RAYNET involvement in Emergencies

Fortunately, disasters are rare in this part of the world - we don't suffer from volcanoes, earthquakes or typhoons. Nature can send severe conditions, however, such as storms, torrential rain and deep snow. RAYNET was formed after the 1953 floods wiped out much of the communications infrastructure of the east coast. In recent years, RAYNET across the country has provided emergency communications on several occasions when natural events have threatened disruption.

• Staffordshire had a long period of dry weather in July, August and September 1995, with twice the normal rate of calls to the Fire Brigade. Staffordshire RAYNET supported the Fire Services with communications facilities for 36 days. [Details: CP Winter 1995, p.14.]

Human-made disasters can also disrupt or threaten life.

• In May 1995, a small commuter aeroplane crashed shortly after takeoff from Leeds-Bradford Airport. RAYNET provided communications between the crash site, RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Harrogate Police Station and County Hall. [Details: CP Autumn 1995 p.17.]
• Two large propane tanks caught fire in Bedale, North Yorkshire. RAYNET provided communications between two rest centres and the Emergency Planning Department's Communications Centre. [Details: CP Spring 1997, p.4]
• In April 1995, a 1000-lb wartime bomb was found on Portland on the south coast. RAYNET provided communications, since about 4000 people were evacuated during the disposal of the bomb. [Details: CP Summer 1995, p.20.]
• In the mid-1980s a large water main burst in Headingley, Leeds; the event took about 24 hours to clear up. RAYNET operators were located in the Yorkshire Water control centre and several bowsers.

What the Emergency Services can expect RAYNET to do for them

The Emergency Services would normally call RAYNET out only when there was some significant benefit over their existing means of communication. Normally RAYNET would attach operators to several locations and individuals. These operators would accept messages from their 'customers' for transmission to other locations. Incoming messages would also be received and passed on to the operator's 'customer'. The exact pattern would depend on the needs of the Emergency Services calling us out. Locations such as control rooms might have two or more RAYNET operators, depending on how busy the communications traffic was. On a long operation, RAYNET would rotate its staff on a shift system. Operators might typically be located

• On foot with members of the Emergency Services who need extra communications. These will typically be a few individuals in (mainly middle) management rôles.
• In vehicles such as Ambulances, in circumstances where their normal radios are inadequate.
• In or near to control rooms. There might be several operators at such a point.
• At some distance from the incident, for instance in reception and rest centres.
• At hospitals, for instance to handle information about numbers of casualties about to arrive.

RAYNET operators would normally be stationed outside the inner cordon, though they might occasionally be required inside, in conjunction with professional personnel.

Security of traffic

RAYNET operators will regard all communications passed through them as confidential. They have standing orders to refuse requests for information from the Media and to direct these to a Press Officer or similar authority.

Amateur Radio frequencies are published and the terms of the Amateur Radio Licence prohibit coded messages. There are therefore some types of traffic, such as details of fatalities, which you would probably choose not to pass via RAYNET.

Details ...

... of some of the above incidents which involved RAYNET may be found in Civil Protection, the Home Office's emergency planning quarterly. References are given in the form CP Season Year Page.

G4RDL