Maryland Task Force 1

[Chris52]

Maryland Task Force 1 was activated April 2nd to assist with the flooding in Kentucky and they will return on the 13th. They carry an abundance of radios with them when deployed. I’m curious if they have their own radio person on the team who can change up the programming when they arrive at the serving jurisdiction. Do they even have a standard codeplug ? I’ve always been curious on how they make use of their radios.

 

[maus92]

They probably have a COML on the team, but many times the local jurisdiction provides a compatible codeplug or at least system specs for the local area.

Here's an example of COML duties:

Communications Unit Leader | NWCG

COML Incident Position DescriptionThe Communications Unit Leader (COML) is responsible for designing, installing, and maintaining communications equipment on wildland fire incidents. The COML also

www.nwcg.gov

 

[RaleighGuy]

Maryland Task Force 1 was activated April 2nd to assist with the flooding in Kentucky and they will return on the 13th. They carry an abundance of radios with them when deployed. I’m curious if they have their own radio person on the team who can change up the programming when they arrive at the serving jurisdiction. Do they even have a standard codeplug ? I’ve always been curious on how they make use of their radios.

In NC during Helene they were issued NC Cache radios by the State Viper Techs, Motorola brought in extra loaner radios for the disaster area.

 

[Chris52]

In NC during Helene they were issued NC Cache radios by the State Viper Techs

I guess that would make things ALOT easier

 

[Chris52]

I’m sure they probably use some sort of simplex channel or “talk around” to coordinate as well while they are close together.

Interesting that now I think about it but they don’t have their own TG on the First System

 

[ThePhotoGuy]

I’m sure they probably use some sort of simplex channel or “talk around” to coordinate as well while they are close together.

Interesting that now I think about it but they don’t have their own TG on the First System

They are a sponsored user on FiRST and were approved for an encrypted talk group. They likely have access to all of the interop zones too.

 

[empire550]

They probably have a COML on the team, but many times the local jurisdiction provides a compatible codeplug or at least system specs for the local area.

Here's an example of COML duties:

Communications Unit Leader | NWCG

COML Incident Position DescriptionThe Communications Unit Leader (COML) is responsible for designing, installing, and maintaining communications equipment on wildland fire incidents. The COML also

www.nwcg.gov

They do employ COMLs and COMTs.

 

[Dispatcher308]

They do employ COMLs and COMTs.

They are called COM Specialists (COMS). There are Incident Support Teams each have their own Comms Team ultimately they report to FEMA for channels assignments and then each Task Force has its own Comms Unit, they receive their channel assignments from the IST's for their operational area.

 

[motorcoachdoug]

I agree with what Dispatcher 308 said. I am a member of a NGO Group based in Pasadena for swift water rescue and K9 services. and the NGO group is under DOD and FEMA but since FEMA has been downsizing and or just totally cut at the moment my group has signed MOU's and they use the Catch Radios when deployed. We do have our own coms as well and of we also have a couple of Com Techs that also travel as well.