Standard forms and message formats are used in emergency communications to facilitate good operating practices, and to help document the event.  Two of the most commonly used in amateur radio are the ARRL's National Traffic System (NTS) RADIOGRAM and the Incident Command System's general message form ICS-213.  Here we are providing examples of both, along with brief training documents on how to utilize them.

   NTS Manual (2015)
   ARRL NTS Radiogram Message Form
   NTS Mini-Manual

   ICS-213 Form
   Completing ICS-213 Form

The text of Indiana Code known as the "scanner law".  It's provision allows licensed amateur radio operators to use mobile and portable scanners capable of receiving police frequencies.

Click here to go to the actual Indiana Code on the state government web site.
(Title 35, Article 44.1, Chapter 2, Section 7)

Standards, Guidelines, and Plans for Emergency Communications in the Public Safety radio services.
(Bold indicates new or recently updated.)

  National Incident Management System
  National Emergency Communications Plan (Revised)
  National Interoperability Field Operations Guide (NIFOG 1.6.1, APR 2016)
  Auxiliary Communications Field Operations Guide (AUXFOG 1.0)
  Standard Channel Nomenclature for Interoperability Channels
  Statewide Interoperability Planning Guidebook
  Establishing Governance to Achieve Statewide Communications Interoperability
  ITU Technical Aspects of Disaster Communications
  GAO-09-604 Report - June 26, 2009 - Emergency Communications: Vulnerabilities Remain and Limited Collaboration & Monitoring Hamper Federal Efforts

Although ARES is not a first-responder organization, the safety of our members is our top priority.  In support of that, individuals may be interested in having access to the same information on hazardous materials that first-responders do.  The Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2012) was developed for use by firefighters, police, and other emergency services personnel who may be the first to arrive at the scene of a transportation incident involving a hazardous material.
 

Emergency Response Guidebook 2012

The web site below contains the full ERG2012 in PDF form, as well as ERG2012 software for Windows-based PCs and mobile devices.
http://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/library/erg