Communications

Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security

Version 1.0

2011
COMMUNICATIONS

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  Provides guidance to emergency responders in the use of interoperable radio resources to be used on a day-to-day basis, as well as when they are called upon to respond outside of their normal area of operations to provide multi-agency, multi-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional communications;
  
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  Provides agencies with guidelines for proper use, naming, and programming of shared radio channels;
  
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  Provides Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the use of interoperable radio resources based on statewide and regional interoperability plans; and
  
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  Provides technical reference information for radio technicians to program local agency radios for optimal interoperable capabilities.
  

The information in this guide is intended to assist public safety personnel in identifying the proper radio channels to use when responding outside their primary service area, whether in another part of the state or to a major disaster in a different state. We encourage you to have as many of these interoperability channels programmed in your radios as possible.

Oklahoma Homeland Security Director

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Responding to Incidents Outside Your Normal Area of Operation Upon Official Request

RESPOND ONLY WHEN REQUESTED —

DO NOT SELF-DISPATCH!
Step 1 – Determine what Calling Channel(s) are available in your radio.
Step 2 – Determine if any incident Calling Channel(s) or Check-in Location has been communicated with the request for assistance.
Step 3 – Report to the established Check-in Location or use the designated Calling Channel to contact Incident Command for instructions upon approaching the incident scene.
Step 4 – If no Calling Channel has been designated, use the Calling Channel(s) available in your radio and attempt to contact Incident Command upon approaching the scene; try available Calling Channels in the following order:

National Mutual Aid Channels (VCALL10, UCALL40D or ICALLD/8CALL90D) in direct mode

National Mutual Aid Channels (UCALL40 or ICALL/8CALL90) in repeater mode

Statewide Common Channels (STATE LAW/OKLAW1, STATE FIRE/OKFIRE1, or STATE LG MA/OKLGMA1)

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