This system was developed at the national level to create a catalog of resource typing definitions providing emergency managers with the information they need to request and receive the resources they need during an incident, emergency or disaster.

Of the eight groups representing key functional disciplines in the resource typing system, amateur radio communications most likely fits in the Emergency Management Resources group.

Public Service Event amateur radio coordinators will also find this works for event staffing and provides training in the use of resource ordering and assignments.

The development of Public Service Communicator Resource Types began as a way to associate radio amateurs volunteering for public service events to communications functions based on equipment the amateur possessed. In the early days (1996) we used the term "Modes" rather than "Types." The guide has currently been enhanced with details for digital equipment and their types (thanks to N5OOM). The basic equipment types used here match up with the Dallas RACES/ARES groups use of the Staging Area intake card affectionally referred to as the "BLMRS" card (developed by AA5QX). For Collin County ARES it's the "T" card. There are reports of other amateur radio groups around the United States using this guide.

This document is a great resource tool for any Public Service event or incident staffing and assignments of amateur radio communicators. Download PDF

This is a handy check sheet that can be used to quickly determine your resource type. A good use is at staging areas during intake when new volunteers show up.

This version is in the NIMS format and defines amateur radio communications personnel as Type I, II, III or IV. The personnel types defined in this document represent the most common amateur radio communications solutions needed in an urban tactical communications situation. The NIMS Resource Typing document allows for personnel types as well as team types. There are other documents defining amateur radio communications in a Teams format.

This version is still being refined.

Garland RACES/ARES Informaton - 8/15/2006