Southern Region ACS Newsletter

State of California OES ACS Newsletter

March 16, 2003

Published weekly (except for vacations and emergencies) by the Auxiliary Communications Service, State of California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

Articles in this Issue:
EMMCOM Bulletin # 385
Emergency Preparedness --- Supplies

EMC385 OES ACS FIELD UNITS Pt4
To: Emergency Communications Units - Information Bulletin
To: Emergency Management Agencies via Internet and Radio
By: Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services

EMC385 OES ACS FIELD UNITS Pt4 Release 3/17/03

Bulletin 384 described some emergency support resources that the ACS program personnel deploy and support under designated circumstances with the supervision of the Telecommunications Coordinators.

Bulletin 383 covered some personnel and historical aspects.

Bulletin 382 briefly touched on the State OES earth-station program (OASIS or Operational Area Satellite Information System) and its 4 trailer-mounted earth stations.

These mobile earth stations each provide for 12 telephone lines and a digital data drop on a Wide Area Network which allows for Internet access and Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

Each of these telephone lines offers five-digit dialing to any other OASIS telephone drop which includes every county in the state as well as other locations. It also provides access to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) through redundant access points. An interface from OASIS to a state microwave phone network is also possible.

These mobile units have self-contained power or can use 2 110-volt 20-amp circuits when available for 'shore' power. Because they communicate on microwave frequencies with a satellite, an unobstructed view in a designated path and elevation is needed.

Two other aspects of OES communications resources include these: A mobile trailer mounted alternate earth-station hub capable of 48 voice lines, 2 data lines. It was recently deployed and supported by ACS field personnel at the Marks-Nielsen fire in Central California.

There are almost 800 handheld radio on VHF Hi, UHF (both 450-470 and 470-490 MHz) and 800 MHz NPSPAC. These are available as non encrypted radios in caches for fire, law and emergency services located statewide, for those agencies if requested under the mutual aid system of government helping government. (See more on mutual aid on the California State OES Web Site.)

So, from these frequencies and equipment, we see that these Public Safety communications units are quite different than Communications Vans intended to primarily provide Amateur Radio frequency coverage. Abbreviations used: CHP: CA Highway Patrol; CDF: CA Department of Forestry; ICP: Incident Command Post; CMARS: California Mutual Aid Radio Systems; CESRS: California Emergency Services Radio System. Series continues next bulletin which describes eight additional rolling-stock units on truck or motor home chassis for Fire agency response and Law Enforcement situations based on mutual aid requests.

To subscribe to bulletins send a blank Email to emcomm-bulletin-sub@cesra.org

Emergency Preparedness --- Supplies

The following list will serve 4 persons for 3 days. Most of the items are available from local stores and easily store in a standard 5 gallon bucket which can double as a toilet if needed.

(4) ER Emergency Ration Food Bars
(12) Water Boxes w/straws attached, or
(24) Water Pouches,
(4) Survival Blankets,
(4) Ponchos with hood,
(5) Emergency Candles,
(50) Water Purification Tablets,
(1) Tube Tent,
(4) Out-of-State Contact Cards,
(4) 12 Hour Light Sticks,
(1) AM/FM Solar Powered Flashlight Radio,
(1) Box Waterproof Matches,
(4) Dust Masks,
(1 pr) Vinyl Gloves,
(1 pr) Work Gloves,
(1) Gas Shut-off Wrench,
(1) 100' Nylon Cord,
(1) Multifunction Knife,
(1) Whistle w/lanyard,
(1) Can Opener,
(4) Tissue Packs,
(12)Sanitation Bags,
(1) Toilet Chemical,
(1) 52 Piece First Aid Kit

Bulletins archives:
ACS Web page: ftp.ucsd.edu/emcomm or ftp.oes.ca.gov/
ACS/EMCOMM and a Landline BBS at 916-255-0798 (graphical & standard interface)

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Links/Chats/Lists/Contacts California OES URL:
http://www.oes.ca.gov/ California OES ACS URL:
http://www.races.net/ ICQ RACES
Chat Room: ICQ#40163274 (Sundays 1000-1200 Pacific Time)
RACES Mailing List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RACES
"ACS Newsletters" since 11/6/00 and "EMCOMM Bulletins" since 1/3/00:
http://www.races.net/sca/archive.html "
ACS Newsletters" since 2/7/98 and old "RACES Bulletins" and "EMCOMM Bulletins":
http://acs.oes.ca.gov/

California OES ACS HQ facility contact information: Auxiliary Communications Service Program, Room A-139 Governor's Office of Emergency Services P.O. Box 419047, Rancho Cordova, CA 95741- 9047

Copyright 2003 by State of California OES ACS. All or any part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or quoted, provided that credit be given to this issue of the State of California "ACS Newsletter."

Opinions expressed in articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of State of California OES ACS. State of California Office of Emergency Services and its "ACS Newsletter" editor, Gary Crowe, Ph.D. KG6HIM, do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in the material contained herein, regardless of whether such errors result from negligence, accident, or any other cause whatsoever.

73, Gary Crowe, Ph.D. "ACS Newsletter" Editor State of California Governor's Office of Emergency Services Operations Support Branch Auxiliary Communications Service Tel: (916) 489- 8709 Fax: (916) 488-0148.