Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Re: two way radios

An often over looked communications tool in a schools emergency
management plan is a ham radio station. Schools with licensed
stations usually have disaster communications trained personal
on site. These stations can have instant radio contact with
local emergency management groups (including NOAA's local
weather service stations) using available FCC and military
assigned frequencies.

I found it interesting as a radio operator to read in
"Multi-Hazard Emergency Planning for Schools"(FEMA) the
following:

"If you suspect that there is a threat from a bomb: Do not use
your cell phone or radio!"

Perhaps two cans and a string should also be added to the
schools emergency kit for this situation.

Jim Wingate - Atlanta
jwingate@lovett.org


A forum for independent school educators
<ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU> writes:
>Hi Renee,
>
>I have a similar system in place with multiple frequencies
>available
>as well as a Sat phone and Ham radio. I operate on the
>assumption that
>cell networks will saturate or go offline altogether in a
>crisis/
>disaster.
>
>I can share more offline.
>
>M
>Matt Pearson
>Director of Technology, Security & Safety
>Marin Country Day School
>
>
>
>On Apr 11, 2009, at 8:57 PM, "Jason Ramsden"
><jramsden@ravenscroft.org> wrote:
>
>> Renee,
>>
>> We've rolled out 15 two-radios on campus that all come with
>an FCC
>> licensed channel that is unique to our system with a booster
>in the
>> middle of campus (we have 120 acre campus).
>>
>> We use this for both our maintence staff and our security
>team. We
>> went this route (which is more expensive than just getting
>Motorola
>> talkabouts off the shelf) because our Director of Security,
>who is
>> retired Raleigh PD Major, felt that should a crisis occur a
>police
>> officer could enter any building on campus and have immediate
>access
>> to all members of our crisis team.
>>
>> If you want more detail hit me offlist and we can chat.
>>
>> Best,
>> Jason Ramsden, CTO
>> Ravenscroft School
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: A forum for independent school educators
><ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
>> >
>> To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU <ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
>> Sent: Sat Apr 11 22:31:46 2009
>> Subject: Re: two way radios
>>
>> Radio frequencies could be picked up by perp, press, etc.
>which
>> would provide information unnecessarily.
>>
>> I would use cell phones as an alternative for key members of
>your
>> crisis team.
>>
>> Hiram
>>


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