AGENDA ITEM #2.D Emergency Communications Committee 2015 Annual Report Tuesday, March 31 Los Altos Hills City Council Co-chairs: Jim Abraham W6EB & Scott Overstreet N6NXI 1
Members & Associates Mark Bailey N6DY Ray Egan W6FQY David Gilmour WQ1K Bill Gibbons K6GH Neil Katin AI6FI Bill Lattin KK6PCA Robert Lisbonne KG6H0D Greg Olsen K6XM Members (10): Term expiration noted. Council Liaison: Gary Waldeck K6AIR Jim Abraham (Co-Chair) W6EB 4/18 Scott Overstreet (Co-Chair) N6NXI 4/18 Dru Anderson (Secretary) KG6LAD 4/18 Robert Anderson KC6ZWG 4/18 Andy Fawcett K16MAF 4/16 James Heinzelman KD6Y 7/15 Sam Wood K6MSR 4/16 Andrew Kirk WB6CLS 7/15 Duncan MacMillan KI6VMY 7/17 Edwin Jones W7WPO 10/18 Associates (16) John Pfefferle KJ6CBX Burt Raphael KK6GNB Bob Rowe AF6LD Miles Seiver KI6LDU Carol Starbuck K6PIG Maynard Stevenson W7MVT Dave Stewart KJ6JQT Gerald Tomanek AF6HY Special Note: Robert Hall KF6DHX (Charter Member. Ret: 2/2015) 2
The Charges to, and Duties of this Committee shall be: Provide emergency radio communication services between the Los Altos Hills Emergency Operation Center (EOC) facility using federally sanctioned amateur (ham) radio operating frequencies in accordance with federally mandated amateur (ham) radio operating requirements and procedures and: The Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Services (OES). Amateur (ham) radio operators throughout the Town of Los Altos Hills and surrounding areas. Surrounding area municipal emergency communication facilities, hospitals and emergency service groups such as the Red Cross. Participate in periodic simulated disaster emergency communication drills and various set meetings as organized by the Amateur Radio Emergency System (ARES) District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) or other such officials and weekly ARES communication readiness/training nets that exist in our area; (cont d ) 3
The Charges to, and Duties (cont d) Provide occasional non-emergency communication services for other Los Altos Hills sanctioned groups as requested when possible and practical; Develop and train an Associates group of radio amateur operators within the Town of Los Altos Hills and surrounding areas who in time of need will be available to assist the Committee members in the performance of charge tasks. Training shall consist of offered instruction in emergency communication as well as in the basic skills necessary for passing the entry level amateur radio operator test administered by the Federal Communications Commission; and Maintain the group s radio equipment and update it as required via volunteer labor and budgeted acquisition of goods and services as required. Updated: January 16, 2015 4
Recent Emphases Technical training at all meetings. Emergency net operations training. Support of town & local activities requiring coordinating communications. Cross training with LAH CERT teams in drills. Participation in quarterly County emergency communication drills. Improved packet communication capability between CERT ARK, LAH EOC, & County EOC. Support improvements of LAH antenna ordinance. Support of LAHEG MOU with Town. Further improvement of our emergency response readiness. 5
Inter-agency Activity Received an overview by a PHWD director on the water district water quality maintenance & emergency procedures. Participated in PHWD Field Tour of tank sites for volunteer field damage assessment. Technical support of the newly-developed "CERT ReCon" field hams; added several CERT hams to the "Associates" membership. Co-staffed with LAH CERT the annual LAH Pathway Run, & LAH July 4 Parade. Participated with Los Altos in providing communications for the Festival of Lights Parade. Active in leadership & participation in SPECS (Southern Peninsula Emergency Communication System). 6
Goals Grow our group. Continue our Technical Training at all Meetings. Improve our operating skill set. Improve our equipment. Continue our support & co-training with LAH CERT for its communication needs. See an improved antenna ordinance accepted by the town. 7
Our Wish List We may be coming to you in the near future with proposal for funds to support some new equipment, such as upgrade of town issued HTs, or equipment to broaden town communication coverage. Our continued Thank You to the City Council and Staff for their on-going support and encouragement since the Committee was chartered in 2001, and to our dedicated team of volunteers. 8