Hi all,
Question regarding the state of ARES activation and the current COVID-19 pandemic.
I'm curious to understand when the ARES network would be activated in situation such as we are experiencing today.
For my own curiousity, I did prepare a programming file for my radios with the ARES frequencies defined on http://ares.meskes.ca/frequencies.html
I am also looking at the IMS100 self study course to get more familiar with emergency preparedness.
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ARES and COVID-19
ARES and COVID-19
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Thanks for the great info @Mike VA3MCT and @va3bxg . Much appreciated.
73
Chris VA3WTD
Chris,
ARES never gets activated unless required by the York Region Emergency Management Office. We never self-activate!
There are two scenarios when we might get activated:
1) Break down in police/fire/ambulance communication systems - however, these days it is highly reliable, but it is a technology and we know technology breaks.
2) To handle extra communications with third-party organizations such as Red Cross or St John Ambulance, again only when primary communications have failed, such as telco capabilities.
As York Region EMO have commented in the past, if they have to call ARES into an Emergency, then it must already be VERY bad.
With COVID-19, there is potential for a call-out because Rogers, Bell and others may start to fail and if staff are ill, then they may have a lack of resources such as field engineers to keep systems running. On the other hand, ARES would never be pulled into a situation where we may become ill ourselves. It's all a fine balance.
IMS-100 is the first course to complete. If you have completed IMS-100 please send your IMS-100 certificate to emcomm@yrarc.org
Following this is the IMS-200 course which we are hoping will be put on during April, though COVID-19 might itself stop this moving forward. Watch this space.
Mike
VA3MCT
EC York Region ARES
1) there is a York region specific list of frequencies that includes the ones you mention plus more. I am in the process of updating the list to better reflect changes that have happened recently
2) while taking the ims100 is always great. It deals with Emergency management of an incident, rather than Emergency preparedness. If you interested in getting involved with ARES, that would be a good start
Look at https://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/emergencies-and-disasters-in-canada/be-ready-emergency-preparedness-and-recovery
For more info along the lines you mentioned.
3) As for when. Its more like if. We have to wait and see what the various served agencies need /ask for in terms of assistance.
We appreciate to pro active action and encourage you to reach out to Mike va3mct (Emergency coordinator) to let him know that you are interested in getting involved .