ARRL Certification Program
Emergency Communications
ARES and RACES

1. A.R.E.S. and R.A.C.E.S.
1. Dual Membership and it's advantages

It's not a question of ARES or RACES.  The answer is to enroll and participate in both.  Each organization has a distinct origin, yet both provides the coverage of amateur radio emergency communications services for the community as a whole.

RACES originated as a Federal Government program designed to use amateur radio operators and equipment scattered throughout the community as a ready resource in the event of a Cold War incident. RACES is comprised of two parts:  (a) specially designated FCC-licensed RACES stations and (b) amateur radio operators registered with civil defense organizations as a pool of community volunteers authorized to operate in the RACES service upon a declaration of an emergency by civil defense.

Amateur radio operators are encouraged to register with their civil defense organization to be available to operate under FCC Part 97.407 in the event the President invoked an emergency under the War Emergency Powers of the Communications Act of 1934, however, RACES operators can respond to emergencies declared by civil defense authorities. During RACES operations in wartime, only RACES stations may communicate with other RACES stations.

RACES stations or amateur radio operators enrolled in civil defense organizations cannot begin RACES operations until specifically authorized by the civil defense organization for the area served.  As such, RACES amateur radio operators cannot begin conducting advisory and prepatory nets before an activation, nor can they continue relief operations after official civil defense authorization/operations has concluded. During these times, amateur radio operators organized under ARES can operate and serve as trained individuals to effect emergency communications.  ARES operators can initiate nets and operations ahead of formal RACES activations, and can continue to operate providing relief, health and welfare communications after the formal RACES operations concludes.  As an operating arm of ARRL, ARES operations can request and incorporate ARES operators from neighboring counties and other states into the communications response for the affected area.

ARES can respond to situations that may not draw the attention of civil defense organizations.  For example, if a local hospital's PBX phone system fails, ARES can respond and provide essential radio communications within the hospital complex.  Even using employees with cellular and wireless telephones, wireless phone service would be overwhelmed with the volume of required calls.  Amateurs stationed at key locations within the hospital could assist staff in dispatching and routing of personnel.  A hospital's phone system problem wouldn't warrant intervention by civil defense authorities nor the activation of RACES as it does not directly involve government services or affect overall community welfare.

In summary,  RACES may not be activated to respond to every emergency situation.  Similarly, ARES operators won't be allowed to operate as RACES operators in the event of a war.  In many instances, identification issued by civil defense authorities may be needed to access areas affected by the emergency.  It is therefore prudent to enroll and serve with both programs to retain flexibility to respond to the situation as needed.
 

2. Working Together

 

 

There are a number of peer amateur radio organizations involved with providing emergency communications for national organizations.  Among them are: ARES (ARRL), RACES (civil defense and local governments), SATERN (Salvation Army), SKYWARN (National Weather Service).  Additionally, ARES often supports the communications needs of the amateurs associated with the American Red Cross.  Other emergency management organizations may also be served by amateur radio groups: CERT (Citizens Emergency Response Team), VOAD (Volunteers Organizations Active in Disasters), MARS (Military Affiliate Radio Service), hospitals and health care agencies, utilities, public service agencies.  Some of these operate under the ARES/RACES umbrella -- the decision is a local arrangement.
 

Amateurs are encouraged to register with more than one organization.  For example, a person can sign up in ARES, RACES and SKYWARN without much difficulty or overlap.  He/she should declare his/her primary served agency -- the one which he/she will develop and respond to in the event of an emergency.  However, during times of non-emergency, he/she would be able to assist a peer organization in the development of their program, education and training efforts and special events.  If during a given emergency, the primary served agency is not activated, the individual is free to report to any agency needing assistance.

For example, if an operator is enrolled in SKYWARN but the emergency is a railroad accident, the operator may be dispatched to assist the local hospital.  Enrolling in ARES makes the process of reassignments more orderly and efficient by having a structure and Memoranda of understanding (MOUs) in place ahead of time.
 

1. Leadership - who is in charge (if they work together it's not an issue)
1. Minimizing bruised egos when multiple communication groups interact

This is done via MOUs and understanding amongst the leadership BEFORE an emergency develops.  SOP calls for each organization to maintain a roster, noting which persons are signed up on a primary basis to work with that group.  The choice of the primary served agency is up to the individual operator, as he/she is in the best position to determine his/her availability given his/her work, home and family situation.

SOP calls for each agency to determine which frequency(ies) they will monitor for calls, and notify other agencies and nets which frequencies are being monitored for this incident.  Frequencies for net operations should be coordinated on an area basis amongst the leadership and worked out ahead of time.  The leadership must keep in mind that no emergency is perfect and variations in the arrangements are expected as adjustments are made due to the situation, the condition of equipment, propagation, operators and agencies involved.

SOP also calls for overall objectives, priorities and decisions to be made by the ICS command team.  The lead commander should be clearly identified and changes in lead commanders should be noted and communicated as the situation evolves.  These are typical command situations:
 

Typical Lead Command for Emergency Situations

Situation	Lead Command
Fire, Rescue, Hazmat, WMD	Fire Department
Criminal Incident	Police, FBI
Natural Disaster	Local/County/State Government, as delegated to the mayor, managing director, Office of Emergency Services, Civil Defense, etc.
Recovery from Transportation Mishap	National Transportation Safety Board
Maritime Emergency	Coast Guard
Community Relief	American Red Cross

The focus is to align communications to anticipate and keep pace with the changes in overall emergency operations as indicated by the command team.  Quality leadership in the communications groups recognize this and will coordinate their efforts amongst the groups to assure coverage and continuity.
 

2. Minimizing "us vs them" thinking

Quality leadership recognize that the overall goal is to move the messages to the final destination in a timely and usable manner.  Quality leadership recognize that this is done via teamwork and at times require give-and-take to accomplish multiple goals.  The culture of quality and professional leadership is established not during the event, but before the event.  The membership should participate in leadership development, and communicate these values to non-members and non-amateurs alike.
2. ARES Section Leadership

 

 

At the local level, there are operators registered with the ARES program.  Non-ARRL members can sign up as ARES operators.  The Emergency Coordinator (EC) position, however, requires ARRL membership.  ECs are appointed by either their Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) or their Section Manager (SM).  Assistant Emergency Coordinators (AECs) are selected and appointed by the EC. Each EC may have as many AECs as required to effectively manage the ARES Unit. (Refer to Chapter 3 of the ARRL Emergency Coordinator's Manual for a complete outline of EC and AEC duties.)

At the section level, the Section Manager for a given ARRL section appoints the SEC.  The SEC in turn appoints District Emergency Coordinators (DECs) to cover districts within the section.  The size of a district is local decision and may encompass several counties, for example.  The DECs work
with ECs within their district to come up with a comprehensive emergency response plan comprised of SOPs coordinated amongst the ECs.

Field & Educational Services at ARRL HQ provides national support for ARES.
 

3. ARES - Mutual Aid During an Emergency (inter District, inter Section)

During severe emergencies, ARES personnel can be called in from other parts of the state and country.  The situation is elevated from EC to the DEC, SEC and ARRL HQ.  Often, the emergency will be carried on national news, and other available amateurs in the region and across the country would ready themselves for deployment and identify themselves to ARRL HQ.  In the exchange of information, the request and acknowledgment for more emergency communicators is also exchanged and confirmed.  The emergency communicators are dispatched, and informed who to contact when they arrive in the affected area.
 
4. ARES Operational Information

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5. RACES Operational Information

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True or False:  Enrolling in either ARES or RACES gives an amateur radio emergency communicator the same access to opportunities to operate during times of emergency and disaster.

True or False:  Only amateur radio stations may be RACES stations.

True or False:  During RACES operations in time of war, only RACES stations may talk with other RACES stations.

True or False:  RACES operators can begin RACES operations before a civil defense activation has been authorized.

True or False:  ARES operators can begin emergency communications operations ahead of a RACES activation.

True or False:  ARES operators are permitted to operate as RACES operators in times of war.

True or False:  Both ARES and RACES operators should adhere to Incident Command System (ICS) procedures during times of emergency activation.

True or False:  ARES personnel can be called in from other parts of the state or country.