Does your emergency/disaster plan include a reliable way to contact amateur radio operators, in the event that emergency amateur radio communications are required?

Mr. Norm Goodkin, a long-time holder of FCC Extra Class Amateur Radio License K6YXH, (attribution used with permission), has reviewed the CBBS and AABB disaster plans from the perspective of how functional these plans would be, in the event that emergency amateur radio communications were required. He offers the following comments in the spirit of quality improvement, and he hopes that his comments are not viewed as an outsider taking pot shots at the excellent disaster plans of both the AABB and CBBS.

Please see:

• California Blood Bank Society Disaster Response Plan
• AABB Disaster Reponse

According to Mr. Goodkin:

1. The plans do not appear to include a reliable way to contact amateur radio operators. He cautions that using telephones to make this contact may be problematic in some situations, due to competition for services or infrastructure failure. For example, during and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, an extremely wide area lost both terrestrial (land line) and cellular phone service. These services were not restored for weeks, but amateur radio worked.
   
   He suggests that the addresses of amateur radio operators should be known, so that if telephones (including cell phones) are down, 'runners' can be sent to contact people without depending on 'normal communications.
   
   He also suggests that there should also be a mechanism by which the amateur radio community can contact the AABB or CBBS disaster coordinators, in case normal communications are not working. One way to contact amateur operators, is to have radio equipment installed and operational on battery and/or generator power. It is not difficult to just have someone follow instructions for turning it on and calling for assistance.
   
   
2. He comments that in the United States of America, in an extraordinary emergency, where amateur radio is the only way to send a distress call, the lack of an amateur license should not dissuade an unlicensed operator from putting out a brief distress call on an amateur station. While an amateur license is technically required, Mr. Goodkin is of the opinion that it would be extremely unlikely that anyone would complain if an unlicensed person put out a legitimate emergency call over a radio. To his knowledge, he is unaware of anyone who has ever has gotten in trouble for putting out a legitimate emergency call, licensed or not. He adds that the FCC rules state, "No provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station in distress of any means at its disposal to attract attention, make known its condition and location, and obtain assistance. [Ref: §97.405a]." He interprets the FCC rule to mean that a Technician Class licensee can operate on bands below 50MHz if it's an emergency. Part 97 allows such action, when saving lives and there is no other means of communication.
   
   If amateur station equipment is available, it may be used to put out a call for skilled experienced operators, but one does not have to wait until a licensed operator appears, nor does one have to wait for a General class operator to put out a call for help on "General" amateur radio frequencies. The trained operator, who has been participating in drills for years, will be more effective, but the equipment can be used to put out the call for operators right away. It can be used to handle the emergency, even if the bands and/or modes used exceed the operator's license class.
   
   
3. During an emergency, it is permitted to hand the microphone to a 3rd party, so that he can communicate directly with another 3rd party. The amateur operators control the transmissions, but the FCC permits the direct communications by 3rd parties. Mr. Goodkin mentions this because of unfortunate situations where amateur operators were not familiar with the rules and insisted on relaying information, losing precious minutes. Again, he cites §97.405a and b.
   
   
4. He advises anyone who might be in a position to put out a call for amateur radio operators to obtain at least a Technician class license, and take part in emergency drills, so they understand the nature and capabilities of the equipment, and basic network communication protocols.
   
   
5. Finally, he points out that the FCC Rules and Regulations pertain to amateur radio operation within the United States - communications with or between amateurs in other countries are governed by international rules and regulations and the country's own radio authority. So comments 1-3 apply to operation in the USA, where amateur radio is governed by the FCC.

For more information on amateur radio, see http://www.hello-radio.org/

The following comments have been received.

ADDENDA Feb. 25, 2006

1. A transfusion medicine physician in Australia (formerly from the USA) reports that he has been FCC-licensed for 35 years, an Amateur Extra Class for 33 years, with the call sign K0EN (attribution used with permission).  Since moving to Brisbane, he reports that the Australian Communications and Media Authority has granted him full Amateur Radio privileges, with call sign VK4EEN.  He has had extensive experience with demonstrating and teaching Amateur Radio in various countries around the world. With the aforementioned 'credentials' in mind, he comments that Mr. Norm Goodkin, call sign K6YXH, has thoughtfully outlined essential information for every blood center and transfusion service. He acknowledges that perhaps blood bankers were more familiar with the Amateur Radio Service in earlier times, before cell phones and the internet seemingly made emergency radio communications obsolete. In the past, it was also more common for American Red Cross blood banks to be co-located with Red Cross chapters, which frequently hosted Amateur Radio stations to support their disaster response efforts. He cautions that we should not be lulled into a false sense of security by our cell phones, internet and email access. In fact, governments and armed forces worldwide have renewed their interest in emergency radiocommunications, and so should we blood bankers. Landline copper and fiber optic circuits are readily disrupted by earthquake, fire, flood, tornado, etc., and accidental or intentional human interventions. "Wireless" services, including cell phone networks, also rely on landline communication links. Moreover, cell towers require electrical power; even those equipped with battery and generator support were disabled by flood waters during Hurricane Katrina; and replacement "Cells on Wheels" were deployed ineffectively, according to http://wired-vig.wired.com/wired/archive/13.11/start.html?pg=10.

He asks "Why do Amateur Radio services tend to be more robust than commercial services?" In his opinion: 

1. "A quid-pro-quo for Amateurs’ use of valuable radio spectrum is the expectation that Amateur Radio operators provide "a voluntary non-commercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications" per 47 CFR 97.1(a) of the FCC rules.
2. Shortwave Amateur frequencies cover long distances using the natural properties of the earth’s ionosphere, rather than man-made infrastructure vulnerable to disaster.
3. VHF and UHF Amateur frequencies, intrinsically suited for "line of sight" communications, provide wide-area, shared access via repeater stations. Because of how repeaters are used in the Amateur Radio service, they can be positioned some distance from a disaster area, in contrast to how modern cell sites are organized.
4. The "skilled operator" aspect of Amateur Radio makes it possible to improvise a disaster communications network from whatever resources are available."

He asks "Should blood centers support on-site Amateur Radio installations?" In his opinion, YES. Expertise and volunteer labor may be readily available from a local Amateur Radio club. In the US, many such clubs are listed at http://www.hello-radio.org; in Australia, at www.wia.org.au. Otherwise, an internet search with your city name and "amateur radio" might work. Clubs vary, with some more actively engaged in emergency preparedness than others. The improvisational talents of Amateur Radio operators may clash with, or complement, the SOP culture of blood banking. This is why relationships are best established prior to a disaster. A club endowed with competent, motivated operators may lack a home base. Offering a radio room, and after-hours space for club meetings, is a time-tested way to secure Amateur Radio support in times of need. Many Amateurs are also motivated blood donors; some will use their time before and/or after a blood donation to operate or maintain a blood center amateur radio station, or keep current with the blood center SOPs pertaining to disaster preparedness and emergency communications. As further justification for why blood centers should support on-site Amateur Radio installations, see the attached poster which was presented at the 2003 AABB Annual Meeting.

He asks "Should blood centers encourage employees to earn Amateur Radio licenses?" In his opinion, YES. The elements of an amateur radio exam include theory, practice, and regulations. Blood center staff are already accustomed to learning such things, and being assessed on their learning.He concludes by suggesting that blood centers should obtain a copy of The ARRL Emergency Communication Handbook, ©2005, The American Radio Relay League, Inc. (ISBN: 0-87259-938-8), available at http://www.hello-radio.org and many Amateur Radio dealers.

ADDENDA Mar. 12, 2006

2. Mr. Adam Farson (Amateur radio call signs VA7OJ, AB4OJ; attribution used with permission), reports that in recent years the Amateur Radio Service has seen the arrival and growth of a new communications facility, Winlink 2000. As described on the Winlink website, Winlink 2000 utilizes enabling technologies and sound operating practices to provide a full-featured radio digital message transfer system, worldwide. Email transfer with attachments, position reporting, graphic and text-based weather bulletins and emergency communications are now available to the Amateur radio community by linking radio to the Internet. Mr. Farson adds that such links are permitted by US and Canadian radio regulations. In time of disaster, of course, the Internet infrastructure may be compromised or down, hindering or preventing access to Winlink from the Internet or vice versa. Because of this, and in view of the difficulty in reaching amateur-radio communicators during an emergency (as addressed in the forum discussions), he strongly supports the recommendation that blood centers establish ties to local amateur radio clubs, or set up their own amateur radio station with the assistance of a local club. Blood-center workers should also be encouraged to become licensed radio amateurs.

ADDENDA Mar. 14, 2006

3. Editor's Note: The article "Civil Air Patrol: Transport of Blood in Support of Community Needs" (1.9 MB pdf file) by Richard Kayser of BloodSource in the Spring 2006 Edition of CBBS Today is germane to the current discussion.

ADDENDA Mar. 23, 2006

4. Dr. Carol Bell, Chair of the CBBS Emergency Preparedness Committee (attribution used with permission) reports that she has reviewed the various postings to the present discussion with interest. She points out that the CBBS Disaster Plan Appendix G covers some of the facets of Amateur Radio and urges blood centers to train interested personnel. There is also an Amateur Radio Network for California Blood Banks, CBB ARN, that meets on the air once monthly to practice linking California - Nevada blood center members of CBBS. This organization of Amateur Radio Operators has an written procedure for contacting their blood centers in times of disaster/terrorism. A list of current Amateur Radio Operators associated with blood centers is currently being validated and will be added to Appendix A , the Blood Center Contact List. For many reasons this Appendix with phone numbers, e-mail and cell phone information has restricted circulation to the world. But this information does exist and is updated regularly. Finally, CBBS Today 23: 19-22 published a Committee article on communication methods in Spring 2005 entitled "Emergency Communication: Who ya gonna call...and HOW?"

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