Article #3 – WCERRS Project: How it Works

The first two articles in this series provided a progress overview and hardware review of the (Wahkiakum County Emergency Responder Radio System) project. This article covers how the system will be used in normal everyday use and in more widespread emergency situations.

In normal use each of the participating agencies (Sheriff/SAR, each Fire/EMS district, HHS, PUD, county and town public works, school district) has its own band with its own set of local direct channels. Each of those groups also has its designated repeater channel. Each has its own local channels for its own use. Each also has a few local channels that it shares with other agencies. Some agencies, like the Sheriff vehicles, have quick access to all of the repeaters.

So, for example, for an accident on SR4 on the east end of the county, there might be Fire and EMS from one or two stations, one or more Sheriff’s deputies, state patrol, with possibly PUD personnel to check on the power lines. Each has their own channel to speak with their own agency, plus each has common channels, usually “TAC 1” that they all share and use to talk with each other. Additionally, dispatch would be monitoring all of the repeater frequencies and possibly the direct local channel if the accident is close enough. In a second example, a Sheriff’s deputy near the County Line Park could directly call other deputies near Cathlamet and Rosburg to let them know of a speeder going by. Or, in another scenario, a Sheriff’s deputy could give directions directly to a PUD vehicle coming to check on a downed line.

In normal use, most users would keep their radio on one local channel for most of their talking, and one repeater channel when they need to talk with someone farther away.

There are three levels of Emergency: In Level #3, there are one or perhaps two different agencies involved, like the examples given above. Level #2 involves a partial activation of the Emergency Operation Center, where perhaps three or more agencies would be involved, for example, for a fire that involved the Sheriff, Search and Rescue, two or three Fire Districts, and the PUD. Level #1 is a complete activation of the EOC, with multiple agencies, including state and federal agencies, Red Cross and probably emergency shelters. Examples could be a major fire, a devastating earthquake or a ship in distress on the Columbia containing hazardous materials.

In level #2 and Level #1 situations the designated Incident Commander would lead the agencies’ teams in our response. For example, this might include using the school district buses to transport responders and refugees, using Johnson Park or Wahkiakum School District rooms to house responders or refugees, and using most of the school district HTs by other emergency responders. Decisions are made at the EOC, conveyed to the dispatch at the courthouse, who communicate with responders, whether they are in vehicles, at Fire Halls, or some other location with a system-capable radio. In these situations, responders can change bands on their radios, as needed and directed, to communicate with responders from other agencies. The general public should first report via 911.