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DALLAS CERT RADIO OPERATIONS GUIDE

Radio Pro-Signs and Meanings

Pro-Sign Meaning

Radio Check A test transmission between two operators to verify correct operation of the radios.

Dispatch Radio

Check

A radio check completed just before a team departs to complete an assignment.

Dispatch Time The time when the team is dispatched out to complete an assignment.

Response Time The time when team is tasked with either (1) responding back with a Status Report

or (2) if the team is moving to a different location, actually showing up at that

location.

Status Report A radio transmission relaying the observations, findings, or status of a team

Over Indicates the end of the current transmission, but the radio operator anticipates

continuing the conversation

Monitoring Indicates the end of the current transmission and the operator does not anticipate

continuing the conversation. However, the operator will be listening on the

frequency.

Clear Indicates end of conversation and radio operator will not be listening any longer

Roger Received and understood the last transmission from the other radio operator; does

not indicate agreement with the received transmission though.

Affirmative Positive response to a question or agreement to a statement.

Negative Negative response to a question or agreement to a statement.

Break Indicates the end of a sentence or line of text and transition to a different sentence

or line of text

Break, Break Used to interrupt any communication with an immediate urgent radio call

Dispatch Radio Checks

Before proceeding into the field to complete an assignment, all radio operators will complete a Dispatch

Radio Check with the radio operator supporting the Incident Commander and/or Net Control. The

following is an example of a Dispatch Radio Check.

Radio Call Transmission

Tango Alpha Command, this is Tango Alpha, Dispatch Radio Check.

Command Tango Alpha, this is Command. Copy you loud and clear. You are dispatched at

09:15. Response time is 09:25. Over.

Tango Alpha Roger. Tango Alpha strength is four. Response time is 09:25. Tango Alpha, K5ERT,

monitoring.

NOTE: Per FCC rules, radio operators in the Amateur Radio Service must finish all calls with their Call

Sign, as shown in the last line above. Since Incident Command and Net Controllers communicate

continuously throughout an event, Incident Command radio operators and Net Controllers must send

out their call at least every 10 minutes.

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Tactical Callsigns and Locations for a SAR Mission

The following are the assigned tactical callsigns and locations to be used for SAR missions:

CALLSIGN FUNCTION

Command 1 Incident Commander

Tango Alpha SAR Team Alpha

Tango Bravo SAR Team Bravo

Hotshot 1 Hotshot Team 1

Smokey 1 Fire Response Team

Medical 1 Medical Operations 1

Logistics 1 Logistics Team 1

Command Post Incident Commander

Medical Ops Medical Operations

LOCATION FUNCTION AT LOCATION

Command Post Incident Commander

Medical Ops Medical Operations

SAR Team Status Report (at Response Time)

During SAR missions, radio operators will provide status reports not later than their designated

Response Times. The contents of the status report needs to be concise, short, and in the correct

sequence as being anticipated by the radio operator at the Command position.

The following shows an example of the contents and protocol for a SAR Team Status Report:

Radio Call Transmission

Tango Alpha Command, this is Tango Alpha. Status Report.

Command Tango Alpha, this is Command. Go with Status Report.

Tango Alpha Tango Alpha reporting 75% complete with assignment. We have -- India: 2, Delta: 3,

Mike: 1, X-ray: 0. PAR is 100% with strength at 4. Tango Alpha, End of Report.

Command Tango Alpha, Command. Copy Status Report. Confirm India as 2. And do you need

any assistance? Over.

Tango Alpha Affirmative, India is 2, India is 2. We need a cribbing team to extricate 1 India. Over.

Command Tango Alpha, Command. Copy all. Sending Cribbing Team now. Continue your

assignment. Next response time is 09:45, 09:45. Over.

Tango Alpha Roger, next Response Time is 09:45. Tango Alpha, K5ERT, monitoring.

The radio operator at the Command or Net Control position will record all communications on an ICS

Form 309. Shown below is an example ICS Form 309 for a typical SAR mission.

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At times, the Command position radio operator or Net Control operator will request a Status Report

prior to the designated Response Time for the SAR Teams. Shown below is an example of such a Status

Report request.

Radio Call Transmission

Command Tango Alpha, this is Command. Request Status Report.

Tango Alpha Command, Tango Alpha reporting 75% complete. We have -- India: 2, Delta: 3,

Mike: 1, X-ray: 0. PAR is 100% with strength at 4. Tango Alpha, End of Report.

Command Tango Alpha, Command. Copy Status Report. Confirm India as 2. And do you need

any assistance? Over.

Tango Alpha Affirmative, India is 2, India is 2. Negative on assistance. Tango Alpha, Over.

Command Tango Alpha, Command. Copy all. Continue your assignment. Next response time is

09:45, 09:45. Over.

Tango Alpha Roger, next Response Time is 09:45. Tango Alpha, K5ERT, monitoring.

Command Tango Bravo, this is Command. Request Status Report.

Tango Bravo Command, Tango Bravo reporting… …End of Report.

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Tactical Callsigns and Locations for a Community Event Mission

The following are the assigned tactical callsigns and locations for supporting Community Events:

CALLSIGN FUNCTION

Net Control Net Controller

Command 1 Event CERT Team Leader

Tango Alpha Roaming Team Alpha

Tango Bravo Roaming Team Bravo

Waterstop 1 Individual at Waterstop 1

SAG 1 Individual with Sag Wagon 1

Medical 1 Medical Operations 1

Shadow 1 Individual shadowing Event Leader 1

Additional tactical callsigns and functions may be added as warranted by the event and mission. The

radio Net Controller and Command element will decide upon the callsigns and functions and provide a

list to all event participants.

Community Event Situation Reports

Radio operators supporting community events will provide situation status reports as needed. Critical

elements of the community event situation reports must answer the following questions:

• What is the situation? (i.e., how serious is it?)

o “Runner Down”

o Suspicious package

o Lost child

o Hazardous conditions/weather

o Crowd/traffic issues

• Where is the situation?

• Who/how many are involved in the situation?

• What do you need?

The following is an example of a situation report for a community event:

Radio Call Transmission

Tango Alpha Net Control, this is Tango Alpha. Report.

Net Control Tango Alpha, this is Net Control. Go with Report.

Tango Alpha

Net Control, Tango Alpha. We have a Runner Down about 100 yards before the Finish

Line. Bib Number 00818. Complains of chest pains and cramps. Individual requests

immediate medical attention and transport. This is Tango Alpha, End of Report.

Net Control

Tango Alpha, Net Control. Copy your report. Medical team and transport will be

notified. Stay with individual until assistance arrives. Keep us advised of any change in

conditions. Your next response time is 10 minutes, 10:25, 10:25. How copy? Over.

Tango Alpha Net Control, Tango Alpha copies all. Next response time 10:25. Tango Alpha, K5ERT,

Monitoring.

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The radio operator at the Net Control position for the Community Event will record all communications

on an ICS Form 309. Shown below is an example ICS Form 309 for a typical Community Event mission.

Damage Assessment Missions

The following are the assigned tactical callsigns and locations to be used for supporting Damage

Assessment Missions:

CALLSIGN FUNCTION

Net Control Net Controller

Command 1 Damage Assessment Team Lead

Zone 1 Zone 1 Lead

Zone 2 Zone 2 Lead

Tango Alpha Assessment Team Alpha

Tango Bravo Assessment Team Bravo

Tango Charlie Assessment Team Charlie

Tango Delta Assessment Team Delta

Tango Echo Assessment Team Echo

Tango Foxtrot Assessment Team Foxtrot

Damage Assessment teams will record their observations on a Dallas CERT Damage Assessment form as

shown in the example below.

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Radio operators will transmit the contents of the above Dallas CERT Damage Assessment forms using an

abbreviated sequence that makes recording the results easier for the receiving station. The following is

an example of the radio protocol for conveying the above Damage Assessment report.

Radio Call Transmission

Tango Alpha Net Control, this is Tango Alpha. Report.

Net Control Tango Alpha, this is Net Control. Go with Report.

Tango Alpha

Net Control, Tango Alpha. Report follows:

All addresses are on Cheron Circle, Cheron Circle in Dallas.

First line: Time 14:17, Number 9219, Conditions: Charlie, Gulf, Juliet-2, Mike. Break,

next line.

Time 14:18, Number 9221, Conditions: Delta, Hotel, Mike. Break, next line.

Time 14:19, Number 9225, Conditions: Bravo, Hotel, Juliet-1, Kilo-1, November. Break,

next line.

Time 14:20, Number 9229, Conditions: Zulu. Break. End of Report, Tango Alpha.

Net Control Tango Alpha, Net Control. Copy your report. Your next response time is 14:30, 14:30.

How copy? Over.

Tango Alpha Net Control, Tango Alpha copies all. Next response time 14:30. Tango Alpha, K5ERT,

Monitoring.

The receiving operator will record the above results directly onto a Dallas CERT Damage Assessment

Form. Results from multiple teams in the field will be recorded on the same form.