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REACT
Programs In Flagler County |
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Flagler
County Assist REACT
Communications Support
REACT was most commonly associated with CB radio in the 1960's through the 1990's,. though CB no longer plays an important role in REACT's operations. Today REACT’s primary mode of communications is the General Mobile Radio Service, also known as GMRS. GMRS uses Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radios and repeater systems. A repeater is a relay tower that allows walkie talkie type radios to communicate across the region using very low power.
Flagler County Assist REACT placed a GMRS repeater on the air in 1998 and another in 2000. Working with the Flagler Emergency Communications Association, a third repeater is also being put into operation.
GETTING ON GMRS: NO TEST REQUIRED!!!
The license required to operate a GMRS radio costs $80.00. It can be acquired online from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The license is good for five years and covers your entire family. GMRS is a very easy to use radio system. You do not have to be a radio expert to join our communications network.
Flagler County Assist REACT was also first in Flagler County to coordinate ham radio operators in the county back in the 1980's. This led to the birth of the Flagler County ARES group, with which we work closely. The original ARES members and the start of the Flagler Palm Coast Amateur Radio Club came from the initial organization of amateurs in Flagler County Assist. Many hams in REACT are also members of the ARES.
Flagler County Assist REACT uses it's amateur radio resources to actively support REACT functions, and also to support the National Weather Service Skywarn progam. REACT members are active participants in the ARES Net of Flagler County. But REACT does much more than communications. Look at our other programs to see what we do.
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Flagler County Assist REACT Team 4800 has a number of volunteers trained to secure Landing Zones for FireFlight, the Flagler County Emergency Helicopter. Though all volunteers can assist with a Landing Zone (LZ), only the members who have had the LZ Training can do the close security of the Landing Zone itself.
REACT members undergo a three hour training class that instructs volunteers on how to clear a landing zone, what things must be secured and how large a space needs to be set up for the helicopter. Some members are also qualified to do Landing Zone Command, actually coordinating with FireFlight’s crew when landing at or launching from a landing zone. Most of the time REACT volunteers are called upon to help with landing zones at pre-scheduled special events, however members are available in case of emergency. We are very proud to be a part of the LZ Team.
Flagler County's Skywarn program is sponsored by the National Weather Service in Jacksonville. Skywarn coordinates volunteer spotters with the objective of reporting severe weather events to the National Weather Service. These reports will help in the issuance of weather warnings. The spotters' observations, frequently more reliable than Doppler radar, can potentially save lives by adding warning time.
Flagler County Assist REACT has an active Skywarn program. REACT ham operators participate in the Skywarn Net on the Emergency Management Repeater. Working with hams from other organizations, severe weather reports are relayed through this net.
REACT members also run Skywarn operational nets on General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radio. Persons with scanners can listen to those nets on 462.675 MHz or 462.550 MHz. Liaison stations relay information between the GMRS and amateur radio nets. This additional coverage helps keep the flow of reports coming in.
Whenever a severe weather threat is identified by Team leadership, the organization activates its plan and spotters.
Most members of REACT have had Basic Skywarn training and all Coordinators have had Advanced Skywarn Training. Skywarn classes are routinely offered by the NWS through Emergency Management, giving members the chance to train.
Flagler County Search
& Rescue Team Support
Flagler County Assist REACT is the primary communications provider to the Flagler County Search and Rescue Team under Emergency Management.
Members of the Flagler County Search and Rescue (SAR) Team are trained as Search and Rescue Technicians (SAR Tech) and come from a variety of agencies and organizations. Most members of the SAR Team are from law enforcement, fire, and EMS professions. A few of our REACT members are also on the SAR Team.
Flagler County Assist REACT Search Team (RST)
Flagler County Assist REACT provides staff to support communications, deployment, and support of the SAR Team. The REACT Search Team (RST) are the first REACT Team Members to respond in the event of a search request. These members take an abbreviated class in search tactics, and are sometimes called upon to assist in a search for a lost person. With our mobile communications capability, our members can rapidly cover an area.
RST also provides direct support to a SAR Team deployment. Members will staff communications at the Emergency Operations Center or the Incident Command Vehicle (ICV) to support these communications. The ICV has CB, amateur, and county communications capabilities.
REACT International was founded in 1962 to monitor the Citizens Band (CB) radio service for the purpose of relaying distress calls from the public. That lives on today as CB radio is still the largest public access radio service in the US. CB Channel 9 is designated by the FCC for use in emergency and for travelers' assistance only. REACT helped establish CB 9 as an emergency channel and it has been so designated ever since.
A large majority of the calls that we relay come from CB 9. Most are from I-95. But with the evolution of cell phones and the placement of call boxes, CB radio has seen a major decline in calls over the years and is not in very much use today. The trend over the years can be seen in our monitoring reports that are available on our web site.
GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) is now used to support Skywarn, public service functions, and many other response and activities in our organization.
REACT members no longer monitor CB 9 on a regular basis. The cell phone now puts today's travelers directly in contact with 911 centers as well as other services that were once relayed by REACT volunteers. We have adapted to the times in our mission.
Occasionally law enforcement has called us to use CB to get the word out on an accident or other situation. A CB base station is located at the EOC for emergencies.
So CB is not what it used to be, but REACT maintains CB radio just in case it is ever needed again. Today GMRS and other communications are our backbone but CB will always have a role in our communications.
Flagler County Assist REACT Traffic Team.
This unit of our organization responds to the rare call for emergency traffic control assistance. The Flagler County Sheriff has a C.O.P. program and the City of Palm Coast Fire and Rescue Department has a Fire Police program. Those organizations handle most emergency traffic control situations. But there are times when additional assistance is needed with a major accident or other road incident.
When called upon, our Traffic Team of specially trained members will respond and assist. They have responded to accidents, power lines down, and even a tree down across a roadway. Members also get experience at various traffic control functions worked by the Team. These are in our Public Service Program.
REACT's public service program does not just help the community, it also supports the Team's training and keeps the organization in the public eye.
We routinely work the following events in Flagler County on an annual basis. We also assist in many other one time events.
- Walk for Animals.
- Fourth Of July Fest.
- Flagler County Emergency Services public events.
- Landing Zones for FireFlight during special events.
- MS 150 Bike a Thon.
- Flagler Beach Christmas Parade.
We use these events as training grounds and also as PR. Each event helps strengthen the Team for when the next disaster hits. GMRS radio is the most commonly used communications medium at these events although Public Service channels are also used to coordinate with other agencies. FCA REACT is one of the most unique Public Service providers in Flagler County.
Flagler County EOC Response Team
Flagler County Assist REACT provides an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) response Team when the EOC is activated for a major event. These events may include hurricanes, tornado strikes, hazardous materials spills, and other natural and man made disasters.
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is the command and control point of the Flagler County Department of Emergency Management. This agency is responsible for disaster and large scale emergency response in Flagler County.
Emergency Support Function 2 - Communications authorizes REACT's participation in supporting the EOC operations. REACT, as well as ARES, are listed as ESF-2 organizations.
Members staff public service agency radios, provide support for other staffing, including amateur, CB, and GMRS radio. Members who are ham radio operators also support the RACES Net if it is activated. Those who are not licensed amateur radio operators help with other radio services and systems.
At each meeting of Flagler County Assist REACT we conduct a training session. This may be a hands on exercise or a review of plans and operations. FCA's training also extends into the Public Service events. Each event becomes a training ground for our members.
During a public service event, such as a parade, walk-a-thon, etc, we activate our response plans as if it were an emergency response. We use a scaled down version of the Incident Command System. This allows for good planning and control during the event. Members learn how to train and work together as one unit. A debriefing session is held after each event to see how it went and how it can be better run the next time.
- The result? A professionally run event and a Team prepared when the next emergency or disaster hits.
- Our meetings are held at Flagler County's EOC. That allows us to train and become familiar with communications equipment and operations. It also allows us to keep up with the changes that take place in the follow up to each disaster response.
It does not matter what radio band you operate on. What counts is professionalism and, through our training program, we have that in our Team.