Fundamentals of Emergency Communications

• Valid Technician class or higher Amateur Radio license
• Santa Clara County ARES/RACES training courses:
  • Introduction to Emergency Communications (or approved equivalent) [instructor-led]
  • ICS-214-SCCo Unit Activity Log [self-paced; about 20 minutes to complete]

Note: The above prerequisites are not strictly enforced. But in order to get the most out of this course, you should have previously attended the above courses. If you have not yet attended one or more of the prerequisites, you should carefully review the course materials for the missed prerequisites prior to attending this course. Then, be sure to attend any missed prerequisites at your earliest opportunity.

• Copy of course materials (see below)
• Pen/pencil and pad of paper

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the Disaster Service Worker program, including their responsibilities as a participant
• Describe the purpose and appropriate usage of the main Santa Clara County ARES/RACES nets
• Describe and execute the proper procedures for mobilization, tracking, and demobilization, including the use of the Resource Net
• Submit a mike-mike report
• Properly complete an ICS 214 Log
• Properly complete and send/receive an ICS 213 Message form

The course agenda includes:

• The Disaster Service Worker program
• Santa Clara County Nets
• Mobilization, Tracking, Demobilization
• Fundamentals of Logging
• Fundamentals of Message Handling
• Additional Training
• Credential Program

Classroom presentation (Revised 24-Oct-2024):

• Audio Files (ZIP - 5.5 MB)
• 1 slide per page (Landscape PDF - 6.5 MB)
• 1 slide per page (Portrait PDF - 6.4 MB)
• 2 slides per page (PDF - 6.1 MB)
• 3 slides per page (PDF - 5.8 MB)
• 4 slides per page (PDF - 5.9 MB)

Complete the following self-paced training before coming to class:

• ICS-214-SCCo Unit Activity Log (MP4 - 89 MB) [about 20 minutes to complete]

Print out and bring the following to class::

• SCCo ARES/RACES Voice Frequency List
• SCCo ARES/RACES Performance Standards and Best Practices
• SCCo ARES/RACES Go Kit Checklist (MS-Word or PDF)
• ICS 205 SCCo Communications Plan (PDF 31 KB)
• ICS 213 SCCo Message Form  (PDF - 45 KB)
• ICS 214 SCCo Unit Activity Log (PDF - 56 KB)
• SCCo EmComm Training Classes (PDF - 191 KB)

Additional useful information:

Glossary of Terms