Agenda - City of Santa Monica

immediate influx of emergency medical aid and/or export some of the seriously injured
to out-of-county facilities.
Communications
Telephone systems will be affected by system failure, overloads, loss of electrical power
and possible failure of some alternate power systems. Immediately after the event,
numerous failures will occur coupled with saturation overloads. This will disable up to
80% of the telephone system for approximately one day. In light of the expected
situation, emergency planners should not plan on the use of telephone systems for the
first few days after the event.
During a major emergency, communication from the City’s Emergency Operations
Center (EOC) to the outside world is a primary necessity.
Four separate and independent radio systems are available for emergency use by EOC
personnel. They are already in place and are operated by the Public Works Department,
Fire Department, the Police Department and Transportation Department. Each system
has its own unique characteristics. In a disaster, it is possible that all systems could be
rendered partially or completely inoperative.
REDINET - HEAR OPERATION - is used to monitor all transmissions from the Los
Angeles County Emergency Network Medical Alert Center (MAC). The Los Angeles
County Emergency Network Medical Alert Center (MAC) monitors the Redinet and
HEAR Radio for Hospital availability and capability.
Additionally, the Disaster Communication Services (DCS) provides amateur radio
communication. DCS Communication equipment is located at the EOC and Fire Station
#5.
Department of Public Works Communications
The backbone of the Public Works radio system is a fully repeated receiver/transmitter
located on the reservoir property in the 800-900 block of Franklin Street. There are five
locations within the city that have remote control links connected to the system; City
Hall; Police Headquarters; City Yards; Clover Park; and the Fire Department. The
primary area of concern during a disaster would be whether or not the telephone lines
would continue to function from the control points and receiver locations. If telephone
lines were to fail and if the Franklin equipment were not damaged, the system would
continue to operate by itself, for car to car operation, but with some range limitation.
There is good possibility that the back-up system located at 2500 Michigan would
enable one of these systems to work during and after a disaster.
Fire Department Communications
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