State of California OES ACS Newsletter

April 7, 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:
Emergency Services Scare
Alameda County ATV in the sky project

Emergency Services Scare - Courtesy EMMCOM West Bulletin April 1, 2003

On March 18, 2003 California Governor Gray Davis signed into law Senate Bill x1 19, which put into effect many budget cuts for the current state fiscal year. The Disaster Service Worker workers' compensation fund was suddenly "de-funded".

It was announced that payments for reimbursement of medical costs for DSWs that had pending claims would not be paid. DSWs who might be injured after March 18, 2003 could submit claims to SCIF, but we were informed that there was no money to pay the claims.

Search and Rescue teams were suddenly lost in legal limbo and suspended without belay*. The Sacramento Drowning Accident Rescue Team (DART) was left to founder. Throughout California, agency and county officials were scrambling to find funding to provide their own workers compensation and liability insurance.

Some DSWs offered to sign "release of responsibility" waivers, thereby allowing some government volunteer emergency service programs to continue. But citing liability issues, the state's legal department recommended against allowing volunteers to continue within government programs (and on government property). RACES and ACS operations and other civil preparedness volunteer programs had been eliminated with one fell swoop of the Governor's pen.

Media outlets in the Sacramento area ran editorials and the Governor's office was deluged with irate email and telephone calls. Ten days passed and on March 28 the DSW program was restored by Governor Gray Davis. TV Channel 10 in Sacramento reported: "The governor said he was unaware that the bill he was signing slashed insurance for volunteer emergency workers. A governor's spokesperson called it an 'unintended consequence' of a larger budget bill." Oh well. At least the DSW program had been restored. Had it NOT been restored, the impact upon the ARES would probably have been minimal.

Alameda County ATV Project (courtesy Alameda County newsletter April 2003)

December 21 was the kickoff of a renewed joint project involving the Comm Team and the ACSO Air Squadron utilizing "ATV in the Sky". The project gathered momentum and focus due to the ACSO's request for an aerial platform for a live video feed of anti-war demonstrations and/or civil disobedience to a mobile command post or the EOC as war with Iraq approached, and after the war began.

There were practice sessions on December 21, January 28, February 20, and a live demonstration for the ACSO's Executive Management on March 4. Thanks go to Varon Smith, Dave Harnish, Martin Hooey, Ti Connelly,Jim Latham, Bob Vallio, Jerry Miller, Ron Collins, Michael Borkon, Art Andersen, Marcus Bell, and Stephen Hawes for their participation in this project. Special thanks go to Smith, Harnish, Hooey, and Connelly for their strong commitment (lotsa hours!) and technical support for the project. Of course, thanks to Bob Seeley, Bob Tucknott, Jim Knuppe, and Greg Presnell, and the other Air Squadron pilots who gave wings to the Project! The two teams will twice again gather soon to refine the performance of the equipment, on Thursday, March 27 and Saturday, March 29.

Over the course of the Project, we have upgraded with a new camcorder, mobile power packs, an inverter, a 90 foot industrial extension cord, Pelican case, yagi and "eggbeater" antennas, and various fittings, to maximize performance and self-sufficiency of the ATV Team. Bugs have been worked out, the confidence and experience levels of Team members have gone up, closer relations with the Air Squadron members have developed, the Comm Team has higher visibility (literally!) in the Amateur Radio community, and the ACSO management is much more aware of the Team's tactical capabilities due to the ongoing efforts of our crew. It's all good. As your coordinator, I wish to acknowledge and thank each of you who has attended any of the ATV sessions, and leant your time and skills to this Project. You are GOOD TO GO!

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)
or
2003 Archives

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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.