Appendix 4, A.R.R.L. Forms

 


THE AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE

The radio amateur best justifies his existence by the service rendered to the community in times of disaster and distress when normal communications media are not available, have failed or are badly overburdened. In the event of a communications emergency all amateurs are dedicated to serve in the public interest, within their ability, to provide temporary communications for a stricken area until normal facilities are restored. The ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service is composed of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communication duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, whether or not a member of the ARRL, is eligible for membership in the Emergency Service. The only other qualification is a sincere desire to serve. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement. Further information on the Service may be obtained from your Section Manager or ARRL Hq.


BEFORE EMERGENCY

Prepare yourself by providing a transmitter-receiver setup together with an emergency power source upon which you can depend. Test both the dependability of your emergency equipment and your own operating ability in the annual Simulated Emergency Test and the several annual on-the-air contests, especially Field Day.  Register your facilities and your availability with your local ARES Emergency Coordinator. If your community has no EC, contact your local civic and relief agencies and explain to them what the Amateur Service offers the community in time of disaster.


IN EMERGENCY

Listen before you transmit. Never violate this principle.
Report at once to your Emergency Coordinator so that the EC will have up-to-minute data on the facilities available. Work with the local civic and relief agencies as the EC suggests. Offer these agencies your services directly in the absence of an EC.
Restrict all on-the-air work in accordance with FCC regulations, Section 97.107, whenever FCC "declares" a state of communications emergency.
SOS and "Mayday" are the International distress calls for emergency only. They are for use only by stations seeking emergency assistance.
Respect the fact that the success of the amateur effort in emergency depends largely on circuit discipline. The established Net Control Station should be the supreme authority for traffic routing.
Cooperate with those we serve. Be ready to help, but stay off the air unless there is a specific job to be done, that you can handle more efficiently than any other station.


AFTER EMERGENCY

It is always a great idea to send a report to ARRL Headquarters as soon as possible and as fully as possible so that the Amateur Service can receive full credit. Amateur Radio has won glowing public tribute in emergencies for over sixty years. Maintain this record.


Time Conversion Chart

UTC EDT/AST CDT/EST MDT/CST PDT/MST PST
0000* 2000 1900 1800 1700 1600
0100 2100 2000 1900 1800 1700
0200 2200 2100 2000 1900 1800
0300 2300 2200 2100 2000 1900
0400 0000* 2300 2200 2100 2000
0500 0100 0000* 2300 2200 2100
0600 0200 0100 0000* 2300 2200
0700 0300 0200 0100 0000* 2300
0800 0400 0300 0200 0100 0000*
0900 0500 0400 0300 0200 0100
1000 0600 0500 0400 0300 0200
1100 0700 0600 0500 0400 0300
1200 0800 0700 0600 0500 0400
1300 0900 0800 0700 0600 0500
1400 1000 0900 0800 0700 0600
1500 1100 1000 0900 0800 0700
1600 1200 1100 1000 0900 0800
1700 1300 1200 1100 1000 0900
1800 1400 1300 1200 1100 1000
1900 1500 1400 1300 1200 1100
2000 1600 1500 1400 1300 1200
2100 1700 1600 1500 1400 1300
2200 1800 1700 1600 1500 1400
2300 1900 1800 1700 1600 1500
2400* 2000 1900 1800 1700 1600

Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) is the time at the zero or reference meridian. Time changes one hour with each change of 15 degrees in longitude. The five time zones in the US proper and Canada roughly follow these lines.

* 0000 and 2400 are interchangeable. (2400 is associated with the date of the day ending, 0000 with the day just starting.)


Emergency Reference Information for Amateur Radio Station ________________________________

Telephone Numbers What to report:
(List name and/or number)
 Caller's name
State/Province Police ____________________________________ Location
 Situation
Local Police ___________________________________________ Injuries: number, extent
 Fire?
Sheriff _______________________________________________ Traffic blocked?
 Need assistance?
Fire Department _______________________________________ Weather conditions

Ambulance ___________________________________________

CD __________________________________________________

SM __________________________________________________

SEC _________________________________________________

National Weather Service _______________________________

Red Cross ____________________________________________

Salvation Army _______________________________________

Net Manager _________________________________________

DEC ________________________________________________

EC __________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________