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Amateur Radio and Public Service
By definition, Amateur Radio is a radio service, that is under the regulation of Federal Communications Commission, also known as the F.C.C. Ham Radio's purpose is to spread goodwill around the world through wireless communication, provide volunteer emergency communications in disasters, and maintain a pool of experienced and knowledgeable radio operators and electronics enthusiasts.
Ham radio and public service go hand and hand. Many organizations are associated with HAM radio. ARES, RACES, and SKYWARN are just a few that I'm associated with and you can be too.
What is ARES? Amateur Radio Emergency Services. 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.If you are interested in joining A.R.E.S. please contact Greg Branch the Burke County Emergency Coordinator at 828-850-4398, e-mail him at ki4gzd@hotmail.com or register online at http://www.bcares.net/register.html
What is RACES? Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
Founded in 1952, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency
Service (RACES) is a public service provided by a reserve (volunteer)
communications group within government agencies in times of
extraordinary need. During periods of RACES activation, certified
unpaid personnel are called upon to perform many tasks for the
government agencies they serve. Although the exact nature of each
activation will be different, the common thread is communications.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides planning
guidance and technical assistance for establishing a RACES
organization at the state and local government level.The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is responsible for the regulation of RACES operations. RACES is administrated by a local, county, or state civil defense agency responsible for disaster services. This civil defense agency is typically an emergency services or emergency management organization, sometimes within another agency such as police or fire. RACES is a function of the agency's Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS), sometimes known as DCS (Disaster Communications Service), ECS (Emergency Communications Service), ARPSC (Amateur Radio Public Service Corps), etc. Many ACS units identify themselves solely as RACES organizations, even though their communications functions and activities typically go beyond the restrictions of RACES operations. Other ACS units combine government RACES and non-government ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) activities and identify themselves as ARES/RACES organizations. Yet other ACS units who use amateur radio for emergency government communications identify themselves solely as ARES organizations, whether or not they activate under FCC RACES Rules.
If you are registered with A.R.E.S. you are automatically enrolled in RACES so join A.R.E.S. today and start serving your community. Register by clicking Here
So now you ask, what is SKYWARN? SKYWARN is the National Weather Service (NWS) program of trained volunteer severe weather spotters. SKYWARN Spotters support their local community and government by providing the NWS and there local emergency managers with timely and accurate severe weather reports. These reports, when integrated with modern NWS technology, are used to inform commmunities of the proper actions to take as severe weather threatens. For more information on SKYWARN Click Here