The Pinellas County ACS/ARES® mission is to provide effective temporary communication links for agencies providing for the public welfare. This occurs when existing communication services become damaged or over-loaded due to disasters, emergencies, or other unusual events. Where no existing communication channels exist, ACS/ARES® will create them, and maintain them until permanent facilities can be established. When Pinellas County activates ACS, some ARES® ongoing operations may come under ACS command and control.
Detailed information about ACS/ARES® activation and operating procedures can be found in the Pinellas County ACS/ARES® Emergency Communications Plan and Standard Operating Procedure document.
Net Control Scripts
Level 1 Tactical-Resource Net
This level of activation will occur when ACS/ARES® officials are notified by one or more served agencies that a need for assistance is immediate. This level of activation will be used for all hurricanes, for some tropical storms, and for any major technological disaster. The following document contains the Net Control procedures, Alternate Net Control procedures, and the Net Control Station scripts to be used during a Level 1 Activation.
Level 2 Tactical Resource Net
This level of activation will occur when ACS/ARES® officials are notified by one or more served agencies that a need for assistance is imminent. For Level 2, there is a high probability that ACS/ARES® will be activated. The following document contains the Net Control procedures, Alternate Net Control procedures, and the Net Control Station scripts to be used during a Level 2 Activation.
Level 3 Tactical Resource Net
This level of activation will occur when ACS/ARES® officials have been notified by one or more served agencies that Amateur Radio Communicators may be needed soon. No specific timeframe for activation is normally associated with this notification. The following document contains the Net Control procedures, Alternate Net Control procedures, and the Net Control Station scripts to be used during a Level 3 Activation.
Shelter Net Activation
The ACS/ARES® Shelter net will be activated when the Pinellas County EOC notifies the EC/RO that evacuation shelters are currently open or scheduled to be open soon. The following document contains the Net Control procedures, Alternate Net Control procedures, and the Net Control Station scripts to be used during Shelter Net Activation.
General Net Procedures
General Membership Procedures
When notified by the ACS Radio Officer (RO) or his/her designee that ACS/ARES® Activation Level 1, 2, or 3 has been established, the general membership will perform the actions listed in the following document.
NCS Shift Change Procedure
During extended periods of activation, an operating schedule may need to be established for both net control and alternate net control stations. The following document contains the shift change procedure used by the incoming and outgoing net control and alternate net control stations.
