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Central Iowa Radio Network 

The Central Iowa Safeguard Iowa Partnership Chapter, formally known as Metro Emergency Planners, has a 800 MHz radio network through Electronic Engineering which was created to enhance immediate communications between the public and private sectors in Polk and Dallas counties in the event of an emergency.

 

The license is held by Electronic Engineering, and there are two authorized parties on the account that can add or remove entities from the Radio Network; Safeguard Iowa Partnership (Executive Director or Program Manager) and Polk County Emergency Management (Director or Deputy Director). Polk County Emergency Management will test the radio network monthly by activating a roll call.

 

The Central Iowa Safeguard Iowa Partnership Radio Network (CISIP Radio Network) has listening access to the Metropolitan Incident Command Radio Network (MICRN), the first interoperable radio channel to support incident command, which broadcasts severe weather information, Amber Alerts, and other emergency information.

Location 

Access to Radio Network 

Safeguard Iowa Partnership has chosen Principal Financial Group to be the hub between MICRN and the CISIP Radio Network, since they are one of the few companies with a 24x7 command center. Principal Financial Group has the authority to relay information from MICRN to the CISIP Radio Network Users.


Terms of this relationship:

  • Principal Financial Group will relay, forward and/or disseminate information within their operational constraints.
  • Principal Financial Group will not be held accountable for dissemination of emergency information and for the receipt of the same.
  • Principal Financial Group operations will take priority over Safeguard Iowa Partnership operations.

Polk County Emergency Management has one (1) base radio located at their office, one (1) mobile radio located in the Director’s vehicle and one (1) portable radio located in the Deputy Director’s vehicle.

 

Safeguard Iowa Partnership has one (1) base radio located at their office at 100 East Grand Avenue, one (1) portable radio with the Executive Director, one (1) portable radio with the Program Coordinator and two (2) portable radios for deployment with the Safeguard Iowa Partnership Emergency Operations Center liaisons during Polk county incidents.

 

Entities wishing to gain access to the CISIP Radio Network will review and agree to the policies and procedures for use, and submit an online access request form. Each current user of the radio network will submit to Safeguard Iowa Partnership, one representative to serve on the CISIP Radio Network User Group.

 

The request will be forwarded to the CISIP Radio Network User Group, which will evaluate the request, and render a decision. One of the authorized parties on the account with Electronic Engineering will request a change, and add the new entitey to the network. If the full request or part of the request is denied, the CISIP Radio Network User Group will provide a written explanation of their decision.

 

Each entity requesting access to CISIP Radio Network will have their own 800 MHz radio and pay their own fees related to the use of the radio airtime. The Safeguard Iowa Partnership does not provide any equipment or pay for any charges regarding the CISIP Radio Network.

Partner organizations will not be restricted to the number of radios with access to the CISIP Radio Network. 

Guidelines for Use 

Monthly Testing 

To maintain the integrity of the CISIP Radio Network, the users must comply with the following guidelines: 

  • Make statements brief, clear and concise.
  • Limit radio transmissions to official business of the CISIP Radio Network.
  • A professional communications demeanor shall be observed at all times. Inflammatory terms, slang words, snide remarks, CB lingo and profanity are prohibited.
  • Transmissions shall be made using Clear Text or otherwise referred to as plain language, for example refrain from using 10-codes or signal codes.
  • Use National Incident Management System and Incident Command System guidelines when applicable.
  • Proper Use: Any time there is a need for urgent or immediate communications between agencies and organizations. This includes any type of disaster or emergency, urgent weather information, or other immediate information that may impact more than one partner of the Safeguard Iowa Partnership.
  • Improper Use:
    • Routine day-to-day communication within your own organization or between different organizations.
    • For economic gain.
  • Any entity using the CISIP Radio Network improperly will be warned one time to change their behavior. The second time their access will be revoked. Any violation of FCC rules will result in revocation of access to the CISIP Radio Network.

Regular testing shall be conducted on the first Wednesday of each month at approximately 1100 hours following the regularly monthly MICRN test. Polk County Emergency Management Agency will be responsible for initiating the monthly testing unless alternative arrangements are made in advance.

 

The following statement shall be read to conduct the monthly test:

“Attention all Central Iowa Safeguard Iowa Partners from the Polk County Emergency Management Agency. Please standby for the regular monthly test of the radio network in 10 seconds.”

[Wait 10 seconds]

 

“This is the regular monthly test of the Central Iowa Safeguard Iowa Partnership Radio Network. Please acknowledge receipt of this message following your organization’s name during the roll call.”

[Use checklist for roll call and accountability documentation]

 

“I will now repeat the names of the organizations where receipt was not acknowledged.”

[Repeat non-responding organizations]

 

“Thank you. This concludes the regular monthly test of the Central Iowa Safeguard Iowa Partnership Radio Network.”

[Insert special messages or announcements here if appropriate.]

 

“Polk County Emergency Management is clear.”

[At the completion of the test, put the radio back on scan.]

Maintenance 

Coverage Maps 

Questions 

THE SAFEGUARD IOWA PARTNERSHIP WILL REVIEW THIS POLICY AND PROCEDURE ANNUALLY. ADDITIONALLY, SAFEGUARD IOWA PARTNERSHIP WILL CONFIRM ANNUALLY THAT THE ORGANIZATION IS A USER OF THE CISIP RADIO NETWORK.

OTHER PROPOSED CHANGES TO THIS PROCEDURE WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE POLK COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR AND WILL BE REVIEWED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. 

Contact Safeguard Iowa Partnership at sip@safeguardiowa.org or 515-246-1707

CONTACT US: (515) 650-0424 | sip@safeguardiowa.org | 1907 Carpenter Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50314

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