Summer Villages of Pigeon Lake Regional Emergency Management Agency (REMA) Are Implementing Use of the Alberta First Responders Radio Communications System (AFRRCS)

Summer Villages of 605-2nd Ave (HWY 13 A) Ma-Me O Beach, Alberta Pigeon Lake Canada T0C 1X0

Regional Emergency tel: 780.619.2466 Management Agency (REMA) fax: 780.401.3161 www.pigeonlakeemergencyagency.ca

Communications Workshop Audience Intended: AEMA Grant Application Overview The County of Wetaskiwin and the Summer Villages of Pigeon Lake Regional Emergency Management Agency (REMA) are implementing use of the Alberta First Responders Radio Communications System (AFRRCS). This is being utilized to improve safety, response times and resolve communication across all responding agency organizations that may be involved in a disaster response within our area.

Successful communications are essential to successful emergency response, while problematic communications may actually make the situation worse. Effective, clear, organized communications is essential in an emergency response. Aims and Objectives 1. Introduce base radio terminology and training through certification for the Industry Canada Restricted Operator – Aeronautical License (see Appendix A) 2. Be aware of the options available and the limitations/alternatives if they fail for multi-agency communication 3. Recognize that AHS/EMS are now utilizing AFRRCS 4. Recognize that Wetaskiwin RCMP are implementing AFRRCS in Fall 2018 (one of the first detachments in the province) 5. Recognize that FIRE still utilizes their own internal radio communications, but the Fire Chiefs are now utilizing AFRRCS 6. Recognize that the County of Wetaskiwin Public Works, Protection and Fire operate on Digital 7. Recognize that the County of Leduc Public Works, Protection operate on AFRRCS 8. Recognize that the County of Leduc Fire has AFRRCS in command vehicles + mobile command centre only 9. Recognize that the Director of Emergency Management (DEM) for the County of Wetaskiwin is now utilizing AFRRCS 10. Recognize that the 10 Summer Villages of Pigeon Lake are now utilizing AFRRCS 11. Understand which channels are shared amongst all parties 12. Recognize that Alberta Emergency Management Agency may be required to enable a radio channel for disaster communications 13. Provide tabletop discussion on how to handle communication failure during disaster scenarios in our region 14. Discuss missing communications that may exist, specifically regions such as Northern AHS, hospital channels, dispatch centres and other agencies like County Public Works, Sherriff’s, and County Protection Services Introduction With the RCMP of our region being early adopters of the AFRRCS region in the Province of Alberta a unique situation exists on how we are going to communicate between first responders and the municipalities involved during a disaster. Workshop Schedule • Morning 1.5hrs – Instruction/training on Restricted Operator Radio Operations following the Industry Canada guidelines • Morning 1hr – Industry Canada Restricted Operator Aeronautical License Exam • Lunch • Afternoon – Test inter-agency AFRRCS interagency radio communications and find shared channels • Afternoon 1.5hrs – Review Scenarios and discuss questions (see Appendix D)

1 Friday, September 28, 18 Pigeon Lake Regional Emergency Management Agency Summer Villages of 605-2nd Ave (HWY 13 A) Ma-Me O Beach, Alberta Pigeon Lake Canada T0C 1X0

Regional Emergency tel: 780.619.2466 Management Agency (REMA) fax: 780.401.3161 www.pigeonlakeemergencyagency.ca

Participant List 1. RCMP Keith Durance, Inspector City of Wetaskiwin Commander 2. RCMP Neill Pearson, Staff Sergeant Wetaskiwin Detachment 3. RCMP H.S. (Harp) Dhaliwal, S/Sgt. Detachment Commander Thorsby/Breton 4. RCMP ??, S/Sgt. Deputy Detachment Commander Thorsby/Breton 5. RCMP ??, County of Ponoka 6. RCMP Al Goulash, Leduc 7. RCMP Brett Scott, Red Deer Dispatch AFRRCS Specialist 8. POLICE Troy Carriere, Disaster Response Edmonton Police 9. BYLAW Pigeon Lake Protective Services 10. FIRE Wayne MacDonald, County of Wetaskiwin Mulhurst Fire Chief 11. FIRE ??, County of Wetaskiwin Mulhurst Deputy Fire Chief 12. FIRE Wayne Benson, County of Wetaskiwin South Pigeon Lake Fire Chief 13. FIRE ??, County of Wetaskiwin South Pigeon Lake Deputy Fire Chief 14. FIRE Allan Wiess, Deputy Fire Chief County of Leduc 15. FIRE ??, Yellowhead 911 Dispatch Centre 16. AHS Shawn Moffet, South Pigeon Lake Ambulance Driver 17. AHS Darren Barber, DEM Central Zone 18. AHS ??, Emergency Management Officer Central Zone 19. AHS ??, Northern Coordination Centre Representative (we have no communication with them nor know where the boundary is) 20. DEM Duane Coleman, County of Leduc 21. DEM Clarence Nelson Assistant DEM, County of Leduc 22. DEM Dennis Jones, County of Ponoka 23. DEM Mike Zajac, County of Wetaskiwin 24. DEM Clinton Boyda, Summer Villages of Pigeon Lake 25. ESS Faye Benson Reception Centre Director, Summer Villages of Pigeon Lake 26. WCI Harv Hildebrandt, Technical Specialist for REMA Radios 27. AFRRCS Brian Stanley, AFRRCS Radio Consultant 28. AEMA Mark Pickford, Northern Field Officer 29. AEMA John Swist, Northern Zone Field Officer

Preconditions / Assumptions • Participants already have their own and will bring their AFRRCS radios • Participants are familiar with the operations of their basic radios • Participants have already signed and understand their AFRRCS user responsibilities

Restricted Operator Radio Instructor

• Linda Craig, NAV Canada Phone: (780) 890-4729 Email: [email protected]

2 Friday, September 28, 18 Pigeon Lake Regional Emergency Management Agency Summer Villages of 605-2nd Ave (HWY 13 A) Ma-Me O Beach, Alberta Pigeon Lake Canada T0C 1X0

Regional Emergency tel: 780.619.2466 Management Agency (REMA) fax: 780.401.3161 www.pigeonlakeemergencyagency.ca

Previous Research • REMA has 6 AFRRCS Radios with 50 radio channels identified in Appendix C • Pigeon Lake has 1 local channel and 2 shared channels • AHS shared 4 AFRRCS channels o Discussions with local South Pigeon Lake Ambulance found that what they call SCC11 thru SCC14 corelates to AHS11 thru AHS14 in our standardized channels o SCC stands for Southern Communications Centre, this implies we have no communication with the Northern Communications Centre AHS drivers (boundary might be in middle of Pigeon Lake) o Discussions received that STARS may be moving to utilization of “Symplex 1” for communication throughout the province • County of Leduc shared 9 AFRRCS channels • RCMP in our area receiving new AFRRCS radios, one of the first detachments in the province (they were going to be first but their dispatch needed a fiber optic upgrade so the radios first went to Fort McMurray instead) o RCMP new radios do NOT want any of our shared channels o RCMP will NOT be sharing any internal RCMP channels o Common shared channels available include Provincial CET AFRRAC01 thru AFRRAC16 which are enabled by AEMA o ALSO Common shared chat groups available on Local CET delegated as Wetaskiwin County/Leduc County/Ponoka County • All our current radios have tested showing superb reception throughout our region

Reason for Grant Funding Challenge is attracting members from all organizations to a single meeting to test cross platform communications. The Industry Canada training provides a base knowledge for terminology and the ground work for implementing standardized ICS communication during an actual disaster. The actual trainings costs are done by a staff member of NAV Canada and much lower than consultant rates. Cost for training/instruction is $20/person for taking exam + $20/person for writing the exam from NAV Canada (out of Edmonton). Attempts to receive funding for the largest number of participants (RCMP) received this response Appendix B. This response clearly shows that their training and focus is on internal RCMP communication with no priority being given to cross-communication amongst other organizations which will be key during a large-scale response. While each organization may be keen to focus on their own internal communication, the municipality, will require clear communication thru the Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) to manage and ensure efficient operations and safety during a disaster incident.

Additional Benefits of Certification Each participant will receive a license that serves as a requirement for ground-to-air communication (sample see Appendix A). This specifically will help for STARS communications, as a necessary component for professional Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations, and coordination with Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA).

3 Friday, September 28, 18 Pigeon Lake Regional Emergency Management Agency Summer Villages of 605-2nd Ave (HWY 13 A) Ma-Me O Beach, Alberta Pigeon Lake Canada T0C 1X0

Regional Emergency tel: 780.619.2466 Management Agency (REMA) fax: 780.401.3161 www.pigeonlakeemergencyagency.ca

Additional Agency Discussions to Consider

If time allows, or for participants to reflect on the discussions and respond to after the training.

• Who assigns call signs? Identify yourself upon entering channel. • Process for radio check-in when entering shared radio channel, always do radio check with base. • Common standard commands: o “Affirmative” = yes/correct o “Negative” = no/incorrect o “Over” = end of my turn of transmitting, a response is expected o “Out” = end of my transmission, no response expected o “Roger” = last transmission received satisfactory o “Radio check” = how clear is my transmission? Response out of 5 o “Emergency Emergency Emergency” = stay off air and await message • Where are the County radio towers (asset protection during incident)? o What are their power redundancy capacities? • Where are the AFRRCS radio towers (asset protection during incident)? o What are their power redundancy capacities? • What is our area communications plan? See Appendix E for ICS 205 form. • How to manage AFRRCS network failure? See Scenario 4 and Appendix F for comparison chart. o Runners o Landlines o Cell phones o 2-way radios o Computer/Internet o Satellite Phones • How does your agency handle a breakdown in communication with dispatch? o FIRE / EMS / RCMP / Public Works

4 Friday, September 28, 18 Pigeon Lake Regional Emergency Management Agency Summer Villages of 605-2nd Ave (HWY 13 A) Ma-Me O Beach, Alberta Pigeon Lake Canada T0C 1X0

Regional Emergency tel: 780.619.2466 Management Agency (REMA) fax: 780.401.3161 www.pigeonlakeemergencyagency.ca

Appendix A – Sample Certification License Sample radio license each participant will receive from the training workshop. This license never expires.

Industry Industrie CERTIFICATE OF CERTIFICAT DE ■ * ■ Canada Canada PROFICIENCY IN COMPETENCE EN RADIO RADIO Certiﬁcate - Certiﬁcat Number - Numero

RESTRICTED OPERATOR 201203102

Certiﬁcate Holder - Titulaire du certiﬁcat

Boyda, Clinton

Qualiﬁcations or Restrictions - Competences ou restrictions

AERONAUTICAL

FOLD/PLIER Issuing Ofﬁce - Bureau responsable Issue Date Date de deiivrance

H A L I FA X D . O . 2012-04-23

The certificate holder is qualified to Le present certificat atteste que le titulaire est operate radio stations as indicated in qualifie pour exploiter les stations de radio the regulations made pursuant to the comme I'indiquent les reglements etablis en Radiocommunication Act. vertu de la Loi surla radiocommunication. Signature of Holder - Signature du titulaire Date of Birth Date de naissance 1975-11-30

IC 2493c (2010/12) Canada

5 Friday, September 28, 18 Pigeon Lake Regional Emergency Management Agency Summer Villages of 605-2nd Ave (HWY 13 A) Ma-Me O Beach, Alberta Pigeon Lake Canada T0C 1X0

Regional Emergency tel: 780.619.2466 Management Agency (REMA) fax: 780.401.3161 www.pigeonlakeemergencyagency.ca

Appendix B – RCMP Contribution

6 Friday, September 28, 18 Pigeon Lake Regional Emergency Management Agency Summer Villages of 605-2nd Ave (HWY 13 A) Ma-Me O Beach, Alberta Pigeon Lake Canada T0C 1X0

Regional Emergency tel: 780.619.2466 Management Agency (REMA) fax: 780.401.3161 www.pigeonlakeemergencyagency.ca

Appendix C – REMA AFRRCS Channels Current REMA radio channels, see AFRRCS ID values in Appendix G.

7 Friday, September 28, 18 Pigeon Lake Regional Emergency Management Agency Summer Villages of 605-2nd Ave (HWY 13 A) Ma-Me O Beach, Alberta Pigeon Lake Canada T0C 1X0

Regional Emergency tel: 780.619.2466 Management Agency (REMA) fax: 780.401.3161 www.pigeonlakeemergencyagency.ca

Appendix D – Scenario Discussions After training discuss the following disaster scenarios and answer their corresponding questions. Split participants into 4 groups, each group answers then presents responses for each scenario.

Scenario 1 (FIRE+RCMP)

Wildfire putting several houses at risk with multiple FIRE resources responding. Roadblocks and door knocking by RCMP. No EMS. Evacuations underway. Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/large-fire-at-pigeon-lake-forces-evacuation-of-at-least-two-homes- 1.3540354 COMMUNICATIONS questions to consider: a) When does Incident Commander (IC) involve the Director of Emergency Management (DEM)? How? b) How is IC communicating with staging (arrival of new resources)? c) How is IC communicating with Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC)? d) How is IC communicating with other participating agencies? Specifically, what are the primary and secondary AFRRCS channels available? e) Communication with IC is lost after 2 hours, how is communication regained?

Scenario 2 (ALL AGENCIES)

Winter blizzard results in multi-vehicle collision on Highway 2. EMS ambulances arriving from multiple directions. Edmonton Police arriving on scene. RCMP redirecting traffic. FIRE responding to citizens trapped in vehicles. Evacuees need location to be delivered. Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/highway-pileup-near-edmonton-leaves-100-injured-1.1371876

COMMUNICATIONS questions to consider: a) When does Incident Commander (IC) involve the Director of Emergency Management (DEM)? How? b) How is IC communicating with staging (arrival of new resources)? c) How is IC communicating with Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC)? d) How is IC communicating with other participating agencies? Specifically, what are the primary and secondary AFRRCS channels available? e) Communication with IC is lost after 2 hours, how is communication regained?

8 Friday, September 28, 18 Pigeon Lake Regional Emergency Management Agency Summer Villages of 605-2nd Ave (HWY 13 A) Ma-Me O Beach, Alberta Pigeon Lake Canada T0C 1X0

Regional Emergency tel: 780.619.2466 Management Agency (REMA) fax: 780.401.3161 www.pigeonlakeemergencyagency.ca

Scenario 3 (RCMP+EMS)

Multiple armed suspects discharging firearms at public beach. Public municipal area requires evacuation. EMS on standby. No FIRE response underway. COMMUNICATIONS questions to consider: a) When does Incident Commander (IC) involve the Director of Emergency Management (DEM)? How? b) How is IC communicating with staging (arrival of new resources)? c) How is IC communicating with Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC)? d) How is IC communicating with other participating agencies? Specifically, what are the primary and secondary AFRRCS channels available? e) Communication with IC is lost after 2 hours, how is communication regained?

Scenario 4 (ALL AGENCIES WITH POWER FAILURES)

Tornado strikes area. All agencies respond. Power outages reported. For backup communications strategies see Appendix F. Source: https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/2000-pine-lake-tornado COMMUNICATIONS questions to consider: a) When does Incident Commander (IC) involve the Director of Emergency Management (DEM)? How? b) How is IC communicating with staging (arrival of new resources)? c) How is IC communicating with Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC)? d) How is IC communicating with other participating agencies? Specifically, what are the primary and secondary AFRRCS channels available? e) Communication with IC is lost after 1 hours, how is communication regained? f) Where are the County Fire Radio towers? How are they backed up during power outage? g) Where are the AFRRCS Radio towers? How are they backed up during power outage?

9 Friday, September 28, 18 Pigeon Lake Regional Emergency Management Agency Summer Villages of 605-2nd Ave (HWY 13 A) Ma-Me O Beach, Alberta Pigeon Lake Canada T0C 1X0

Regional Emergency tel: 780.619.2466 Management Agency (REMA) fax: 780.401.3161 www.pigeonlakeemergencyagency.ca

Appendix E – Incident Command System (ICS) Communications Plan ICS Form 205 as utilized in a REMA response, this workshop should help clarify what AFRRCS channels are available for shared use? INCIDENT COMMUNICATIONS PLAN (ICS 205) 1. Incident Name: 2. Date/Time Prepared: 3. Operational Period: Date: Date From: Date To: Time: Time From: Time To: 4. Basic Radio Channel Utilizations System/Type Channel Function Frequency/Tone Assignment Remarks

5. Special Instructions:

6. Prepared by (Communications Unit Leader): Name: Signature: ICS 205 IAP Page _____ Date/Time:

10 Friday, September 28, 18 Pigeon Lake Regional Emergency Management Agency Summer Villages of 605-2nd Ave (HWY 13 A) Ma-Me O Beach, Alberta Pigeon Lake Canada T0C 1X0

Regional Emergency tel: 780.619.2466 Management Agency (REMA) fax: 780.401.3161 www.pigeonlakeemergencyagency.ca

ICS Form 205 Completion Instructions

11 Friday, September 28, 18 Pigeon Lake Regional Emergency Management Agency Summer Villages of 605-2nd Ave (HWY 13 A) Ma-Me O Beach, Alberta Pigeon Lake Canada T0C 1X0

Regional Emergency tel: 780.619.2466 Management Agency (REMA) fax: 780.401.3161 www.pigeonlakeemergencyagency.ca

Appendix F – Communication Alternative Comparison Chart MODE OF HOW IT WORKS RELIABILITY AVAILABILITY ADVANTAGES LIMITATIONS COMMUNICATION §Distance and §Reliability time

§Flexibility §Requires written Any reliable information for Volunteers carry messages person can be §Familiar with accuracy Runners from one location to Extremely reliable used as a environment another runner §Availability §Availability §Requires §No special training familiarity with the area § May operate during § Not mobile power failures, but handheld batteries can § System die and digital phones overloads easily § Familiarity Phones that are powered may or may not work Landline § Commonplace by themselves and rely on Very common Telephones § Enhanced 9-1-1 § Network local telephone lines § Local telephone system § Data transfer susceptible to generally fails when a physical damage large number of people in an area attempt to use § May be affected phone at the same time by power failure §Towers may fail § Vulnerable to the same due to power weaknesses as § Familiarity outage or telephones § Mobility damage § Commonplace § Cell phone towers § Text messaging § System Phones that transmit require electricity to overloads easily Cellular Phones signals relayed by cell operate § Requires less phone towers Very common bandwidth – may get § Requires through when voice §Local service (voice) knowledge of will not generally fails when a phone numbers large number of people in an area attempt to use § Camera phones § May be service at the same time dependent on landlines § Expensive Relays transmissions via If other phone systems Rare satellite. are down, can only § Always on § Requires Satellite Phones (AEMA Field communicate locally with § Global operation visibility to sky or Officers) other satellite phones building with compatible antenna

12 Friday, September 28, 18 Pigeon Lake Regional Emergency Management Agency Summer Villages of 605-2nd Ave (HWY 13 A) Ma-Me O Beach, Alberta Pigeon Lake Canada T0C 1X0

Regional Emergency tel: 780.619.2466 Management Agency (REMA) fax: 780.401.3161 www.pigeonlakeemergencyagency.ca

MODE OF HOW IT WORKS RELIABILITY AVAILABILITY ADVANTAGES LIMITATIONS COMMUNICATION § May work when § Equipment may other systems down not be mobile § Provides electronic § May require record Internet Transmits data via the connectivity § Versatile network Computer / Internet or by runners using § May work when other Very common connections Internet USB drives or other media systems are down § Requires such as CDs specific hardware § Large amounts of information § Expensive § Thumb drives and § Requires power discs do not require source Internet § Cannot alter § Inexpensive radio(FRS)

§ Range of up to § Limited 10km Channels

Radios that transmit and § Limited range but Two-way § Best used for intra- § Could be receive on certain possible for intra-team Common Radios team communications interrupted by frequencies communications Casual § Boost signal with Conversation external antennas or (Citizen Band) repeaters

§ Direct communication to emergency first responders, if § Requires A special high- powered authorized authorization of communication mode used Limited; must jurisdiction by emergency dispatchers, be used with Extremely reliable § Extremely reliable Public Safety fire fighters, EMS, police, jurisdictional Bands and other government protocol § Expensive (AFRRCS) emergency responders § Range throughout Province § Licensed to municipality or § Handheld, mobile, agency entity or base units

13 Friday, September 28, 18 Pigeon Lake Regional Emergency Management Agency Summer Villages of 605-2nd Ave (HWY 13 A) Ma-Me O Beach, Alberta Pigeon Lake Canada T0C 1X0

Regional Emergency tel: 780.619.2466 Management Agency (REMA) fax: 780.401.3161 www.pigeonlakeemergencyagency.ca

Appendix G – REMA Radio AFRRCS Codes Talk Group # Channel Name Description Communicate with: (Range assigned by AFRRCS) 2314 PL-REMA-1 Pigeon Lake REMA 1 Local 2315 PL-REMA-2 Pigeon Lake REMA Shared OPS SHARED 1577 PLPS-2 PLPS Shared OPS SHARED 2453 LC CPO Leduc County CPO SHARED 2454 LC CPO TAC Leduc County CPO TAC SHARED 2457 LCFS Leduc County Fire Services SHARED 2458 WARBURG FD Warburg Fire Department SHARED 2459 THORSBY FD Thorsby Fire Department SHARED 2460 CALMAR FD Calmar Fire Department SHARED 2461 NISKU FD Nisku Fire Department SHARED 2462 NEW SAR FD New Sarepta Fire Department SHARED 2463 LED RURAL FD Leduc Rural Fire Department SHARED 1021 AHS-11 AHS SCC MA 11 SHARED 1022 AHS-12 AHS SCC MA 12 SHARED 1023 AHS-13 AHS SCC MA 13 SHARED 1024 AHS-14 AHS SCC MA 14 SHARED 141 CPO-NW CPO_NW CPO 142 CPO-NE CPO_NE CPO 143 CPO-GP CPO_GrandPrairie CPO 144 CPO-C CPO_Central CPO 145 CPO-RD CPO_RedDeer CPO 146 CPO-SW CPO_SW CPO 147 CPO-SE CPO_SE CPO 711 PROVOST WETASKIWIN COUNTY NO. 10 724 LEDUC Leduc County No. 25 721 CAMROS CAMROSE COUNTY NO. 22 704 PONOKA PONOKA COUNTY NO. 3 758 CWATER CLEARWATER NO. 99 753 BRAZU BRAZEAU NO. 77 870 AFRRAC01 PROVINCIAL CET 871 AFRRAC02 PROVINCIAL CET 872 AFRRAC03 PROVINCIAL CET 873 AFRRAC04 PROVINCIAL CET 874 AFRRAC05 PROVINCIAL CET 875 AFRRAC06 PROVINCIAL CET 876 AFRRAC07 PROVINCIAL CET 877 AFRRAC08 PROVINCIAL CET 878 AFRRAC09 PROVINCIAL CET 879 AFRRAC10 PROVINCIAL CET 880 AFRRAC11 PROVINCIAL CET 881 AFRRAC12 PROVINCIAL CET 882 AFRRAC13 PROVINCIAL CET 883 AFRRAC14 PROVINCIAL CET 884 AFRRAC15 PROVINCIAL CET 885 AFRRAC16 PROVINCIAL CET 770.18125 MHz Simplex 1 770.23125 MHz Simplex 2 770.43125 MHz Simplex 3 770.48125 MHz Simplex 4 770.68125 MHz Simplex 5

14 Friday, September 28, 18 Pigeon Lake Regional Emergency Management Agency