Amateur Radio Emergency Service

In the context of Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES), a “Sitrep” or “Situation Report” is a concise update on the current status of an incident, including its location, nature, progress, and resource deployment. 

Here’s a breakdown of what a Sitrep entails:

• Purpose: To provide a clear and timely overview of an incident to relevant parties, facilitating coordination and decision-making. 

• Contents:
  • Incident Location: Precise location of the incident. 
  • Incident Nature: Type of incident (e.g., fire, flood, power outage). 
  • Incident Progress: Current status and any changes in the situation. 
  • Resources Deployed: Types and number of resources (people, equipment) involved. 
  • Actions Taken: Efforts made to address the incident. 
  • Future Plans: Planned actions and any needed assistance. 
  • Amplify Information: Additional information like damage assessment, potential risks, etc. 

• Format: ARES Sitreps are typically formatted for digital transmission, with specific fields for each piece of information. 

• Types:
  • Initial Sitrep: First report upon arrival at the scene. 
  • Update Sitrep: Follow-up reports providing updates on the situation. 
  • Final Sitrep: Report upon resolution of the incident. 

• Example:
  • “INITIAL SITREP: Location: [Address], Incident: Power outage, Status: Ongoing, Resources: [Number] ARES volunteers, Actions: [Actions taken], Future Plans: [Plans], Recommended Assistance: [Needed assistance]” 

• Origin: The term “Sitrep” originated in the military during World War II. 

• ARES and Sitreps: ARES uses Sitreps to communicate information during emergency situations, ensuring effective coordination among amateur radio operators and other emergency responders.