Operations at BEECN Sites: Difference between revisions

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=== Basic BEECN Operations ===
=== Basic BEECN Operations ===
a. If there is no response from the Primary Fire Station, wait five minutes, then repeat the check in message. Continue transmitting every five minutes until the Primary Fire Station responds.


b. BEECN volunteers should also attempt to reach their Secondary Fire Station if they cannot immediately reach the Primary Fire Station. There is no need to contact the Secondary Fire Station if the BEECN volunteer reaches the Primary Fire Station.
# If there is no response from the Primary Relay, wait five minutes, then repeat the check in message. Continue transmitting every five minutes until the Primary Relay responds.
 
# BEECN volunteers should also attempt to reach their Secondary Relay if they cannot immediately reach the Primary Relay. There is no need to contact the Secondary Relay if the BEECN volunteer reaches the Primary Relay.
c. If transmission quality is poor, volunteers should look at the map inside the cache and consider what objects (hills, buildings) are between them and the fire station. If possible, volunteers will move away from/out from behind those obstructions. Additionally, volunteers may have to look for higher ground to get a clear signal. Some BEECNs that are far from their fire station have a white external antenna in their kit. Volunteers can attach this antenna to the UHF handheld radio if they experience trouble communicating. The external antenna is attached by unscrewing the small flexible antenna from the radio and attaching the external antenna cable in its place.
# If transmission quality is poor, volunteers should look at the map inside the cache and consider what objects (hills, buildings) are between them and the fire station. If possible, volunteers will move away from/out from behind those obstructions. Additionally, volunteers may have to look for higher ground to get a clear signal. Some BEECNs that are far from their fire station have a white external antenna in their kit. Volunteers can attach this antenna to the UHF handheld radio if they experience trouble communicating. The external antenna is attached by unscrewing the small flexible antenna from the radio and attaching the external antenna cable in its place.
 
# Volunteers will record the time of the first transmission and the time when their Relay is reached in the radio log. A radio log is included in the BEECN cache.
d. Volunteers will record the time of the first transmission and the time when Fire Sation is reached in the radio log. A radio log is included in the BEECN cache.
# After checking in, volunteers request permission to pass radio traffic if there are messages to relay. Otherwise, volunteers wait and listen on channel for further instructions/messages.
 
# As much as possible, volunteers should keep radio traffic minimal, avoiding transmitting nonessential radio traffic. Volunteers may hear other BEECN sites talking on the same channel as well.
e. After checking in, volunteers request permission to pass radio traffic if there are messages to relay. Otherwise, volunteers wait and listen on channel for further instructions/messages.
# Best operating practices suggest that one volunteer is in charge of the radio and actively talking with the Relay. The other volunteer is interacting with the public and gathering radio messages to relay.
 
# Volunteers shall record all radio traffic from the fire station and the time received in the radio log.
f. As much as possible, volunteers should keep radio traffic minimal, avoiding transmitting nonessential radio traffic. Volunteers may hear other BEECN sites talking on the same channel as well.
 
g. Best operating practices suggest that one volunteer is in charge of the radio and actively talking with the fire station. The other volunteer is interacting with the public and gathering radio messages to relay.
 
h. Volunteers shall record all radio traffic from the fire station and the time received in the radio log.


=== Radio Traffic Priorities ===
=== Radio Traffic Priorities ===
Members of the public will have many different purposes for relaying messages through the BEECN network. If messages compete for priority, volunteers should use this guide to decide which messages get relayed soonest:
Members of the public will have many different purposes for relaying messages through the BEECN network. If messages compete for priority, volunteers should use this guide to decide which messages get relayed soonest:


1. Fire/Life Safety: these are, essentially, 9-1-1 calls. If a BEECN receives one of these messages it takes priority over and interrupts all other radio traffic.
# Fire/Life Safety: these are, essentially, 9-1-1 calls. If a BEECN receives one of these messages it takes priority over and interrupts all other radio traffic.
 
# Damage Assessments and Casualty Reports: members of the public reporting significant damage to property and infrastructure, or reports of injuries and casualties. Portland Fire & Rescue will be the lead resource responsible for these.
2. Damage Assessments and Casualty Reports: members of the public reporting significant damage to property and infrastructure, or reports of injuries and casualties. Portland Fire & Rescue will be the lead resource responsible for these.
# Government employee check-in: Government and TriMet employees have systems in place to contact their employers. If necessary there are “Post Earthquake Employee Check In” forms included in the loose leaf notebook in each BEECN cache.
 
# Person Location: this is a request from someone to help find a missing loved one. BEECN volunteers can direct people to resources but will not facilitate reunification of families, house mates or loved ones.
3. Government employee check-in: Government and TriMet employees have systems in place to contact their employers. If necessary there are “Post Earthquake Employee Check In” forms included in the loose leaf notebook in each BEECN cache.
# Other: Any traffic that does not fall into the above categories (e.g. media requests).
 
4. Person Location: this is a request from someone to help find a missing loved one. BEECN volunteers can direct people to resources but will not facilitate reunification of families, house mates or loved ones.
 
5. Other: Any traffic that does not fall into the above categories (e.g. media requests).


=== Message Posting ===
=== Message Posting ===
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