1. What is Amateur Radio and what can it do for you?

2. What is Amateur Radio? Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) is Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) is –a radio service licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) –established by the Federal Communications Commission as a voluntary, noncommercial communication service

3. The Amateur Radio Service is founded by the FCC under the following principles: The Amateur Radio Service is founded by the FCC under the following principles: –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 What is Amateur Radio?

4. –Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art –Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases of the art What is Amateur Radio?

5. –Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts –Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill What is Amateur Radio?

6. All amateur radio operators are licensed by the FCC after testing for their class of license All amateur radio operators are licensed by the FCC after testing for their class of license There have been amateur radio operators (or “Hams”) around since the beginnings of radio communications There have been amateur radio operators (or “Hams”) around since the beginnings of radio communications Amateur radio operators have been instrumental in the development and advancement of radio communications since its beginnings Amateur radio operators have been instrumental in the development and advancement of radio communications since its beginnings Currently, there are about 600,000 amateur radio operators licensed in the U.S. Currently, there are about 600,000 amateur radio operators licensed in the U.S. What is Amateur Radio?

7. Communications Emergencies During times of disaster During times of disaster –Normal means of communications can become overloaded or may not exist at all  Telephone lines may be down  Cell phone service may be overloaded or cell sites may be damaged or out of service  Internet and e-mail service may be disrupted  Normal radio communications links may become overloaded or disrupted

8. Some possible Maine disasters: Some possible Maine disasters: Communications Emergencies Any of these can disrupt or overload normal communications links

9. The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) was established in 1935 as the Amateur Radio Emergency Corps by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL – The National Association for Amateur Radio) and was later re-designated as the Amateur Radio Emergency Service The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) was established in 1935 as the Amateur Radio Emergency Corps by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL – The National Association for Amateur Radio) and was later re-designated as the Amateur Radio Emergency Service What is the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)?

10. ARES consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes 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 Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is eligible for membership in the ARES What is the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)?

11. The only qualification for membership in ARES, other than possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve in times of need The only qualification for membership in ARES, other than possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve in times of need Because ARES is an amateur service, only amateur radio operators are eligible for membership Because ARES is an amateur service, only amateur radio operators are eligible for membership What is the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)?

12. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership There are about 60,000 ARES members nationally who volunteer their communications skills and equipment during times of disaster There are about 60,000 ARES members nationally who volunteer their communications skills and equipment during times of disaster What is the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)?

13. ARES provides communications services to served agencies ARES provides communications services to served agencies –Who are these served agencies?  EMA  Public Safety Organizations  Disaster Relief Organizations  Hospitals What ARES Does

14. The Amateur Radio Emergency Service provides: The Amateur Radio Emergency Service provides: –Supplemental, backup communications to served agencies when  Normal means of communications are nonexistent  Normal means of communications are overloaded  When there is a need for communications between served agencies when it does not exist (interoperability) What ARES Does

15. It does this through: It does this through: –Voice (Tactical) communications  Both local, regional and long range communications (up to worldwide) –Data (Record) communications  Both local, regional and long range communications (up to worldwide) –Video communications  Local video broadcasts through amateur television What ARES Does

16. What types of messages ARES can handle: What types of messages ARES can handle: –Status or situation reports –Requests for logistics support –Messages between agencies –Health and Welfare messages What ARES Does

17. What types of messages ARES cannot handle: What types of messages ARES cannot handle: –Any message that requires encryption or is sensitive in nature  Casualty reports  Medical information that contains a patient’s personal information  Shelter resident lists (that contain sensitive information) What ARES Does

18. ARES provides it’s communications services ARES provides it’s communications services –During disasters –During drills and exercises –During planned public service events  Such as –Walk-a-thons –Bike rides –Foot races What ARES Does

19. Don’t let the word “amateur” in amateur radio confuse you Don’t let the word “amateur” in amateur radio confuse you –Amateur radio operators are professionals  Many work in the communications industry  They have to take tests to become licensed  They are trained in emergency communications techniques  They are trained in the Incident Command System and NIMS What ARES Does

20. In addition to not being able to handle sensitive messages, Amateur Radio cannot In addition to not being able to handle sensitive messages, Amateur Radio cannot –Handle normal day to day communications –Cannot handle communications for profit making organizations (in their business) This is due to FCC regulations regarding the Amateur Radio Service This is due to FCC regulations regarding the Amateur Radio Service What ARES Can’t Do

21. What to do before asking for ARES support What to do before asking for ARES support –Evaluate your needs  Do you have a communications emergency?  Are your communications overloaded or nonexistent? –Know what you need  What type of communication is needed?  How many radio operators do you need?  Where are they to be located?  How long will they be needed? Contacting ARES

22. What to do before asking for ARES support What to do before asking for ARES support –Request ARES Support  Through your county ARES Emergency Coordinator Contacting ARES

23. Things to remember Things to remember –ARES is a limited resource  There is not a “bottomless pit” of ARES members  ARES members will be dispatched on the basis of the greatest need  Do not request ARES support for potential locations –If those locations have working communications links –Exhaust or overload your own communications capabilities first –Please do not overstaff Contacting ARES

24. Things to remember Things to remember –ARES members are not first responders  ARES is a support organization  ARES members are volunteers  ARES members are not on call 24/7  It may take as long as 4 hours to fully mobilize ARES Contacting ARES

25. Things to remember Things to remember –ARES partners with served agencies  ARES does not become a part of your organization Contacting ARES

26. ARES would be happy to meet with you to discuss and evaluate your emergency communications needs ARES would be happy to meet with you to discuss and evaluate your emergency communications needs –What you have –How it could be improved –What you might need –How ARES could fill any shortfalls Additional ARES Support

27. ARES can offer licensing classes to train your staff in becoming amateur radio operators to further enhance your emergency communications capabilities ARES can offer licensing classes to train your staff in becoming amateur radio operators to further enhance your emergency communications capabilities ARES can present programs to your group on how to improve their existing communications capabilities ARES can present programs to your group on how to improve their existing communications capabilities Additional ARES Support

28. ARES can help you with your emergency communications needs ARES can help you with your emergency communications needs –During disasters –During drills or exercises –For planned public service events Additional ARES Support

29. For further information about ARES and how it can help you, contact: For further information about ARES and how it can help you, contact: Your county ARES Emergency Coordinator Additional ARES Support