JOB AID: BEECN Drill: Difference between revisions
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== Background == | == Background == | ||
::''Main article: [[BEECN Program Organization]]'' | ::''Main article: [[BEECN Program Organization]]'' | ||
The Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication Nodes program (BEECN) is | The Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication Nodes program (BEECN) is an emergency radio communications flagship program of the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management. This Job Aid assumes that the reader is familiar with the BEECN system already. | ||
The BEECN system includes over 80 individual resources (BEECN UHF radios and fire station VHF radios). | The BEECN system includes over 80 individual resources (BEECN UHF radios and fire station VHF radios). PBEM policy is to test all radios at least once a year. Though PBEM can and has exercised the entire system in a single exercise, best practice suggests three or four exercises a year with 25 resources involved in each exercise. | ||
=== Setting up the hotline === | === Setting up the hotline === | ||
PBEM will set up an exercise hotline in the message center room; the number is published to all volunteers as 503-823-2323. When PBEM personnel arrive for the exercise, one of their first tasks should be to establish the hotline. The purpose of the hotline is to reach PBEM and the radio room via phone if a | PBEM will set up an exercise hotline in the message center room; the number is published to all volunteers as 503-823-2323. When PBEM personnel arrive for the exercise, one of their first tasks should be to establish the hotline. The purpose of the hotline is to reach PBEM and the radio room via phone if a problem in the field prevents a volunteer from checking in via radio. It is a critical component to the exercise; without it, exercise supervisors risk cutting volunteers off from the exercise and will also not detect the problems causing the comms failure in the first place. Take the following steps to establish the hotline: | ||
# Best practice is to dedicate the computer station right next to the radio room to the hotline (see photo at left). The phone at this station is labeled '''MESSAGE CENTER #2'''. | # Best practice is to dedicate the computer station right next to the radio room to the hotline (see photo at left). The phone at this station is labeled '''MESSAGE CENTER #2'''. | ||
