One of the principles upon which the amateur radio service is founded is that, when needed, amateur radio operators will provide public service and emergency communications. Part 97.1 (a) reads:
Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.
Think of it as part of the price you pay for the privilege of being granted an amateur radio license.
One way to get involved with public service and emergency communications is to join SkyWarn (http://www.skywarn.org). SkyWarn is a volunteer program run by the National Weather Service with more than 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.
Not all of these weather spotters are amateur radio operators, but a good many are, and using amateur radio is a great way to report severe weather. When severe weather is imminent, SkyWarn spotters are deployed in the areas where the severe weather is expected. A “net” is established on one of the local repeaters, and all of the SkyWarn spotters who have amateur radio licenses check into that net. The net control advises the spotters when they might expect to see severe weather, and the spotters, in turn, report conditions such as horizontal winds, large hail, rotating clouds, and even tornadoes.
To become a SkyWarn spotter, you must take a class that teaches you the basics of severe weather, how to identify potential severe weather features, and how to report it. The classes are free and typically last about two hours.
ARES/RACES
Another way to become involved in public service and emergency communications is to join an ARES/RACES group. Although technically these are two separate services—the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is run by the ARRL, while Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (http://www.usraces.org/) is a function of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) —the amateur radio operators who typically take part in one also take part in the other.
To participate in RACES, you’ll need to to take some self-study FEMA course in emergency preparedness and emergency-response protocols. Classes may or may not be required to participate in ARES. These requirements are set by each individual ARES group. To get involved with either ARES or RACES, ask your local club members when they meet. You can also contact the Section Manager or Emergency Coordinator for your ARRL section. To get in touch with those people, go to http://www.arrl.org/sections and find the section that you live in.
If these formal organizations aren’t for you, you can still participate in public service activities through your club. Our club, for example, provides communications for a bike tour with more than 1,000 riders and covering dozens of square miles. Our organization is a lot less formal than SkyWarn, ARES, or RACES, but the public service that we provide is just as valuable.
tom thumb says
ARES – pointless it’s an old boy’s network. Run by the ARRL. On paper it looks like a good idea, but in practice it is slow and is still around because they’ve pissed off a host of hams to the point that they/we hope it dies:)
They’re stuck in CW and voice haven’t truly provided advanced services data/phone/etc.
I built and maintain an emergency cell network in a box. Along with GMRS/CB/HAM equipment in a box and test it every 30 days.
The real issues besides personalities of my local and national ARES leaders. The operators know the hoops and jumps but are terrible at technologies.
It needs to go the way of the Dodo and let the serious operators pick up the pieces when the SHTF. Truth is that’s the way it works in real life…
Colin says
Actually- RACES is still viable, is still used and I don’t know where you got your negative attitude about RACES but you’re wrong or at least too old to care about it anymore.
I participated and am a member of RACES in Montrose, Colorado. At the beginning of this year, 2019, the Montrose Emergency Operations Center conducted two tests. One was local where a 14 seater aircraft took off from the Montrose Airport, MTJ and crashed on the West runway. Along with emergency services, Fire, police, Aid, Coroner, Airport Security etc, RACES was called into man both the phones in the EOC as well as having a movable, emergency COMM capable of contacting the State EOC (other side of mountains in Denver.
The second (and there was one in 2018 as well) scenerio was a disaster in Delta, County- a Tornado that wiped out the city. RACES set up in Grand Junction, Montrose and a few other town/cities and participated in weather, road, water, etc conditions both in Delta and the surrounding areas and these reports were controlled and logged in Grand Junction and sent to the State EOC.
They’re is a SET taking place in October, 2019 with basically the same situation, although this is a statewide emergency (non-nuc.).
So- that all being said, RACES is still viable, uses both phone and digital and although “old school” it’s still very important. Try the disaster in NY,NY. Try the various nasty nasty hurricanes in the last 5 years and you will see RACES is alive and well.
Have a great day and be safe!
73,
Colin Skelding, N0CHS
Matt Kennedy says
ARES, when done right with local officials, is absolutely still viable. RACES, when activated, is also necessary. My ARES team uses all modes available. Voice, cw, digital, winlink, D-Rats whatever we have that works. I understand not all ARES groups do this, but a blanket statement is not really called for. There are some benefits to being part of a large umbrella group like ARRL. The national level Mou’s are a good example of that. Our team recieved a huge compliment this year from our EOC, noticing that we were well versed and using the ICS system during deployment versus some other government entities that were not as well versed. It was a great thing for us!