Amateur Radio Training:

Emergency Communication (EMCOMM) Training:

(Note: Links to EMCOMM forms are at the bottom of this webpage.)

Properly trained Emergency Communicators play an important role in disaster response and recovery. Regardless of where you plan to volunteer, any organization will expect you to know how to program, configure, and use your equipment as well as how to conduct yourself during an emergency situation. Prior training and participating in regular exercises is essential.

The Incident Command System (ICS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses are recommended for Amateur Radio operators who wish to volunteer to serve our communities during times of emergency. They are often listed as prerequisites for other courses.

* FEMA/EMI courses may require that you register for a FEMA SID before you can take the final exam.

NWS Skywarn, Skywarn Ham, and Weather Reporting:

The NWS Skywarn Storm Spotter program trains volunteers as "Weather spotters." After training is complete, you can request a spotter ID number. Observations that fit their reporting criteria are normally phoned in to their Honolulu Field Office at 808 973-5286

Watch the NWS Skywarn Weather Spotter Training video by Matthew Foster, Meteorologist, National Weather Service Honolulu. (2021)

Skywarn Ham within the state of Hawaii is the amateur radio extension, which is stood up when severe weather that impacts regular telephone and internet communications is expected.  It is stood up by the NWS through their ham coordinator, Kevin Bogan, AH6QO.

Skywarn spotter reports are fed to the NWS to help them in their preparation of reports and media "products" that the NWS submits directly to the Emergency Management Agencies and to the public.

Other Weather Reporting:

Their may be other Amateur Radio Nets, not associted with the NWS or related to Skywarn Ham that request reports from ham radio operators.

• Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency Situation Reports. SitReps may be requested by ACS when nets are stood up. They typically involve the reporting of dangerous conditions and weather related damage, but can also be used as the "eyes and ears" of our Civil Defense Agency to assist them in developing a common operating picture both before and after a severe weather event.
• Nets on local Repeaters and frequencies. Informal (VHF) Nets on local repeaters and frequencies can provide us all with situational awareness during adverse conditions. These are encouraged.
• DEM/RACES/ARES (Oahu) May stand up a Weather Watch/Reporting net. This is often on the 40 meter band (7.090 MHz)

TIPS:

• It may be necessary to provide the same observations on more than one net, if the observation fits the criteria requested.
• As ham radio volunteers, request to be added to the email distribution list of each group so you will know when and where to get on the air when nets are stood up. (Local, ARES, ACS, Skywarn Ham, etc.)
• Listen on appropriate appropriate frequencies.
• Ask other amateur radio operators if they are aware of any nets being stood up.
• Take the Initiative: Reach out on appropriate Email distribution lists and frequencies to inform others that a net may be needed. (biarc@mailman.qth.net, bigislandares@hawaiiares.groups.io, bigislandradio@groups.io)

DEM/RACES Forms: Hurricane Report / Severe WX Report (Adobe PDF)

Links to ICS Forms: (Adobe PDF)

(These are links to documents Published on or downloaded from the FEMA Website.)

FEMA ICS Forms Page

ICS forms most relevant to EMCOMM Operators:

ICS forms are the standardized forms intended for use by non-profits, commercial entities, and governmental organizations nationwide. They are provided here so that EMCOMM volunteers can become familiar with each in advance, so that an emergency situation is not your first exposure to using them.

ICS Form	Name/Description/Purpose:	Typically Completed By:
ICS-201	Incident Briefing: Provides an overview of the situation at hand, hazards, objectives, and the ORGANIZATIONAL Chart.	Incident Commander & Planning Section
ICS-205	Comm Plan. Listing of frequencies & modes planned for use in the current operational period	Planning Section or Communicaions Unit Lead (ComL)
ICS-205a	Listing of operators (people) and contact information.	Planning Section/ComL
ICS-213	General Message Form	Radio Operators (RADOs)
ICS-214	Activity Log. Who was assigned? What was done? When?	Leader of each Communications Unit (ComU) takes or delegates responsibility
309	Communications Log, Log all Radio Traffic (From, To, Time, Msg No, etc.)	All Radio Operators (RADOs)

(These files are PDF versions of the on-line forms available from hawaiicert.org.)