Here is some background on the Queen Creek Emergency Communications Group
Background - Queen Creek Disaster Management and Response Plan
In 2009, the Town of Queen Creek sought to create a Disaster Response Plan.? A Disaster Management Committee was formed and appointed by the Town Council.
This Committee formulated a plan that included the use of citizen communicators to provide communications support to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), regional and district command centers, shelters, and field response teams.
Those communicators would be recruited citizens that were subsequently trained and licensed as ham radio operators.? Additional training, provided by experienced ham radio operators, resulted in proficiency with emergency communications, known as EmCom.
The resulting collection of trained and licensed volunteers, along with the experienced ham radio operators, was organized in 2011 as the Queen Creek Emergency Communications Group or QCECG.
QCECG provides EmCom communicators for the Town’s EOC, district command/shelters, and the field response teams that provide medical, recon, and shelter services.? QCECG falls under the QC Fire and Medical Department and is directly managed by the QC Emergency Manager, Joe LaFortune.
QCECG leverages its communications assets for non-emergency events as well such as emergency preparedness fairs, Spring Into Queen Creek, etc..
Today - The QCECG has achieved the following:
Trained and licensed approximately 180 volunteer communicators
Installed two radio repeater systems for Town use
Acquired radios, antennas, and gear to equip “go-bags” for each district command and shelter building
Conducts weekly training “net” over the air
Holds monthly meetings for the Group to provide on-going training and skill development
Provides communications support for Town events such as Spring Into Queen Creek and Trunk or Treat.
Drills regularly to simulate execution of Town’s Disaster Management and Response Plan.
Regularly participates in national and worldwide amateur radio field exercises
Developed its own FCC ham license training and testing corps
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We thank Bruce Barnes, KF6EZT, for his many contributions to the Disaster Management Committee in defining, creating, and launching the Queen Creek Emergency Communications Group.
We also thank Dennis Lawrence, KF7RYX, for his many years of leadership, service, and expertise that helped QCECG gain its reputation as a benchmark in community emergency communications.
For more information regarding the Town’s emergency management program, contact Joe LaFortune, Town of Queen Creek, Emergency Manager at 480-358-3502.
For more information regarding the Queen Creek Emergency Communications Group and membership, please call 480-788-9035 or contact any of the folks listed below.?
Joe Sammartino, N2QOJ, Co-Leader
Ron Earl, K7RWE, Co-Leader
Court Hilton, KG7VF, Co-Leader
QCECG meetings are on the second Thursday of every month at 7 PM.
Queen Creek Town Hall, 22350 South Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
Joe Sammartino