SHELTER INFORMATION LIST

SHELTER OPERATORS DEPLOYMENT LIST AND INFORMATION

Operating frequencies:

Primary repeater; 145.210 (-600).

Secondary Repeater, 147.015 (+600) PL 127.3

Secondary repeater; 146.625 (-600).

Simplex; 146.445.

UHF; 443.500 (+5.000).

The shelter radio operators should bring the following:

Your County identification badge.

One or more VHF (144 to 148) radios, preferably 12 volt capable of 40 to 50 watts to be used for simplex if necessary.

A hand held HT with a connector and coax to connect to the outside antenna.  If the repeaters are operating a HT on 5 watts or less should be sufficient.

Extra batteries and chargers with connecting cabling.  Operating without outside support or power could last as much as three days.  Bring an extension cord.  Most shelters have some generator power; however an outlet with generator power may be some distance away.  Also you may be able to do your charging in another room that has generator power.

Extra coax cable.  Short pieces of either RG-8 or RG-58 with a PL-259 connector on each end.

  Connectors; barrel connectors to join coax as well as special connectors to attach a HT to the outside antenna or a mag-mount antenna. 

Batteries, several sealed lead acid batteries are available.  Also a cheap tractor, car or boat battery will do very nicely.  Boat and deep cycle batteries have handles.  Remember that charging wet-cell batteries may give off hydrogen gas and acid fumes.  Not letting the charging voltage rise higher than 13.8 volts will help this condition. 

A larger battery can be used with a HT using a “cigarette lighter” type power adapter plugged into a ”Lighter socket with battery clips” (Radio Shack number 270-1527). 

A mag-mount can be used on a file cabinet with some success.  In most cases it is possible to park your vehicle close to the operating site so-as to use and auto-mounted antenna if needed.

Small tools could include large and small of both types of screwdrivers.

Pliers including long nose and wire cutting type.

A roll of black PVC tape.

A small crescent wrench.

Any other small tool you may envision a need for.

A small desk lamp to use when you have power and flashlights for when there is no power.  Bring an extra light bulb for the desk lamp and extra batteries for the flashlights.

Personal Items:

Shave kit/toiletries bag including soap.

Blanket and /or sleeping bag and a pillow.  If you have a cot you may bring it with your name on it.

Three changes of clothing.

Towel and washcloth.

Eye glasses.

Medications and snacks including drinks for three days.  Food and water will be provided.

Operating Procedures:

Please contact Net Control when you have completed your setup.

All radio communications will be via a controlled net from the EOC.  A need to communicate with another shelter or Flagler Hospital will first be directed to Net Control at the EOC. 

Net Control will make an effort to poll all of the active shelters and Flagler Hospital once an hour on the half hour.  Your radio must be monitored at all times as traffic involving you could occur at any time.  There will likely be shelters other than “official” Emergency Management shelters using this net.

Tactical Call Signs will be used at the start of each contact.  They will be the name of the shelter, hospital or EOC.  The contacts will end with the call sign of the operator.  This should satisfy the FCC ten-minute rule.

If you are working alone ask the Shelter Manager to assign a person to be your runner.  Do not assume other duties in the shelter.  Do not give out incident or shelter information to the press.  Refer them to the shelter manager.  Do answer questions about your duties providing emergency communications for the shelter to the EOC and Flagler Hospital .

Third Party Traffic is to be encouraged, especially in the Special Needs shelters.  If a staff worker in the shelter needs to talk to someone in the EOC room or hospital, close the contact and have both located and brought to the radios. Resume the contact and before they talk to each other instruct them in these simple rules. They cannot interrupt the other person.  The one that is holding the microphone button down is in control.

If it is a long conversation leave a break and let the repeater drop every one or two minutes in the event another station with emergency traffic needs to get through and/or prevent a repeater “time-out”.


 Revised 22 August 2006 , Ron/W9QGB, Telephone 904-471-6117.   ron@aug.com