ARES and RACES Emergency Communications Procedures Training LINCOLN COUNTY ARES / RACES PROGRAM

RACES RADIO AMEMATEUR CIVIL EMERGENCY SERVICE Managed by Local or State Government

ARES Amateur Radio Emergency Service Managed by American Radio Relay League

ARES ARES stands for Amateur Radio Emergency Service This is a program of Ham Radio Operators that provide Public Service and Emergency / Disaster Radio Communications This program is managed by the ARRL, American Radio Relay League

RACES RACES stands for Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service and is a special part of the Amateur Radio Service developed by FEMA and is a program managed by Local or State Governments. In a time of War, The Amateur Service may be suspended, but RACES may still operate.

ARES / RACES We are Volunteers, but in our actions as Emergency Communicators we must act as Professionals. We are only providing Communications between Point A, B and C. That is our purpose.

RACES Operators will have a background check done prior to membership approval. Under normal conditions only RACES cleared Operators may work in any EOC.

ARES / RACES If the operation is not under RACES but under ARES, this still may hold true. Do not report for EOC duty unless requested by the EOC staff.

ARES / RACES Incident Manager Logistics LeaderFinance LeaderAdministration Leader Communications Unit Leader Public Safety Communications ARES / RACES Communications Operations Leader

ARES / RACES If you are Performing a Dual Role, You must decide on a Priority for your duty. Even when working under Dual Role, your Communications Messaging Requires you to send and receive EVERY Message with Total Accuracy.

ARES / RACES When you first arrive at an assignment you should check in with the Faculty Manager, Then you should check into your assigned radio network, with a status report. Do not leave your Duty Assignment, without clearing your departure with both the Facility Manager and the Net Control Station.

ARES / RACES If your duty is for an extended period, you should insure that the NCS knows that you expect to be relieved by a Replacement Operator. Make sure you have all your own needs provided for during your tour of duty, this includes any medications or special meals that you may need. Tours of duty can get extended, so plan for that as well.

ARES / RACES You should be able to operate without any extra gear. Even if you are told gear will be provided, bring your own. This will cover any failure or equipment that may not be readily operated by unfamiliar Operators.

ARES / RACES Your are supporting an Emergency / Disaster Event as an Asset. Do not become part of the problems they must solve. Be as self sufficient as possible.

ARES / RACES If your are traveling to a remote area and some facilities are to be provided, Bring your own supplies as sometimes other events may cause a loss of facilities that were planned for your use. This is true of everything you may use or need. BRING what you NEED with you.

ARES / RACES Bring AA Batteries and Battery Holders for each portable item you need power for. There may or may not be Power to Charge your Re-Chargeable Batteries at the Event. As you leave make sure you have a supply of AA Batteries for ALL your needs.

ARES / RACES An older Hand Held Radio can be a great asset after its rechargeable batteries failed if you have one or two Alkaline Battery Holders for it. Any Hand Held Units you use at an event, should have such a battery holder with it.

ARES / RACES Don’t forget to have some extra cash on hand, as the ATM’s may not work. Don’t forget some paper or log sheets and pens for keeping records of your actions.

ARES / RACES A White LED Lamp is very useful for seeing what your doing and writing and uses very little power. Your duty may include time when things get very slow, so bring a book or some playing cards to help with any slow time.

ARES / RACES Training. One of the best training programs is the ARRL Emergency Communications Class Level I, II, or III. These are online and you can work at your own pace. You will be asked to plan for an event including your grab and go kit.

ARES / RACES If you bring fixed or mobile radios, bring a power source, portable antennas, operation book, coax, support poles, extra fuses, some tools and simple parts. Do not plan on using your car battery as a power source except for short emergency use. Using your car to recharge is poor planning.

ARES / RACES Field Day and any other time you want, is a great time to actually test and use your gear, before an actual event. This allows you to make sure everything works as you planned. NO SURPRISES.

ARES / RACES Make a Check List for deployment and use it before you leave. Set up Two Grab and Go Kits, One for short term use and, The second one for a deployment of at least 72 Hours under Tactical Conditions.

ARES / RACES Make sure your kits have your ID cards, telephone call lists and any other data you may need. Alerting. As soon as you become aware of a need, you should proceed with Alerting the Team,

ARES / RACES The first Alert Step should be to make a call on the Primary Repeater, announcing the situation fully. This alerts as many hams as are monitoring the repeater and getting them moving first, while you, Proceed with the normal call up procedures.

ARES / RACES Self Activation or Alert. This is a procedure where some event in the area alerts you to the fact an event is ongoing or about to become ongoing. This is a good time to Alert the rest of the team that an event is ongoing or is possible soon. A RACES team may not activate but may use an event for an early standby alert.

ARES / RACES An ARES team may Self Alert or Activate by just knowing an event is possible, but RACES must be activated by a Government Official with Authority to do so.

ARES / RACES One last very important item: YOU REQUIRE A SET OF HEADPHONES YOU REQUIRE A SET OF HEADPHONES YOU REQUIRE A SET OF HEADPHONES!

ARES / RACES If you do not have a SET OF HEADPHONES for each radio you plan to use, you are NOT fully READY. In an EOC or ICP Environment, there will be many radios operating at the same time and HEADPHONES are REQUIRED.

ARES / RACES If you are deployed else where, they may be needed for many reasons. Don’t be a noise polluter at an event, not to mention that some radio traffic should not be heard by everyone around you.

ARES / RACES In the US today there is only Three Ham Radio License Classes. TechnicianNo Morse Code 35 Questions on the Written Exam General 5 Word Per Minute Morse Code, another 35 Question Exam Amateur Extra Class 50 Question Exam

ARES / RACES You must hold or pass each lower level Exam prior to holding a higher class License. There is only one Morse Code Exam today. Each Written Exam covers more extensive material than the lower Exam level.

ARES / RACES This Presentation is NOT funded by any Public Funds from any Tax Source. For details on the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) or the Emergency Communications Classes noted herein, please go to

ARES / RACES I hope that this presentation has been helpful to you. For more information please contact: J. Rick Sohl, K5RIC or

ARES / RACES Handouts are available with the information provided in this presentation. Copyright 2004 and 2005 by J. Rick Sohl K5RIC. 73 from Rick