| DuPage County ARES Frequently Asked Questions |
What is the Amateur Radio Emergency Service?
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who 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 for membership in the ARES. The only qualification, other than possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve. Because ARES is an amateur service, only amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership.
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How is the Amateur Radio Emergency Service organized?
There are four levels of ARES organization--national, section, district and local. National emergency coordination at ARRL Headquarters is under the supervision of the ARRL Field and Educational Services Manager, who is responsible for advising all ARES officials regarding their problems, maintaining contact with federal government and other national officials concerned with amateur emergency communications potential, and in general with carrying out the League's policies regarding emergency communications.
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What is a "served agency'?
A “served agency” is an organization that is provided communications support by the Dupage County ARES under the terms of a formal written agreement (Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU.) Served agencies may be governmental (e.g., Homeland Security, Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Services and Disaster Agency, National Weather Service, police, fire) or non-governmental (e.g., Red Cross, Salvation Army, service clubs, community service organizations).
ARES operators may support served agency needs using their own amateur radio equipment and radio spectrum, or they may supplement served agency personnel using the served agency’s own equipment and procedures. In the latter case, necessary training will be provided by the served agency.
ARES’ work with community activities (parades, fairs, festivals, charity runs, bike rides, etc.) provide ARES operators excellent opportunities to polish their skills and test their equipment under a variety of conditions, so that in the event of an actual emergency the participants will know each other and will have confidence in their equipment, operating skills, and each other.
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Is amateur radio recognized as a resource by national relief organizations?
Many national organizations have formal agreements with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and other amateur radio groups including:
* Department of Homeland Security - Citizen Corps
* Federal Emergency Management Agency
* National Communications System
* Salvation Army
* National Weather Service
* Association of Public Safety Communications Officials
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What are some examples of emergencies involving amateur radio?
* February tornado outbreak - 2008
* Oregon storms - 2007
* Hurricanes Katrina and Rita - 2005
* Hurricanes Charlie, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne - 2004
* Severe weather in Virginia - May 2004
* Tornadoes in Illinois - April 2004
* Earthquake in Central California - December 2003
* Hurricane Isabel - September 2003
* Northeast power grid blackout - August 2003
* Midwest tornadoes - May 2003
* Space Shuttle Columbia recovery efforts - February 2003
* World Trade Center and Pentagon terrorist attacks - September 2001
* Tropical Storm Allison flooding in Texas and Louisiana - June 2001
* Fires in Los Alamos, New Mexico - May 2000
* Hurricane Floyd - September 1999
* Hurricane Mitch - November 1998
* 500-Year floods in North Dakota and Minnesota - April 1997
* Western floods - January 1997
* Hurricane Fran - September 1996
* TWA plane crash - July 1996
* Oklahoma City bombing - April 1995
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What is RACES?
The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) was established under the Federal Communications Commission Rules and Regulations, as part of the amateur radio service. The mission of RACES is to establish and maintain the leadership and organizational infrastructure necessary to provide amateur radio communications in support of emergency management entities throughout the United States and its territories.
RACES is employed during a variety of emergency/disaster situations where normal governmental communications systems have sustained damage or when additional communications are required or desired. Situations that RACES can be used include: natural disasters, technological disasters, civil disorder, nuclear/chemical incidents, acts of terrorism or enemy attack.
Through its courses and programs, USRACES.org serves as the national focal point for the development and delivery of emergency communications training and publications to enhance the Emergency Support Function 2 - Communications capabilities of federal, state, and local governments, volunteer organizations, and the public and private sectors to minimize the impact of disasters on the American public.
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