Georgia Section Introduction to the Amateur Radio Emergency Service Stan Edwards, WA4DYD, ASEC, Georgia Section ARES and Amateur Radio Emergency Service are service marks of the American Radio Relay League. Logo used by permission.

National Organization The Amateur Radio Emergency Service is part of Field Organization of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ARRL has established Memoranda of Understanding with: Dept. of Homeland Security, National Weather Service (NWS), National Communications System (NCS), Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO) American Red Cross, Salvation Army, REACT International (Radio Emergency Associated Communications Teams), Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE), National Association of Radio and Television Engineers (NARTE) 11/16/2018

Why ARES? Part 97 of FCC Rules & Regulations: “The rules and regulations … are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles: (a) 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. . . .” 11/16/2018

ARES Charter "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." -- ARRL Public Service Communications Manual

Why ARES? During disasters, commercial communications infrastructures can become damaged and/or overloaded – no exceptions Typical emergency services’ communications systems are also vulnerable Interagency communications, if existing, are vulnerable as well 11/16/2018

Coroner Schools EOC SO Utilities PD F&EMS Parks GEMA Red Cross Public Health Hospital Hospital Transportation Red Cross Coroner Schools EOC SO Utilities PD Corrections Municipality Municipality Municipality F&EMS Municipality Municipality Municipality Parks GEMA 11/16/2018

National Infrastructure Nationwide message handling system: National Traffic System – voice/digital Transcontinental, region and section networks with interconnecting liaisons Liaison between local and section networks for national relay New digital initiative specifically for ARES endorsed by ARRL Board of Directors 11/16/2018

Section Organization Section (Georgia) Manager (SM) elected by ARRL members of Section Section (Georgia) Emergency Coordinator (SEC) appointed by SM District Emergency Coordinators (DEC) appointed by SEC Local Emergency Coordinators (EC) appointed by DEC. SM – Susan Swiderski, AF4FO SEC – Mike Boatright, KO4WX DEC for Metro Atlanta – Steve Reynolds, W4CNG 11/16/2018

Section Organization 11/16/2018

Local ARES Organization Emergency Coordinator Assistant Emergency Coordinators Administration Business Management Digital Communications Logistics Mobile Communications Facility Net Manager and SKYWARN Recruiting and Retention Red Cross Liaison Response Teams Training 11/16/2018

Membership Open to any licensed Amateur Radio operator Today there are 1,120 ARES members in Georgia Membership varies county-to-county 11/16/2018

Mission: A primary responsibility of the Amateur Radio Service, as established by Part 97 of the Federal Communications Commission’s regulations, is the performance of public service communications for the general public, particularly in times of emergency when normal communications are not available. To that end, the Georgia Amateur Radio Emergency Service members, under the oversight of the American Radio Relay League, will equip themselves and train to provide communications as a direct service to the general public through government and relief agencies when requested by those agencies. 11/16/2018

Training ARRL Emergency Communications courses NWS SKYWARN training Local training Required training Operational training (nets, exercises) Section-wide training (nets, exercises) 11/16/2018

Operations Focus is on serving local agencies Every jurisdiction should have local support plans and operating guidelines Local net(s) Flexibility with frequency agility 11/16/2018

District/Section Operations A number of Districts have District-wide or regional nets. The Section supports Section-wide needs as may be requested by Section authorities such as GEMA. The Section supports local needs when assistance is needed. 11/16/2018

Activation SKYWARN warnings automatically cause spotter activation of ARES jurisdictions within the alerting area. Local as desired by Served Agencies – EMA, Red Cross, Public Health, etc. Based on plans developed in support of Served Agencies. 11/16/2018

Activation Section HF nets are normally activated in response to requests either by GEMA or a local EMA needing communications with GEMA. Section nets may be activated prior to an event based on Section-wide preparations, typically resulting when a disaster declaration is made by the Governor. 11/16/2018

In Summary During disasters, all communications infrastructures can become damaged and/or overloaded A primary responsibility of the Amateur Radio Service, as established by Part 97 of the Federal Communications Commission’s regulations, is the performance of public service communications for the general public, particularly in times of emergency when normal communications are not available. 11/16/2018

In Summary ARES is there to help alleviate the communications crunch that can occur during times of emergency. As Walter Cronkite said in a public service video for Amateur Radio, “When all else fails, Amateur Radio is there!” 11/16/2018

Questions? 11/16/2018

Website www.gaares.org 11/16/2018