OPERATIONS:

  Thurston County ARES participates in many amateur radio and other public service related operations, events and missions. To better understand our various Host/Served agencies that we support, the list below has been provided for your information.

    For specific details on our communications operating plans and maps to these locations, go to the Plans and/or Maps Section listed above for more information.

THURSTON COUNTY ARES OPERATIONS:

(Effective 01 January 2010 )

I.    THURSTON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (DEM):  The DEM is located at 2703 Pacific Av. SE, Suite A, Olympia.  The building houses three public service  agencies, the DEM, CAPCOM/911 and Medic One. ARES members are currently authorized to work in the DEM Emergency Control Center (ECC) Radio Room, the DEM main working room and conference room. Working conditions

may be in a crowded, noise and humid/warm office environment.  Headsets/phones will be used.  The CAPCOM/911 and  Medic One areas are off-limits to volunteers unless escorted by respective agency personnel.  NOTE: The Directors of  CAPCOM and MEDIC ONE have required that All Handie-Talkie's, and cellular phones will be turned off prior to entry into their agencies.

II.    THURSTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE (TCSO) :  TCSO uses the  Incident Command System (ICS) operational procedures during first responder activities during man made and natural disaster incidents within Thurston County.  Thurston County ARES is a unit that is trained and certified to work within the TCSO ICS.  Operations may be from fixed, mobile or relay sites; and within Incident Command Posts or responding unit level operational areas.  ARES will work in all types of weather and environmental conditions during day or night operations.

III.  THURSTON COUNTY SEARCH AND RESCUE COUNCIL:  The SAR Council is a volunteer unit assisting the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) during local SAR operations and the DEM during disaster related activities.   Thurston County ARES is a unit within the SAR Council.  TCSO or their authorized representative, is responsible for activating the SAR Council organization and any local volunteer organizations for support operations, including ARES, during any SAR exercise or response mission.  Operations may be from fixed, mobile or relay sites; and within Command Posts or unit level operational areas.  ARES will work in all types of weather and environmental conditions during day or night operations.

IV.  THURSTON-MASON COUNTY RED CROSS:   The Thurston-Mason County Red Cross Office is located at 2618 12th Ct. SW., Olympia.  The Red Cross  has a radio room workspace on the Northeast section of the building, where they have installed various radios, antennas and power supplies. If this location becomes unusable, the Executive Director or their local designated representative, of the Red Cross will notify ARES of their alternate site.  ARES may also operate from designated Red Cross Shelters or Centers locally. Radio operators may work in any type of weather environment.

V.   EMERGENCY ALERT  STATION – KGY RADIO: ARES has a workspace within the KGY Radio station at 1700 Marine Dr. NE, Olympia.   ARES has installed, and maintains, a 2 meter antenna on the roof of the station.  If this location becomes unusable, KGY will notify the DEM and the ARES of their alternate site(s).  Working conditions may be in a crowded, loud and humid/warm office environment.  Headsets/phones will be used.  The KGY office areas are off-limits to ARES members unless escorted by respective KGY personnel.

VI:   WESTERN WASHINGTON MEDICAL SERVICES TEAM (MST):  Local MST operations are conducted at regional medical centers and other designated location(s) around Puget Sound.  In Thurston County, the locations are:

(1) Providence Saint Peters Hospital, (PSPH) 413 Lilly RD NE,

(2)  Capital Medical Center, (CMC) 3900 Capital Mall DR SW. Olympia, Wa.

Parking is near the Emergency Room (ER) Entrance.  ARES members must have valid ID ready to enter at the ER Entrance.  Working conditions may be in a crowded, loud and humid/warm office environment.  Headsets/phones will be used.  Other facility areas are off-limits to volunteers unless escorted by respective agency personnel.  Use of Handie-Talkie's, and cellular phones are not authorized outside of the MST communications working area unless approved by local authorities.

VII.  THURSTON COUNTY SALVATION ARMY:  The Thurston County Salvation Army Office is located at 808 5th St., Olympia.  ARES will be provided a radio workspace in the building, or at shelters. If this location becomes unusable, the Executive Director or their local designated representative, of the Salvation Army will notify ARES of their alternate site.  ARES may also operate from designated Salvation Army Shelters or Centers locally. Radio operators may work in crowed and loud conditions in any type of weather environment.

VIII    THURSTON-MASON COUNTY VOLUNTEER CENTER:   The Thurston-Mason County Volunteer Center Office is located at 222 Columbia St. NW, Olympia.  The Volunteer Service Center has provided a amateur radio workspace in their office area.  Operations may also be from designated Volunteer Center Shelters or Disaster Centers locally. Radio operators may work crowed and loud conditions in any type of weather environments.

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IX.  FAITH (BASED) COMMUNITIES DISASTER ASSISTANCE FACILITIES:   ARES provides a communications links between these facilities and the DEM ECC during post-disaster operations coordinated through the Thurston County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) and the respective contributing organizations.  Locations to be announced.

X.  NET CONTROL STATION (NCS) OPERATIONS  The NCS will work at an agreed location with the activating authority.   Location may be at their home, work, mobile/portable or at the Host/Served agency office(s).   Working conditions will vary and operations may be in a crowded, nosey and humid/warm office environment.  Headsets/phones will be used.  Use of Handie-Talkies or cellular phones may be restricted by the Served/Host agency. Within its scope, the authority of the NCS is absolute, its decisions are final and its instructions are to be “COMPLIED WITH AT ALL TIMES BY ALL OPERATORS ON THE NET.”   The duties of the NCS extends only to the operation of the net on the air, and the efficient flow of message traffic during the net operations.

XI.        SPECIAL OPERATIONS:

      A.  Flood Watch -  Qualified volunteers will be dispatched to rain/water gauging stations or other designated sites  throughout  Thurston County, by local officials.   Individuals will monitor water levels and ARES will send  information back to the DEM ECC or other agency offices for review and action.   Mobile and voice radio Relay missions will provide increased communications. using amateur radio. If the requirements are for non-amateur related equipment, the gear must be provided by the requesting authority at the designated location(s).  Operations will be mobile in field/urban/suburban areas and/or on high ground for relay links, with limited resources in all types of weather conditions.

          B.  Snow Watch/Transport –  The DEM will use The Thurston County Jeep Patrol mobile units and other qualified volunteers that will be sent throughout the county to  monitor weather/snow conditions and provide priority transport for qualified individuals. (i.e. – medical staff, persons  requiring daily kidney dialysis, etc. or other staff personnel.  ARES will provide communications from the DEM ECC or ride along with Jeep Patrol to provide a communications link. Mobile and voice radio Relay missions will provide increased communications. using amateur radio. Operations will be mobile in field/urban/suburban areas and/or on high ground for relay links, with limited resources in all types of weather conditions.

      C.   MASS CASUALTY OPERATIONS:   The term "Mass Casualty" is generally defined as an event that generates numerous victims of either a man-made or natural disaster situation. This is compounded by the fact that many of these individuals will require immediate medical attention and will require transportation to various facilities throughout the state or nation.  The term "Evacuation" is generally defined as action taken prior  to, or immediately after a predicted or actual man-made or natural disaster, in moving people to safe/ secure areas to include Disaster Assistance Centers, Salvation Army Relief Shelters, and other types of agencies and their respective operational locations.  ARES will provide a communications link throughout this type of special operation with any organization listed in this document.

        D.   OTHER OPERATING CONDITIONS:  ARES may also operate from designated Disaster Relief/Recovery Centers located away from the agencies listed above. (Evacuation sites, food service centers, lodging facilities, etc. )  They may be in fixed structures, temporary shelters or in a ‘field’ environment.  Working  conditions will be in crowed and loud work sites. Operations may be in any type of weather situation.  Individuals need to be prepared and able to make field expedient repairs or replacement of their respective communications related equipment with tools and supplies available at all times.

XII.  PUBLIC SERVICE EVENTS:  ARES may also provide services in support of Public Service events such as road rallies, marathons, parade events, etc. These events provide field training for ARES operators.  ARES will provide personnel to install, operate and maintain amateur radio equipment and to perform communications related duties at any designated location provided by the hosting agency .  At the public service event or training exercise ARES personnel may operate at a variety of locations associated with the non-government agencies in the county.  In supporting public events such as rallies, members may be asked to set up in 'field' locations such as Capital Forest, state parks, private forest lands, and other county areas.  ARES may also operate from other counties in Western Washington during Road Rally events, etc.

XIII AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE EVENTS:   Thurston County ARES participates in various ARRL activities to include, but not limited to the Annual ARRL Field Day event in June of each year, and the Simulated Exercise Test (SET) in the fall of every year.  Complete details on these events can be found in the

the ARRL Public Service Communications Manual. at:  http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/pscm/