This playbook provides simple guidance for how to run and participate in an emergency radio net during wildfires, snowstorms, and other disasters, particularly when phone and internet service may be unavailable. The goal is to ensure communication is clear, orderly, and useful for everyone listening.
A net is a structured radio conversation where one station acts as Net Control and directs all communication. This prevents people from talking over each other and keeps critical updates from being missed.
An emergency net can be established at the discretion of an ERSN member, but typically it will be associated with wildfires in the area, power outages, cell-service disruption, or severe snow storms.
The most experienced operator available, with the clearest and strongest connection to the group (often the person who reaches the repeater most reliably).
If that person needs a break or loses power, another station should step in. Ideally, multiple backups are identified in advance.
| Interval | Action |
|---|---|
| Immediate | Net Control opens the net and calls for emergency/priority updates |
| 5 min | First round of polling: "Any stations, please check in" |
| 10–15 min | Additional polling if activity is low |
| 30 min | Summary of who is checked in and any key updates |
| 60–90 min | Full roll call of all known stations |
| 2–4 hrs | Rotate Net Control to a rested operator |
| End | Announce the net is closing when conditions stabilize |
As a participant in the net, your role is to keep communication clear, brief, and helpful for everyone listening.
Always wait for Net Control to acknowledge you before speaking, unless you have an emergency update that affects safety or evacuation. Use plain language, avoid unnecessary chatter, and share information that others in the community may need—such as road closures, shelter status, or evacuation changes.
Think of the net as a shared lifeline: every transmission should add value and keep the channel available for critical traffic.
Use immediately, even if someone else is talking. Say "Emergency" or "Break Break" clearly at the start.
Mike M789: Net Control, this is Mike M789. Emergency traffic.
NC: This is Net Control, go ahead M789 with emergency traffic.
Mike M789: Cal Fire have notified that the fire has crossed Moran Road near the bridge. Immediate evacuation needed for homes east of the river.
NC: Confirmed emergency traffic. Fire has crossed Moran Road near the bridge. Immediate evacuation for homes east of the river.
For urgent but not immediately life-threatening information.
Bob B456: Net Control, this is Bob B456. Priority traffic.
NC: This is Net Control, go ahead B456 with priority traffic.
Bob B456: A tree has fallen and blocked the exit to Highway 4 at Pine Drive. If you need to exit, drive South.
Useful for situational awareness, but not urgent. Wait for Net Control to call for updates or for a break in traffic.
Ben X123: Net Control, this is Ben X123. Informational traffic.
NC: This is Net Control, go ahead X123 with informational traffic.
Ben X123: The snowplows have opened up Blagen Road.
Ask permission before speaking, to avoid tying up the net.
Jenny Y456: Net Control, this is Jenny Y456. Routine traffic.
NC: This is Net Control, go ahead Y456 with routine traffic.
Jenny Y456: Can anyone confirm the status of Highway 4 at Dorrington?
When Net Control calls roll, reply with your identifier, location, and whether you have updates.
NC: Calling Sarah Z999.
Sarah Z999: This is Sarah Z999, at the fire station, no traffic at this time.
This is [Identifier/Callsign], acting as Net Control for the ERSN Emergency Net. This is a directed net — please do not transmit unless called by Net Control, or if you have emergency or priority information. Emergency information is anything that affects immediate safety, such as fire approaching homes, medical needs, or blocked evacuation routes. Priority information includes urgent but not life-threatening updates, such as major road closures or supply shortages. At this time, are there any stations with emergency or priority traffic? Please call now. [Pause ~10 seconds] Hearing none, we will now begin check-ins. When called, please give your name, callsign, your location, and whether you have any updates. If you have no updates, simply say "no traffic." [Call roll call] Are there any additional stations wishing to check in at this time? Please call Net Control with your callsign only. When called, please give name, callsign, location and whether you have traffic.
A note on the roll call: if the net is expected to be busy and have many regular members checking in, going through the full roster may make most sense. However, in emergencies it is likely that few people are online at the start of the incident. In which case, you can provide a more open-ended check-in calling stations by their callsign suffix.
NC: Calling stations with callsign ending in 1, provide only your callsign.
Traffic: U951 G431
NC: Heard U951 and G431. U951, go ahead with your checkin.
U951: Dan, U951 here in Pinebrook. No traffic.
NC: Got you U951, go ahead G431 with your checkin.
G431: Xander, G431 in White Pines. Informational traffic relating to road conditions.
This is Net Control [Identifier]. We will now conduct a roll call to verify which stations are active. When called, please respond with your identifier, location, and whether you have any updates. If you have no updates, simply say "no traffic." [Read down the roster of stations from your log, pausing after each one] Are there any additional stations wishing to check in at this time? Please call Net Control now.
Incoming net control should track a regular rollcall to get a current roster. If missed, the outgoing net control should read off active stations.
Outgoing net control:
This is Net Control [Old Identifier]. I am handing Net Control duties to [New Identifier] at [time]. Please direct all traffic to them from this point forward. Thank you for your participation.
Incoming net control:
This is [New Identifier], now serving as Net Control for the ERSN Emergency Net. I have received the current roster and log from [Old Identifier]. Please continue to direct all traffic through me. Are there any stations with emergency or priority traffic before we resume normal operations? Please call now.
When the emergency has passed:
This is Net Control [Identifier], closing the ERSN Emergency Net at [time]. Normal use of this channel may now resume. Thank you to all stations who participated.