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From time to time, situations will occur that require the rapid dissemination of
information, but do not require the activation of a full ARES Resource Net.
Such situations could include a major winter weather system, accident, or what
happened in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks. During such
times, the frequency may become crowded with many operators trying to find out,
or to provide, information on the situation. At that time, rumors and
inaccurate information have a way of getting out of control. In addition, the
crowded frequency makes it hard for stations with emergency or priority traffic
to get in.
At that time, the DEC, an EC, AEC, or an ARES Net Control Op will establish
an ARES Information Net.
1. The net will follow Formal net procedures (Directed Net).
2. The Net Control will not take formal check-ins, but will take a list of
those requesting or having pertinent information.
3. Net Control will then prioritize and contact each station in turn to
get their request or information. Every attempt will be made to ensure that
ACCURATE information is being passed and that a RELIABLE source is being used.
The net WILL NOT REPEAT NEWS MEDIA OR SCANNER REPORTS AS VERIFIED INFORMATION.
IF THERE IS NO VERIFIED SOURCE FOR THE INFORMATION ("I heard some guy on another
repeater say...", "Channel XX says...", "I heard the XYZ PD on the scanner
say...") IT WILL BE LABELED AS UN VERIFIED RUMOR AND TREATED AS SUCH UNTIL
VERIFIED BY AN AUTHORITATIVE SOURCE. The basic rule of thumb is, if the operator
reporting information is not an eye witness to an event, or has not received the
information from an authoritative source (Incident Commander, Public Information
Officer, etc.) then the information is to be considered a rumor.
4. There will be frequent stand-bys for stations with Emergency or
Priority Traffic.
At some time in the process, the net may, at the discretion of the Net
Control Op, go to a Stand
By net status. Operators may engage in casual conversations, but will be
asked to leave frequent breaks to allow for emergency or priority station or
for the Net Control to reactivate a formal net if needed. The Net Control will
also be prepared to escalate to an
ARES Resource Net if
directed to do so by the DEC or an EC or AEC.
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