Drill Info (Aug 2020)

Drill Particulars

Welcome to the Saratoga City Drill being held in coordination with the Santa Clara County Communications Drill.

Date: Saturday, August 22, 2020

Time: 10:00 to Noon

Purpose:

This drill is intended to build experience in emergency communications while increasing the range of skills of our Saratoga EmComm community.  Although the activities are fairly trivial (like counting cars), in a real emergency “cars” might be “damaged homes”, “downed power lines”, “water main breaks”, “doctors needed” or some other critical infrastructure need that needs immediate communications. 

Structure:

Participants can choose at what level they wish to participate.  There are two primary levels:

  • “Simple” — All activities involve short messages radioed to Net Control.  No forms are required.  “If you can call in on Sunday night, you have all the skills necessary for this level.”
  • “Real” – There will be a mixture of simple call-ins and message passing.  Participants will need to fill out the following forms.  All forms should be submitted after the drill.
    • 4x ICS-213
    • 1x ICS-214
    • 1x ICS-309

Activity level:

There are two activity levels for this drill:

  • Drive around Saratoga following a map and then performing instructions provided on signs posted at 8 locations.
    • In general, you should never have to leave your car.  (There is one exception where you need to walk a few yards to see the signs.)
    • Even if the instructions ask you to “count the ducks” (none do), do not leave your car to chase the ducks.  This is not about getting the right duck count, but rather performing the instructions using your radio.
  • Stay at home 
    • If driving around would be a problem, you can remain at home.  All of the instruction signs are located at the bottom of this document (titled: Activities:) so you can still choose “Simple” or “Real” levels from your home.

Logistics

  • Saturday morning before 10 AM, tune to the K6SA repeater on a frequency of 146.655 MHz, negative offset, PL tone of 114.8 Hz or on our linked 70-centimeter repeater, 443.150 MHz, positive offset, PL tone of 100 Hz. This will be a directed net. Please pass all traffic through Net Control.
  • There will be an activation message.  If you are taking the “Real” path, note this activation number on your ICS-214 and ICS-309 forms.  
  • Looking at the map, choose the nearest location to your house.  You will proceed there as your first stop and then proceed in numeric order.
  • Call Net Control and report your call sign and your desire to stay either on the “Simple” path or the “Real” path.
  • Give net control your FCC call sign, the last 3 digits of your odometer and your approximate location.  
  • If you chose ‘Simple’, you will remain on the Command Net
  • If you choose “Real”:
    • You will be directed to the Message Net.  This will be a simplex frequency.
    • Do not change frequencies unless told to. THis ensures that you remain ‘checked-in’ to one and only one net at a time.
    • On the Message net, you might be given a tactical call sign which you will need for all of your call ins.  Please note this does NOT meet the FCC requirement to end all transmissions with your FCC call sign.
  • On either net, you might be requested to answer a ‘Health and Welfare” check. You will need to provide approximate location and
    • You will need to provide updates for all of the Health and Welfare checks.  (Applies to both “Simple” and “Real” paths.)
    • These will require the same basic information: the last 3 digits of your odometer and your approximate location (major cross streets.)
  • Follow the instructions on the signs you will find at each location.

Additional Information:

Additional last minute information and forms are available at: http://k6sa.net/wp/resources/drill-info-sept-2020/

Forms

Map of Sites

Details on each location

Location 1 Petersen Prospect Center

19800 Prospect Road   (1.8 miles from location 8)

Main entrance (one-way), drive straight back to the back parking lot. Green CERT shed is in the back corner

Location 2 Prospect High School 

18900 Prospect Road   (1.0 miles from Location 1)

Main entrance (or alternate 200 yards away) if Main is blocked off. Turn RIGHT and proceed to the covered parking area. Signs will be  on the first main post

Location 3 Saratoga Sub Acute Hospital 

13425 Sousa Lane off of Quito Road (1.9 miles from Location 2)

From Quito Road, turn onto Sousa Lane (near the crossing Highway 85). Drive slowly to the end of the lane. Turn RIGHT into the lot and stay LEFT at the Pediatric bldg., going around the circle.

Location 4 Saratoga Library

13650 Saratoga Ave.  (2.1 miles from Location 3)

Turn into the main parking lot. NOTE: Due to Covid19, the lanes will be restricted in direction. Follow the arrows. There will be a Poster Board with signs attached to a post near the library buildings.

Location 5 Corporate Yard 

19700 Allendale Drive  (0.6 miles from Location 4)

Drive past the Post Office (on the left) and go through the gates into the yard. To the RIGHT there will be a long green storage container with the signs posted on it.

Location 6 Saratoga Federated Church

20390 Park Place  (1.6 miles from Location 5)

From Saratoga Ave, turn onto Park Place. Drive to the main parking lot and circle around as if to drop someone off. There is a Village Preschool sign upon which our signage will be posted.

Location 7 Saratoga High School 

20300 Herriman Ave (0.7 miles from Location 6)

Turn into the front main parking lot. NOTE: there are one-way directions posted. Turn RIGHT going toward the tall theatre McAfee Center. Drive up to the steps.

Location 8 Argonaut Elementary School 

13200 Shadow Mountain Drive (1.3 miles from Location 7)

Turn into the Drop-Off lane near the Multi-purpose room. Sorry, you may have to exit your vehicle in order to get close enough to the signs.

HAVE FUN! Sign out using your call sign!

Activities:

Location“Simple” instructions“Real” instructions
1

Saratoga Prospect Center
Instructions: Call Net Control and report:

“Net Control this is <FCC Call sign> with a routine message.”
 
When acknowledged:
 
“There are <n> vehicles presently parked at this location.”
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign.
 
Proceed to Location #2
Instructions: Determine number of vehicles  and transmit on Tactical Net.
“Net Control this is <FCC Call sign> with a routine message.”
 
Message: “There are <n>
vehicles presently
parked at this location.”
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign.
 
Log your report (and transmissions at all stops) on ICS309 and ICS 214 forms.
 
Proceed to location #2
2

Prospect High School
Instructions: Call Net Control and report:
 
“Net Control this is <FCC Call sign> with a routine message.”
 
When acknowledged:
 
“There are <n> white cars presently parked at this location.”
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign.
 
Proceed to Location #3
Instructions: Fill out an ICS-213 Message and transmit on Tactical Net.
Add in your Message Number, Date, Time
Severity: Other
Handling Order: Routine
Take Action: No
Reply: No
To: ICS Position:            Planning
     ICS Location:            SAR EOC
From: ICS Position:       <Your Tactical Call Sign>
Location:                        Location 2
Subject:                          White car count
Message: There are <n> white cars presently
parked at this location.
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign
Proceed to location #3
3

Saratoga Sub-Acute Hospital
Instructions: Call Net Control and report:
 
“Net Control this is <FCC Call sign> with a routine message.”
 
When acknowledged:
 
“No activity.  Proceeding to next stop.”
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign.
 
Proceed to Location #4
 
Instructions: Report on activity and transmit on Tactical Net.
“Net Control this is <FCC Call sign> with a routine message.”
 
Message: “There is (is not) activity at this location.  Proceeding to next stop.”
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign.
 
Log your report (and transmissions at all stops) on ICS309 and ICS 214 forms.
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign
Proceed to location #4
4

Saratoga Library
Instructions: Call Net Control and report:
 
“Net Control this is <FCC Call sign> with a routine message.”
 
When acknowledged:
 
“There are <n> available handicap parking slots at this location.”
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign
 
Proceed to Location #5
 
Instructions: Fill out an ICS-213 Message and transmit on Tactical Net.
Add in your Message Number, Date, Time
Severity: Other
Handling Order: Routine
Take Action: No
Reply: No
To: ICS Position:            Logistics
     ICS Location:            SAR EOC
From: ICS Position:       <Your Tactical Call Sign>
Location:                        Location 4
Subject:                          Handicap Slots
Message: There are <n> handicap parking slots available at this location.
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign
Proceed to location #5
5

Saratoga Corp Yard
Instructions: Call Net Control and report:
 
“Net Control this is <FCC Call sign> with a routine message.”
 
When acknowledged:
Look for the orange bucket and report:
“There is (is not) an orange bucket at this location.”
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign
 
Proceed to Location #6
Instructions: Determine Presence of Orange Bucket and transmit on Tactical Net.
“Net Control this is <FCC Call sign> with a routine message.”
 
Message: “There is (is not) an orange bucket present.”
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign.
 
Log your report (and transmissions at all stops) on ICS309 and ICS 214 forms.
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign
Proceed to location #6
6

Saratoga Federated Church
Instructions: Call Net Control and report:
 
“Net Control this is <FCC Call sign> with a routine message.”
 
When acknowledged:
 
“There are <n> trees in the parking lot.”
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign
 
Proceed to Location #7
Instructions: Fill out an ICS-213 Message and transmit on Tactical Net.
Add in your Message Number, Date, Time
Severity: Other
Handling Order: Routine
Take Action: No
Reply: No
To: ICS Position:            Logistics
     ICS Location:            SAR EOC
From: ICS Position:       <Your Tactical Call Sign>
Location:                        Location 6
Subject:                           Tree count
Message: There are <n> trees in the parking lot.
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign
Proceed to location #7
7

Saratoga High School
Instructions: Call Net Control and report:
 
“Net Control this is <FCC Call sign> with a routine message.”
 
When acknowledged:
 
“There are (are not) signs of electrical power present.”
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign
 
Proceed to Location #8
Instructions: Check for Electrical Power and transmit on Tactical Net.
“Net Control this is <FCC Call sign> with a routine message.”
 
Message: “There are (are not) signs of electrical power present.”
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign.
 
Log your report (and transmissions at all stops) on ICS309 and ICS 214 forms.
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign.
 
Proceed to location #8
8

Argonaut Elementary School
Instructions: Call Net Control and report:
 
“Net Control this is <FCC Call sign> with a routine message.”
 
When acknowledged:
 
“There are <n> children present at this location.”
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign
 
Proceed to Location #1
Instructions: Fill out an ICS-213 Message and transmit on Tactical Net.
Add in your Message Number, Date, Time
Severity: Other
Handling Order: Routine
Take Action: No
Reply: No
To: ICS Position:            CERT Liaison
     ICS Location:            SAR EOC
From: ICS Position:       <Your Tactical Call Sign>
Location:                        Location 8
Subject:                          Children Present
Message: There are <n> children present.
 
Remember to end with “This is a drill” and your FCC call sign
Proceed to location #1