BurnsFamily Blog

The San Jose R.A.C.E.S. team asked for volunteers, as part of the Santa Clara County Mutual Aid Communicators (MAC) program, to assist the Lance Armstrong LiveSTRONG 2008 bike race this past week.

Our job was to ride along with the SAG vans to communicate their status, important events, and overall “eyes and ears” to race coordinators. MACs are trained emergency communicators who assist the local government during disasters, but we also help run public events such as this. We fall under the “Planning and Intelligence” organization if you’re familiar with ICS terminology.

Volunteering for public events like this allows us to continuously test our training and equipment so we’re ready for “real” disasters. The event was large enough that San Jose could only muster half of the number of required ham radio communicators that they needed. The balance were MACs like me from neighboring communities. Here’s a few pictures of us getting ready (at 0630!):

Each communicator was tasked to equip a SAG Van with their own mobile communications gear and antenna capable of reaching “net control” back at the race central, anywhere along the mountinous 100-mile course. There was one 5K run/walk course and 3 bike courses: a 50-, a 65-, and a 100-mile course. This is the same communications equipment and “ad hoc” setup that we are expected to use during a disaster like an earthquake, flood, or other problem. The total race course was so wide and diverse, the 14 vans had to use 4 separate radio frequencies for the area (that’s a lot).

We also had another 14 communicators staged at the 8 rest stops and at the race central to coordinate everything.

One particularly interesting new technique I tried on this assignment was to temporarily mount the control panel for my mobile radio to the van’s dashboard using 3M Command Adhesive strips. That means the radio stayed in place for the duration of the event, was perfectly visible, and I didn’t need to juggle it in my lap.

These worked PERFECTLY, I’m definitely going to stock them in my “go kit” for emergency communications from now on. If you haven’t used them before, they stick like mad. But when you’re done, you pull the little white tabs to stretch the “tape” and they lose all their super-sticky powers, and leave no residue. (Important consideration when you’re dealing with rental cars!) BTW: They work GREAT for hanging pictures in your house too — no more nail holes!

Another item I carried that got a lot of questions: a bright pink folding clipboard. $10 at Office Max. It helped me keep track of all the pieces of paper, maps, and other logistical information that these events create. Very convenient.

My van ended up SAGging about a dozen bike riders total over the 10-hour shift. We took everyone to either the next “PowerStop” or up to the top of the next hill on the course. In my unscientific briefings, most of our passengers hadn’t trained enough for the distance, some didn’t handle the 85˚ heat well, and at least two were cancer survivors who just needed some help to get up over the (huge, 800-foot elevation) hill and get them on their way to the finish line.

Here’s a picture of what a typical rest stop (called “PowerStops” because PowerBar sponsored the event.):

It was an honor to help all of these people towards their cause. Here’s our trip into the Finish Line:

If you are interested in being a trained communicator to assist your community and you live in the Bay Area, please check out our website. If you live in Campbell, CA I am an assistant emergency coordinator (AEC) and would be happy to tell you more.