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Santa Clara County ARES®/RACES

Go Kit Checklist

This is the list of required, recommended, and optional equipment for ARES/RACES operators.

2-Hour Carry Kit

Purpose:
To be kept nearby at all times for immediate (within minutes) communication of damage reports during Resource Net Level 1 ops. Also used to remain in contact with Resource Net Level 2 while returning home to retrieve 12-hour Go-Kit.

Required:

  • 2m/70cm dual-band radio
    • HT recommended (min. 5W on 12V/2.5W on batt)
    • Mobile 25W optional (if vehicle will not be far away)
    • Programmed with Resource Net frequencies
  • Charged batteries for 2-3 hours operation
  • 2m/70cm dual-band mobile antenna (mag mount, window mount or existing mobile antenna)
  • Current SCCo Voice Frequency List
  • Modified Mercalli (Mike-Mike) scale
  • Notepad / pens
  • SCCo ARES/RACES Contact List

Recommended:

  • Cigarette lighter adapter
  • Cell phone
  • Water (16 oz.)

12-Hour Go Kit

Purpose:
For fully independent operation; unknown environment (heat, cold, wind, rain); unknown time (day, night, up to 12 hours). Return home to retrieve.

Portable Radio Equipment

Required:

  • 2m/70cm dual-band handie-talkie (HT)
    • Minimum 5W on 12V/2.5W on batteries [Note 1]
    • Dual-receive recommended
  • Radio user manual or cheat sheet
  • Earbud or headphones minimum; headset, earbud/mic, or speaker/mic/earbud, or similar recommended
  • Charged batteries for 12 hours (min. 3000 mAh) [Note 2]
  • Power cord adapters — connect HT to power sources:
    • Powerpoles
    • Cigarette lighter socket
    • Vehicle battery terminals
  • Spare fuses (verify types needed for your devices)
  • Coax adapter: connect HT to coax
  • Min. 25 feet of 50 Ohm coaxial cable

Required for S2 credentials:

  • A second HT

Required for S3 credentials, otherwise recommended:

  • Small backpack, vest, chest harness or other similar method for carrying HT while operating portable

Mobile or Stationary Radio Equipment

Required for Type II credentials, otherwise recommended:

  • 2m/70cm mobile radio (separate/removable from vehicle)
    • Programmed with SCC Voice and BBS frequencies
    • 25W minimum
    • Dual-receive, cross-band repeat
    • RF Safety Evaluation Record
  • Radio user manual or cheat sheet
  • Headset (stereo recommended for VFO per ear) w/ inline, handswitch or footswitch PTT
  • Battery for 12-hours operation (20 Ah min.; 26 Ah rec.)
  • Power cord adapters — connect mobile to power sources:
    • Powerpoles
    • Cigarette lighter socket
    • Vehicle battery terminals
  • Powerpole splitter or fused distribution panel
  • Spare fuses
  • Coax adapter: connect mobile radio to coax
  • Min. 25 add’l feet of 50 Ohm coaxial cable w/barrel conn.
  • Extension cord, 3-wire, 3-6 ft., multi-outlet

Optional:

  • Extension cord, 3-wire, 50-100 ft.

Antennas

Required:

  • Coax adapters: connect coax to existing antenna jack:
    • BNC plug (male) & BNC socket (female)
    • UHF plug (PL-259) & UHF socket (SO-239)
    • N-type plug (male) and N-type socket (female)
  • 2m/70cm dual-band magnetic or window clip mount antenna

Required for Type II credentials, otherwise recommended:

  • 2m/70cm high gain HT antenna
  • 2m/70cm dual-band portable base antenna (e.g. roll-up J-pole or other)
  • Portable mast (elevates antenna base min. 10 ft.)
  • Tripod or other self-supporting base for mast plus weights

Packet Equipment

Required for P2 credential, otherwise recommended:

  • Laptop with current Outpost and PackItForms installed
  • USB flash drive (i.e. USB key) with software
  • TNC (may be hardware, software or built into radio)
  • Cables: TNC to radio; TNC to PC
  • Entire station can operate for min. 1 hr on battery

Recommended:

  • Portable printer

Optional:

  • Shade cover for display

Other Communications Gear

Recommended:

  • Cell phone & charger and/or cigarette lighter adapter

Optional:

  • FRS/GMRS Radio
  • Satellite phone

Tools

Recommended:

  • Duct tape
  • Electrical tape
  • Nylon Tie-Wraps/wire ties
  • Utility knife
  • Small multi-tool or tool kit

Optional:

  • Volt-Ohm meter
  • SWR/Power meter

Operating Position Equipment

Required:

  • Sign(s) for operating position

Required for Type II credentials, otherwise recommended:

  • Lighting for operating position
  • Folding table and chair(s)
  • Pop-up canopy plus weights
  • Folding cart, dolly, hand truck to move equipment
  • Safety cones (to mark cable, tripod, …)

Recommended:

  • Rope or Dacron cord (50’)
  • Caution/flagging tape (to mark cables, guy ropes, RF, …)

Optional:

  • Magnetic sign for car
  • Tarp (8’ by 8’ or larger)
  • Safety strobes or flares

Identification Documents

Required:

  • CA Driver’s license or CA-issued ID card
  • Amateur Radio license
  • County Emergency Responder ID card (DSW Card)
  • If issued: SCCo ID badge, city badge, Credential Qual card

Maps

Required:

  • Paper or offline maps covering all Santa Clara Co. [Note 3]
  • Compass or GPS

Recommended:

  • Maps of antenna locations (if available)
  • City, county or other detail maps

Forms and Documentation (forms printed single-sided)

Required:

  • All forms listed on the website Go-Kit forms list
  • Modified Mercalli (Mike-Mike) scale
  • Phone message pad (2-part style recommended)

Required for any credentials, recommended otherwise:

  • County Performance Standards & Best Practices

Logging / Note Taking

Required:

  • Clipboard (covered type recommended)
  • Notepads (standard or waterproof)
  • At least 2 pens (blue or black ink)

Optional:

  • Highlighters / felt-tip pens

Contact Lists

Required:

  • SCCo Voice and Packet Frequency Lists
  • SCCo ARES/RACES Contact List (includes DEC/ADEC/EC contacts, and city police & file direct dial phone numbers)

Optional:

  • Repeater directory

Vehicle

Required:

  • Reliable operating condition
  • Fueled — minimum ½ full at all times, or 100+ miles for EVs

Recommended:

  • Jumper cables or a portable jump starter battery pack

General Personal Items

Required:

  • Money (paper and coin) — in case ATMs are down
  • Watch or clock

Recommended:

  • Trash bags

Personal Safety Gear

Required:

  • Flashlight or headlamp and spare batteries for 12 hours
  • Safety vest, ANSI Class 2, safety yellow/lime yellow

Recommended:

  • Whistle
  • Work gloves
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen lotion
  • Insect Repellent
  • Safety glasses
  • Mask (NIOSH-certified N95 or better)

Optional:

  • Hearing protection (e.g. foam ear plugs)
  • Hard hat (lime yellow recommended)
  • Chemical light sticks

Clothing

Required:

  • Sturdy, closed-toe shoes (no sandals)
  • Long pants (no shorts)
  • Hat (broad brim recommended)
  • Seasonal jacket / rain gear

Food & Water

Required:

  • Food for 12 hours (make your own list)
  • Water for 12 hours (3-4 quarts recommended)

Recommended:

  • Small cooler or ice chest

Toiletries and Personal Items

Recommended:

  • Personal First Aid kit
  • Hand soap and/or sanitizer

Optional:

  • Pain Reliever of choice
  • Antacid tablets
  • Prescription medication
  • List of medication used
  • Eyeglasses & spare
  • Eye Contact cleaner/storage if appropriate

Miscellaneous

Optional:

  • Portable AM radio and spare batteries
  • Binoculars
  • Baggies to seal/protect items
  • Shovel
  • Fire extinguisher (required if using a generator)

Position Specific

Required for Type I Credentials:

  • Regional Voice and Packet Frequency, and BBS Lists

Required for Type 1 and Leadership roles (DEC/ADEC/EC/AEC):

  • DSW Documents and Forms listed under DSW Claims

Required for Hospital Operators:

  • Hospital Tactical Call List

Notes

  1. Most recently manufactured hand-held radios ARE capable of 5W output when 12-13.8 VDC is connected to the DC-IN jack and at least 2.5W output power using rechargeable battery packs. Check your radio’s user manual to be sure your radio outputs at least 2.5W on rechargeable batteries. However, most hand-held radios are NOT capable of producing a minimum of 2.5W output power using AA batteries. Some known exceptions are the Kenwood TH-D7 and the Yaesu FT-60. For all other radios, rechargeable battery packs will be needed unless the radio can be shown to have a minimum of 2.5W output on AA batteries (check user manual or test with power meter).
  2. A review of the most popular handheld radios was conducted. Receive current, transmit current and rechargeable battery pack capacity were reviewed. 3000 mAh was determined to be the minimum capacity needed for 12 hours of operation. (Some radios may require a little more). Depending on the make and model, this translates to 2 or 3 rechargeable battery packs. This minimum requirement correlates well with real-world experience in drills and real incidents such as Katrina.
  3. Maps must cover the entire Santa Clara County. Offline maps must be usable indoors and without connectivity to any type of network and must have sufficient power for 12 hours. If using maps on your cell phone, they must be useable when in airplane mode.

Extended Go Kit

Purpose:
Additional items for fully independent operation over an extended period of time. Used in situations where returning home after shift is not possible or not ideal.

Power Source

Required for Type I credentials:

  • Regulated DC power supply for mobile radio equipment
  • Battery charger for your extended operating equipment
  • Solar power system or portable generator with fuel, drip pan, & ABC-rated fire extinguisher

Other:

  • Spare batteries (for charging while operating)
  • 12 VDC -to- 120 VAC Power Inverter

Clothing

  • Rain gear
  • Jacket
  • Warm clothing (preferably in layers)
  • Under garments (3 sets)
  • Socks (3 sets)
  • Pants (3)
  • Belt
  • Shirts (3)
  • Alternate boots or shoes
  • Sleepwear
  • Cold water laundry soap

Food and Water

  • MREs (self-heating) or other non-perishable meals
  • Water (1 gal/day recommended, depending on conditions)
  • Water purification tablets or devices
  • Can opener
  • Cooler or ice chest
  • Bowl and eating utensils
  • Coffee cup

Shower Items

  • Washcloth and towel
  • Soap and shampoo
  • Razor and shaving cream
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Comb and/or brush
  • Deodorant/antiperspirant
  • Wash basin (in case of no sink)

Shelter

  • Sleeping pad
  • Sleeping bag/blanket
  • Pillow
  • Blanket
  • Tent
  • Alarm clock