Communication Modalities Chart September 2011, Zoo Animal Health Network www.zooanimalhealthnetwork.org This is basic information on communication equipment for planners to use when drafting their unique communication contingency plans.
Mode Dependent Upon Benefits Limitations Notes
Manual
~Batteries ~Inexpensive ~May alert more ~No need for electricity individuals than ~May be heard by a large number intended Bull Horns of people for up to 1km ~Must have numerous (depending on device) batteries on hand for entended use ~Personnel within visual range ~Good on a noisy scene that ~Same signal may of each other prohibits verbal communication mean different things ~Generally simple to interpret on different scenes or when pre-established in different regions ~Must be within visual Hand Signals range to be seen and not misinterpreted ~Requires consistent practice and utilization to be effective ~The ability of personnel to ~Requires no technology which ~Message may fall ~Deciding which personnel will physically locate one another may be damaged during an victim to the act as messengers prior to an Messengers emergency "telephone game" and emergency would reduce become confusion and increase efficiency misinterpreted ~Personnel having posession of ~Good for relatively close area ~Not commonly used; ~ for example, two sounds = whistles and knowledge of signal when hands are tied up easy to forget signal gather around (usually at a combinations ~Good for close areas that are combinations predetermined location) visually obscured ~Cannot keep whistle ~Three sounds = emergency ~Loud enough to be heard in in mouth while Whistles moderately noisy conditions speaking on a radio ~May be difficult to distinguish from other noise in loud situations
1 Communication Modalities Chart September 2011, Zoo Animal Health Network www.zooanimalhealthnetwork.org
Mode Dependent Upon Benefits Limitations Notes
Phones
~A phone tree should be arranged to prevent unnecessary overloading of the phone lines. ~Cell and Landline phones offer the ability to be bridged into a conference call or command center for full incident management. ~GPS enabled portable phones allow pinpointing of the caller's location for emergency purposes. ~Cell tower ~Relatively cheap ~May not work if event ~Out-of-state numbers may work ~Batteries ~Ease of use has destroyed nearby better than local area codes. ~Power for recharging ~Will work without a power source cell towers Consider purchasing an out-of- (electricity or solar) for a limited amount of time ~Cell lines may state cell with text messaging for ~Portable become congested each facility during a disaster ~Consider purchasing a cell with ~Limited battery life prepaid minutes that is regularly Cellular Phones without power source charged for emergency use ~Battery chargers not ~Adapters will allow many cell compatible with all phones to be charged using a car phones battery ~It may be advisable to have extra cell phone batteries on hand in the headquarters ~Cell tower ~text messages, particulary on ~May not work if event ~Try using the delivery verification ~Cell Phone, Batteries 'smart phones' may be more has destroyed nearby feature 'read receipt' on most ~Power for recharging reliable than cellular voice cell towers programs to ensure delivery of (electricity or solar) messages message ~Portable ~During a response many Instant messaging via wireless command and coordination internet personnel are overwhelmed with email traffic. Avoid sending unnecessary emails, be concise, use 'reply all' selectively, and keep official communications within official channels
2 Communication Modalities Chart September 2011, Zoo Animal Health Network www.zooanimalhealthnetwork.org
Mode Dependent Upon Benefits Limitations Notes
~Telephone lines ~Hard-wired land line phones do ~Some locations may ~Telephone wires suspended in ~NO NEED FOR ELECTRICITY not rely on electricity to function, no longer have land the air may be vulnerable to the therefore may work when power line phones disaster outages cause other systems to ~Point-to-point; not ~Consider Installing a land line fail portable phone in your planned ~Cannot be easily or headquarters Land Line Phones (Hard-wired) readily extended to reach remote locations ~Wireless landline phones (not hardwired) will not function during a ~Batteries ~Portable (can be used in rough ~Mustpower outagebe used outside ~Consider purchasing a portable ~Constellation of satellites terrain and not tied to cell towers) unless a portable antennae to deploy after storm for ~Line-of-sight between phone ~Uses satellite for connection; antennae is used use in buildings and satellite Can be used when terrestrial ~May take longer time ~2 types of satellite services: infrastructure is damaged, to connect Geosynchronous and Low Earth Satellite Phones destroyed, or overwhelmed ~Cost (high cost of Orbit equipment, ~Can be used in 2 ways: subscriptions and 1)Satellite phone to landline or minutes) cell (uses land infrastructure) ~Ease of use; Regular 2)Satellite phone to satellite training required phone (no need for land infrastructure) ~Cell tower ~Portable ~Same as Cellular ~Sunlight ~No need for electricity or Phones above additional devices for power ~Not yet offered globally, particularly absent in the US Solar Phones market ~Possible concern about the integrity of the phone after being left in the sun for long periods of time
3 Communication Modalities Chart September 2011, Zoo Animal Health Network www.zooanimalhealthnetwork.org
Mode Dependent Upon Benefits Limitations Notes
~Sunlight ~Charge existing cellular phones ~Current prices for kits range using solar power when power is from ~$20 - $90 out ~Recommend having at least one Solar Phone Chargers ~Some kits contain multiple charger with adapters for adapters to fit many cell phone personnel cell phones stored in types headquarters building ~Cell tower ~May be available when the ~May not work if event ~Text messaging often works on ~Cell Phone, Batteries phone can not be used for calls has destroyed nearby cellular phones when call cannot ~Power for recharging ~Relatively cheap if part of the cell towers be made due to an overwhelmed Text Messaging (SMS) (electricity or solar) phone plan system due to use of a smaller ~Ease of use (most people use bandwidth8 this regularly) ~Portable ~Manual labor ~Charge existing cellular phones ~Recomment having at least one using manual crank whell when charger with adapters for power is out personnel cell phones stored in Wind-up Cell Phone Charger ~Some kits contain multiple headquarters building adapters to fit many cell phone types ~Low cost
Radios
~Most 2-way radio frequencies are licensed and managed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Therefore public safety radios and General Mobile Radio Service radios require FCC license ~Agreements (MOU) could be explored with local FCC license holders to use their channel(s). ~Staff should receive regular training on equipment and frequency use. ~None of the various radio types (VHF, UHF, 700MHz, 800MHz) are interoperable. It is important to all have the same type of radio. ~ Have a prearranged code(s) to signal danger. ~ Train personnel in the phonetic alphabet and procedural words with a copy near devices for reference.
4 Communication Modalities Chart September 2011, Zoo Animal Health Network www.zooanimalhealthnetwork.org
Mode Dependent Upon Benefits Limitations Notes
~Electricity for charging batteries ~Cost ~May be advisable to have one ~2-way radio tower for the ~Requires pre-existing radio charged on hand to particulartype of radio infrastructure of communicate with external towers emergency personnel and to stay ~ Regular training informed required for use ~A quick-guide sheet near radio 2-Way Radios (VHF and 800MHz ~Usually used by would be useful in emergencies most common) emergency personnel ~If you are tied in to the incident only management structure of the local community, a Comms Plan would be provided as part of the Incident Action Plan (IAP). If radios are being used, then frequencies and channels are listed
~Electricity for charging batteries ~Previously existing form of ~Short wave ~2-way radio tower comm. for institutions that use ~Consider extra generator power them and added outlets for use during Facility 2 way Radio ~Should not get congested when a disaster cell phones are overwhelmed ~Ease of use; employees previously trained and regularly ~Power source for charging ~Short distance walkie- ~Typically reserved for the ~Radio tower talkies good for 5 mi general public, however in some raduis but not good for instances, NGOs and voluntary Walkie-Talkies and CB Radio communication with organizations may choose to use the EOC (Emergency these Operations Center) ~Communication with ARES ~Provide communication when all ~It is advisable to create a other methods fail Memoranda of Understanding ~Amateur Radio Emergency (MOA) with the ARES in order to Service (ARES) are able to assist state the needs and capabilities of during disasters nation-wide each organization to prevent Amateur Radios misunderstandings or miscommunication during disaster responses ~Visit (www.ares.org) & (www.nh- ares.org/MOUGuidance.pdf) for more information
5 Communication Modalities Chart September 2011, Zoo Animal Health Network www.zooanimalhealthnetwork.org
Mode Dependent Upon Benefits Limitations Notes
Computer-Based
~Electricity Internet ~Computer ~Server ~Electricity ~Allows for video conferencing, ~Will not function ~Many providers offer free basic ~Computer internet chat, and calls to land and without power programs for download ~Internet access cellular phones from a computer ~Upgraded features or calls to Video Conference (VoIP) ~Server ~Some providers allow multiple cell and land phones often require ~Downloaded Program user video conferencing (4-way, the purchase of a plan or credits etc.)
MISC
~Availability of items (see notes) ~Should assist in providing power ~Users must have ~The Animal Keepers Forum to power-dependent knowledge of how to suggests 2 sets of supplies: communication devices during a use the items in the kit Must have supplies : specialty and power outage to regain power high-power batteries, specialty chargers, power inverter, cables, manuals, laptop computer, alternate communication devices, standard too set, duct tape and permanent markers. Advanced supplies : Power connectors, battery clamps, voltage regulators, capacitors, Emergency Power Kit heatsinks, resettable fuses, transils, diodes, LED diodes, multimeter, voltmeters, propane torch with soldering tip and hot glue sticks. The must haves should help with most power outages and the advanced supplies should help in situations in which power sources are limited yet somecritical devices must be powered. Refer to Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 34 Nos. 11/12 for more info.
6 Communication Modalities Chart September 2011, Zoo Animal Health Network www.zooanimalhealthnetwork.org
Mode Dependent Upon Benefits Limitations Notes
~Electricity phone line ~Allows for written messages to ~Both the sending and be delivered to any location receiving party must Facsimile without the need for internet have a functioning machine and power source ~Will alert personnel that may be ~Without proper ~Training personnel as to the hearing impaired to an emergency training, personnel meaning of a strobe and where to ~Can be used as a reinforcement may not know what go when they see it will increase Flashing Strobe in addition to radios, bull horns, procedures to follow the efficiency of relaying the etc. when they see the message strobe ~Batteries Pagers/Beepers ~Electricity or a landline to dial out from a phone to a pager ~electricity ~Allows administration to alert all ~May not work during Public Address (PA System) patrons to an emergency at once a power outage
References Animal Keepers' Forum, Vol. 34 Nos. 11/12 Keep Communication Equipment Powered in an Emergency, Part 1- What to put in yout emergency power kit, p. 529 ARES. Amateur Radio Disaster Services. http://www.ares.org "AVMA Emergency Preparedness and Response Guide." American Veterinary Medical Association . Web.
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