Medical Net will be established with an ACC at Mason General Hospital (MGH). The Med Service Net will operate in the same manner as the area nets but will additionally include all medical facilities in the county. The ACC at MGH will coordinate with EOC and any out of county medical facilities as required. American Red Cross (ARC) will be provided support at the Chapter House, Job Center and shelters as needed. The ARC Job Center will be established at a location designated by the ARC and will change with each event.

        In the event EOC is not usable or accessible, the county ACC will relocate to either the West County ACC, South County ACC or North County ACC.

        Each of the Fire Districts in the county have been encouraged to support this plan by purchasing radios and or antennas. The current equipment listing is identified in Appendix Q.

        ARES/RACES operators have been pre-assigned to ACC's, fire stations, medical facilities and the ARC. These operators represent the core of the operation and will be used to train the HAMs who come out of the woodwork to help in the aftermath of a disaster. They will also bear the brunt of the work during the initial stages of a disaster. It is incumbent upon these operators to become familiar with the people and equipment at their assigned station.