ARES/RACES

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES ®) consists 
of FCC licensed amateur radio operators who have 
been trained in emergency communications and have 
voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for 
communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.
Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or 
any other local or national organization, is eligible to apply for 
membership in ARES®. Training may be required or desired 
to participate fully in ARES®. The possession of 
emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not 
a requirement for membership.

What is Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)

Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), administered 
by local, county and state emergency management agencies, 
and supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA) of the United States government. It is a part of the 
Amateur Radio Service that provides radio communications for 
civil-preparedness purposes only, during periods of local, 
regional or national civil emergencies. These emergencies 
are not limited to war-related activities, but can include natural 
disasters such as fires, floods and earthquakes.
As defined in the rules, RACES is a radio communication 
service, conducted by volunteer licensed amateurs, designed 
to provide emergency communications to local or state 
civil-preparedness agencies. It is important to note that 
RACES operation is authorized by emergency management 
officials only, and this operation is strictly limited to official 
civil-preparedness activity in the event of an 
emergency-communications situation.

To Join, contact our Emergency Coordinator Bob KF7LSM
For Further Info. Visit ARRL ARES/RACES FAQ