Emergency Plan
Emergency Plans for the community are varied. GVARC has proposed a number of the plans over time. Some of our members participate in State, Local and Federal Emergency Plans. Below are Presentations given to members about two of the programs which are available in Pima County..

emcomm-presentation.pdf |

auxcomm_presentation.pdf |
Hurricanes??
We do not get a lot of Hurricanes in Southeast Arizona but our monsoons are driven by hurricanes from the Eastern Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico. If you are in a location where you need to plan for Hurricanes, this site was provide to us for you to use.
We do not get a lot of Hurricanes in Southeast Arizona but our monsoons are driven by hurricanes from the Eastern Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico. If you are in a location where you need to plan for Hurricanes, this site was provide to us for you to use.
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INFORMATION
Green Valley is not known for being in an area of weather-related disasters. However, we are close to an international border, where terrorist and illegal activity could occur, and there are always causes for unexpected emergencies in any area. We can have flood conditions, especially in some of our washes, which may call for emergency help and even snow on some of our higher mountains. With cell phones, we now have advantages we have not had in the past. However, if power is out, our cell phones cannot function for long either.
The importance of being prepared for an emergency cannot be overstressed. As amateur radio operators, we have some tools the average person does not which help us to find out what is happening and where help is needed. Most of us have HTs which we can use when power outages occur. Also, in case of overloaded 911 dispatchers, we can call for or hear calls for help.
Below are emergency nets that meet as follows:
For information for Homeland Security, FEMA, and other emergency information, go to www.Ready.gov. We also have copies of a brochure, “Plan, Prepare and Protect”, put out by the Pima County Health Department. They will be available at GVARC regular meetings along with copies of some important information and phone numbers.
We will continue to add information to this website and encourage you to prepare individually for any emergency that may happen.
Our Sheriff’s Department is always reachable by dialing 911; however, keep your HT charged and ready in case of power outage. There are some HOAs that have their own plans of action, but the Fire Chief has stated that the closest recreation center, church or school may be directed to be a shelter in case of emergency. Have an emergency container with such items as a sleeping bag, dried food, water, extra prescription medicine, flashlight, extra pair of eyeglasses and first aid items easily accessible to pick up and take with you.
Have a place where you have decided to meet in case family members get separated. Know where your closest hospital/urgent care clinic is located.
And HOPE that we will never need to use these precautions.
Dee Gross, AD7NM, Emergency Coordinator for the GVARC
Green Valley is not known for being in an area of weather-related disasters. However, we are close to an international border, where terrorist and illegal activity could occur, and there are always causes for unexpected emergencies in any area. We can have flood conditions, especially in some of our washes, which may call for emergency help and even snow on some of our higher mountains. With cell phones, we now have advantages we have not had in the past. However, if power is out, our cell phones cannot function for long either.
The importance of being prepared for an emergency cannot be overstressed. As amateur radio operators, we have some tools the average person does not which help us to find out what is happening and where help is needed. Most of us have HTs which we can use when power outages occur. Also, in case of overloaded 911 dispatchers, we can call for or hear calls for help.
Below are emergency nets that meet as follows:
- RACES: Home Unit HF Net every Saturday at 07:15 on 3.863.
- CERT VHF Simplex net every first Saturday at 0700 on 146.520
- RACES VHF net every Saturday at 1300 on 147.300, CTCSS (PL) 110.9 Hz
- SKYWARN Net every morning at 0500 on 146.86 for our counties, CTCSS (PL) 141.3Hz
For information for Homeland Security, FEMA, and other emergency information, go to www.Ready.gov. We also have copies of a brochure, “Plan, Prepare and Protect”, put out by the Pima County Health Department. They will be available at GVARC regular meetings along with copies of some important information and phone numbers.
We will continue to add information to this website and encourage you to prepare individually for any emergency that may happen.
Our Sheriff’s Department is always reachable by dialing 911; however, keep your HT charged and ready in case of power outage. There are some HOAs that have their own plans of action, but the Fire Chief has stated that the closest recreation center, church or school may be directed to be a shelter in case of emergency. Have an emergency container with such items as a sleeping bag, dried food, water, extra prescription medicine, flashlight, extra pair of eyeglasses and first aid items easily accessible to pick up and take with you.
Have a place where you have decided to meet in case family members get separated. Know where your closest hospital/urgent care clinic is located.
And HOPE that we will never need to use these precautions.
Dee Gross, AD7NM, Emergency Coordinator for the GVARC
GVARC Emergency Action Plan - What To Do and When To Do It
We here in Green Valley had an electrical outage for about an hour and a half on Tuesday morning. During the outage I went down to the SAV building to see if there was anything I could do to help. The good thing was the power outage was spotty with only a few areas effected.
It however got me thinking a little more about what we as Ham's can do. and when can we do it.
I have suggested to a few folks that if you can, come up on 145.29 repeater whenever you are wondering about what is going on in the area. A couple stations did that Tuesday and I was able to give the SAV folks a little more information about an area of town that they did not know was out of power. This would only be a starting place but at least we would all have a place to start.
I would like to see all of us think a little more about what local ham radio operators could do in an emergency here in Green Valley. If you have some ideas lets get them out there and lets get a better idea of what to do and when to do it.
Send them to the Webmaster or myself and we can post them.
Gene WØKAD
It's an old thing not a new thing.I found out that the GVARC has had an Emergency Plan in the past which in effect is what was forming in my mind when I wrote the email "What to Do and When to do it." Which of course brings me to the realization that not many newer members including myself have any idea what the GVARC would hope to do in times of an Emergency. I think we need to revisit, review, and renew a plan for "What To Do and When To Do It."
Food For Thought
Some times we get focused on what happens in the "BIG ONE" when maybe we should be thinking a little about the local event that could be a critical event if I or one of my neighbors are involved.
Of major concern to the first responders and the neighborhood folks is what to do if some one needs to make a 911 call. when the electricity is out. Remember cordless telephones will not work !! A Good tip is to have one hard wire phone in your home.
Diane KC7TJH gave me an update at breakfast this morning of what she and fellow hams in her subdivision have been doing when power or phones go out. They have let their HOA know they are Hams and have the ability to get 911 type messages out.
This raises the question of how the HOA feels about hams. Some of us have the feeling the less the HOA knows about our Ham radio activities the better, or possibly this would be a way to educate our neighbors around us. Or would it would focus their attention in a way that would not be good for us as everyday radio operators.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
The simplicity of all this makes a lot of sense. All we need to help is a hand held (HT) radio and someone on 145.29 repeater outside the local effected area that is willing to make a 911 call. Of course the more of us on the repeater the better coverage and the more effective we could be.
Again, I would hope all of you will give a lot of thought about what can be done and what we are willing to do for our community. Lets talk it up and try to put together at least some simple plans.
73 Gene WØKAD
GVARC President
We here in Green Valley had an electrical outage for about an hour and a half on Tuesday morning. During the outage I went down to the SAV building to see if there was anything I could do to help. The good thing was the power outage was spotty with only a few areas effected.
It however got me thinking a little more about what we as Ham's can do. and when can we do it.
I have suggested to a few folks that if you can, come up on 145.29 repeater whenever you are wondering about what is going on in the area. A couple stations did that Tuesday and I was able to give the SAV folks a little more information about an area of town that they did not know was out of power. This would only be a starting place but at least we would all have a place to start.
I would like to see all of us think a little more about what local ham radio operators could do in an emergency here in Green Valley. If you have some ideas lets get them out there and lets get a better idea of what to do and when to do it.
Send them to the Webmaster or myself and we can post them.
Gene WØKAD
It's an old thing not a new thing.I found out that the GVARC has had an Emergency Plan in the past which in effect is what was forming in my mind when I wrote the email "What to Do and When to do it." Which of course brings me to the realization that not many newer members including myself have any idea what the GVARC would hope to do in times of an Emergency. I think we need to revisit, review, and renew a plan for "What To Do and When To Do It."
Food For Thought
Some times we get focused on what happens in the "BIG ONE" when maybe we should be thinking a little about the local event that could be a critical event if I or one of my neighbors are involved.
Of major concern to the first responders and the neighborhood folks is what to do if some one needs to make a 911 call. when the electricity is out. Remember cordless telephones will not work !! A Good tip is to have one hard wire phone in your home.
Diane KC7TJH gave me an update at breakfast this morning of what she and fellow hams in her subdivision have been doing when power or phones go out. They have let their HOA know they are Hams and have the ability to get 911 type messages out.
This raises the question of how the HOA feels about hams. Some of us have the feeling the less the HOA knows about our Ham radio activities the better, or possibly this would be a way to educate our neighbors around us. Or would it would focus their attention in a way that would not be good for us as everyday radio operators.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
The simplicity of all this makes a lot of sense. All we need to help is a hand held (HT) radio and someone on 145.29 repeater outside the local effected area that is willing to make a 911 call. Of course the more of us on the repeater the better coverage and the more effective we could be.
Again, I would hope all of you will give a lot of thought about what can be done and what we are willing to do for our community. Lets talk it up and try to put together at least some simple plans.
73 Gene WØKAD
GVARC President
Walt's Thoughts regarding HAM community support during power and utility outages
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Gene asked us to be thinking about how we might better organize for such a contingency and I think he is on to something. We don’t usually suffer from hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, etc. here in Southern Arizona, but power and utility outages seem to be on the increase. Add to that the demographics of our community, with many folks dependent on electricity more than for just convenience and comfort – and telephones that are literally lifelines. HAM radio operators have always been quick to help in more traditional emergencies, but now we may have to think a little outside the box…
During yesterday’s incident with Cox telephone and internet going down for half the day, I called the Sahuarita Police dispatcher to volunteer our services. She was appreciative and thoughtful. But after a brief discussion, she asked, "What exactly could you folks do for us?" a good question. The general population has no idea who we (Hams) are our how to reach us in an emergency. The dispatcher and I agreed that if any "inbound" emergency calls ended up at the Police Department, they could call me on my cell phone and I would check the net to see who was closest so they could drive over to the person in question. OK, for an ad hoc situation, but not elegant either. But it got me to thinking.
We want to be helpful in these kind of emergencies AND we want to put our best foot forward to the HOA’s that want to restrict antenna placement. Maybe we could meet both goals with the right approach.
Bill (I think) AA0TF gave me the basic idea – if people knew to look for the antennas in a community it might be beneficial in an emergency, but there are timing and "cart before the horse" issues as Bill, K6WWH pointed out. But still…
SO, here’s what I came up with:
A club initiative with the following key elements:
In the event of a power or utility failure, we will all monitor the repeaters.
So, our neighbors get a safety net, the HOAs get a gold star for thinking of the safety of their members (at no cost) and maybe we have a fighting chance of getting some community support for the "antenna reasonable accommodation" initiative we would all like to see get passed next year?
Just a thought,
Walt, W0ALT
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Gene asked us to be thinking about how we might better organize for such a contingency and I think he is on to something. We don’t usually suffer from hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, etc. here in Southern Arizona, but power and utility outages seem to be on the increase. Add to that the demographics of our community, with many folks dependent on electricity more than for just convenience and comfort – and telephones that are literally lifelines. HAM radio operators have always been quick to help in more traditional emergencies, but now we may have to think a little outside the box…
During yesterday’s incident with Cox telephone and internet going down for half the day, I called the Sahuarita Police dispatcher to volunteer our services. She was appreciative and thoughtful. But after a brief discussion, she asked, "What exactly could you folks do for us?" a good question. The general population has no idea who we (Hams) are our how to reach us in an emergency. The dispatcher and I agreed that if any "inbound" emergency calls ended up at the Police Department, they could call me on my cell phone and I would check the net to see who was closest so they could drive over to the person in question. OK, for an ad hoc situation, but not elegant either. But it got me to thinking.
We want to be helpful in these kind of emergencies AND we want to put our best foot forward to the HOA’s that want to restrict antenna placement. Maybe we could meet both goals with the right approach.
Bill (I think) AA0TF gave me the basic idea – if people knew to look for the antennas in a community it might be beneficial in an emergency, but there are timing and "cart before the horse" issues as Bill, K6WWH pointed out. But still…
SO, here’s what I came up with:
A club initiative with the following key elements:
- Compile a list of club members who would be willing to participate and build a file with name, address, phone number, cell phone if any, email if any and community (mine would be Quail Creek), if the community has an HOA and finally, does the community have a manned gate or patrol service.
- Contact each HOA and give them a list of club members and addresses for inclusion in the next HOA newsletter or directory – perhaps with our club member’s homes highlighted on a map for emergency use.
- For communities with manned gates, consider a club project to place a 2 meter transceiver in the guard house with a gel cell battery and simple charger. Nothing fancy, just something that can hit our repeaters. We might even have some functioning radios in the club closet. We could conduct training for the guards (how to turn it on, FCC emergency communication rules, etc.) In an actual emergency, a club member would head for the guard house when the lights go out to assist and to establish a net.
- Consider doing the same thing at the Sauharita Police Department dispatcher and other key emergency service providers (SAV is already on board, but maybe add Green Valley Fire, Border Patrol and maybe Tucson Electric?)
- Develop a written contingency plan (NOT a book, just a page – if longer than that, no one will ever read it) and distribute to the HOAs and emergency responders.
In the event of a power or utility failure, we will all monitor the repeaters.
- If the outage lasts over 15 minutes, we will head for the gate houses, emergency services locations and help establish a communications link.
- If community members know in advance that we are there and willing to help, they can come to us. Some communities may elect to use a community room as a "mustering point" for people who might need our help. That will vary from one neighborhood to the next, but we can have a mobile equipped car or hand held transceiver toting club member there on short order.
So, our neighbors get a safety net, the HOAs get a gold star for thinking of the safety of their members (at no cost) and maybe we have a fighting chance of getting some community support for the "antenna reasonable accommodation" initiative we would all like to see get passed next year?
Just a thought,
Walt, W0ALT