Bid: $RACESBUL.319

TO:    ALL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES VIA AMATEUR RADIO
INFO:    ALL COMMUNICATIONS VOLUNTEERS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE
INFO:  ALL AMATEURS U.S  (@USA: INFORMATION), CAP, MARS
FROM:     CA GOVERNORS OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
       (W6SIG@WA6NWE.CA)            Ph: 916-262-1600
       2800 Meadowview Rd., Sacramento, CA  95832
       Landline BBS  Open to All: 916-262-1657
RACESBUL.319                 RELEASE DATE:   March 28, 1994
SUBJECT: MGT - Calling in outsiders

During an incident there are times that it is necessary for a
jurisdiction to request additional help from "outside". In
California this involves mutual aid whereby local authorities
turn to an "outside resource" (outside of their jurisdiction) to
augment their own forces (or where none exists) to accomplish
their mission. Either way (i.e., augment or provide) the
so-called "outside" mutual aid people are ALWAYS under control of
the REQUESTING government. The structure by which that functions
is part of the Incident Command System.

In communications involving responding FCC Amateur licensees this
aspect has at times been misunderstood by those not familiar with
how mutual aid works in fire and law. Those "outside" resources
NEVER come in to "take over". Mutual aid does NOT belittle the
locals, but augments them with professionals trained in mutual
aid response from other jurisdictions.

It is inconceivable that any jurisdiction would ever call in
distant professionals to spite the locals, as we once heard it
expressed by an exasperated amateur. It just ISN'T done for a
number of very good reasons.

Just because there are local FCC licensed Amateurs doesn't
necessarily mean a government will call upon them in an emergency
if they haven't been active, trained in and familiar with a RACES
or similar communications reserve program.

It is professionalism, whether paid or unpaid. No professional
ever responds in mutual aid to do anything other than to support
the local needs. That is the true mark of a professional (paid or
unpaid), whether law, fire or communications.

Any communications responder who is such an amateur that he/she
can't discern the difference between amateurish activity and
professional activity shouldn't be responding no matter how well
intended. Instead, that person needs to take training and
familiarization programs to help understand the mutual aid
process.

An ACS/RACES response from a city, county, or State OES in
support of another government is due to a request from that
government. To respond without a verified official request is the
height of amateurish activity, and can have severe consequencies
except in the most unusual of instances.
EOM.