GroupMe# For ERC

ERC requires a lot* of communication that goes on about it, and to make it easier now that we've switched from texting/SMS to GroupMe#.

The Twin Falls Bishop's Storehouse has been using GroupMe# or HF notifications on frequency shifts as well as band conditions, and has recommended we use GroupMe#.  The Lord has inspired us to swtich to GroupMe#

Here's a few reasons why we're shifting: 

 1)  Text messages don't always go through and we have no way of seeing who gets them or who doesn't. 

3) There wasn't a way to remove people from a text group easily.  There wasn't a way for people to remove themselves from it. 

4) As admins we can remove people from a list easily or people can remove themselves, they can limit their notifications, and the ERC notifications aren't going in their main texting areas. 

5) GroupMe# can be used with a web browser, or a cell-phone app.  So it can be used on your desktop computer, with the internet, or over a cell-phone with cell-service.  If cell service goes down, it can still be used over internet, and visa versa - it's a redundant system for communications. 

6) We can send files way easier to a group using web-browsers than we ever could just using SMS/Text Messaging. 

7) There's more versatility with what we can do and information we can exchange - larger files, larger pictures, storage libraries of media sent, searchable conversations, easier to identify everyone - it works! 

8) It's easy to use, no cost.  

9) We can add people who aren't members of the church who wish to work with us. 

So!  To be added, contact your ward or stake specialist to get the chats/conversations and they will get you in and we can get you approved!  

But we're adding this to our lists of tools as we build!  

This is how we're going to be doing this going forward!  

73 - N7MDM  

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS: MESSAGE TRAFFIC LOGS & SUPPLIES

note the clipboard and notes with the radios

Most disasters requiring emergency communications resolve within 72 hours.  The remainder are typically resolved in 10 days.  However, on the rare occasion, some last longer. We want to be prepared for any scenario (because we don't know what will happen until after it is over).

In addition to a radio, you're going to need to have the materials for and be proficient at taking notes during ham communications. 

Near your radios and in your go-kits, you're going to need/want as you're able to put them together: 

• Binder/clipboard/carrying case (whatever works for you)

• Notebook (mine is spiral, not shown in the pic below)
  

• Pencils/Pens 

• ARRL band chart (also linked on the sidebar of the website)
  

• Boise Storehouse and Regional Band Plans  (Frequencies list)(also linked to on the sidebar of the website). 

• ERC Message Forms  - aka ICS Form 213 (also linked to on the sidebar of the website).

• Hard-copy of your owner's manuals so you can troubleshoot in the field (look that up and print it out if you don't have the hard copy). 
  

You'll want to, as you're able to, have these out and being practiced with when you're practicing with ERC.  If not the actual forms (which we use during relay exercises) you'll want to practice at least taking notes, and practicing keeping mental track of others participating, any communication issues, propagation between different areas - just getting a feel for things overall.

My mobile notebook storage

 

Currently my notes notes are organized by frequency (HF, simplex, repeater portion), and then by stake, I write down the call-signs that I hear check in, and any issues with them, or any traffic (traffic = messages or communications) they have. 

This allows me to relay traffic if there's a communications breakdown, and also gives me practice paying attention to whoever is participating, getting a feel for propagation or signaling issues etc. 

If they report they are on emergency power with no traffic, I write "EP0" - find what works for you. 

My notes for the weekly nets often look something like this and are currently logged into excel for record keeping so I can get statistics for the stake. (For relay exercises I use the ICS Form 213)

Date

HF

Facilitating (net control) Call Sign/Name.

La-Grande

Call signs - issues - power - traffic 

Nyssa 

Call signs - issues - power - traffic 

KJ7RN - EP1 (emergency power, 1 traffic) - training item, using solar power for charging batteries, suggested (brand X), cost, etc.

Ontario 

Call signs - issues - power - traffic

(Which might look like this) 

K7RHB - EP0 (emergency power, 0 or no traffic)

KK7BKR - weak signal, relayed by KG7HVD - EP0

KK7HKN - couldn't hear net control, relayed to by KK7BKR, EP0 

Weiser 

Call signs - issues - power - traffic 

I repeat this for the simplex frequencies, and then the repeater portion of the net. 

Make sure your notes can be read and understood by others, including yourself, put a key in there if you have to (EP1=emergency power 1 traffic).  It can be tempting to rush and feel pressured by everyone else who seems "better" at this than you when you're learning.  If you need to ask someone to repeat their traffic, feel free, you're a part of this as well, we want everyone to be able to receive the messages - it's not a speed contest to impress anyone.

We've all forgotten our call signs or the phonetic alphabet, we've had ourselves on simplex when we needed to be on the repeater, or our power turned down too low, etc.  The goal is learning to troubleshoot, and becoming comfortable with troubleshooting.  The objective is for everyone to learn, and be able to help everyone become proficient and comfortable with improvising.

If ERC is anything like my experiences in the military, we would train and train and train, and often when the real thing happened or hit, we were making it up as we went because something happened we hadn't planned for and we were hoping we could get things to work.

Remember, do not run faster than you are able, seek the Lord's guidance in all of these things.  The world was not created in a day, panic isn't preparation.  Just keep practicing!