Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service

Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service

infobox Organization
name = Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service


image_border =
size = 169px
caption =


msize =
mcaption =
abbreviation = RACES
motto = "Emergency Communications Through Radio Amateur Operators"
formation = 1952
extinction =
type =
status =
purpose = Emergency communications
headquarters =
location =
region_served = USA
membership =
language =
leader_title =
leader_name =
main_organ =
affiliations =
num_staff =
budget =
website = http://www.usraces.org/
remarks =

The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a standby radio service provided for in Part 97.407 of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations governing amateur radio in the United States. [http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/news/part97/ "Part 97: Amateur Radio Service"] . From American Radio Relay League web site. Retrieved Feb. 15, 2008.]

The concept of a standby "Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service" to replace the conventional "Amateur Radio Service" during wartime was developed in 1952 as result of input from the American Radio Relay League and the Department of the Army's Office of Civil Defense. During World War II, the Amateur Radio Service had been silenced and a new War Emergency Radio Service (WERS) had to be created from scratch. The resulting standby RACES service was designed to provide a smoother transition in the event the President ever needed to silence the regular Amateur Radio Service again when invoking the War Powers Act. Ironically, despite four wars involving the United States since 1952, this has never happened.

Activation

When so activated, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service will consist of those amateur radio operators who have previously registered with State and local governments to provide emergency radio communications for them in times of emergency. Other amateur radio operations would be suspended and RACES operations might be restricted to certain frequencies within the amateur radio bands.

In addition to wartime communications, Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service operations can provide or supplement communications during emergencies where normal communication systems have sustained damage. It may be used in a wide variety of situations, including natural disasters, technological disasters, nuclear accidents, nuclear attack, terrorist incidents, and bomb threats.

Participation

In the past, actual RACES station licenses were also issued to civil defense organizations. To prevent abuse of station licenses by officials who weren't licensed amateur radio operators, limitations on the duration of non-emergency operation and stations that might be contacted were incorporated into part 97.407. Such RACES station licenses are no longer issued, and any RACES operations would now use licensed amateur radio operators as control operators.

In daily practice, most amateur radio operators enrolled with their local government for possible RACES operations are also members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, organized by the American Radio Relay League. ARES provides emergency communications on regular amateur radio frequencies without the need for an emergency declaration from the government.

See also

* Amateur Radio Emergency Service
* FNRASSEC in France.
* RAYNET in the United Kingdom.
* Military Affiliate Radio System
* SKYWARN
* Emergency management

References

External links

* [http://www.fema.gov/pdf/plan/slg101.pdf Current State/Local Guidance from FEMA. RACES is mentioned in the plan (issued after the CPG 1-15 document)]
* [http://www.qsl.net/n7fan/emcomm/2001/emc291.htm An interpretation of FEMA document CPG 1-15. This document is referenced by the SLG document from FEMA.]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service — Der Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service RACES ist eine Notfunk Organisationsplan für den Amateurfunkdienst in den USA. RACES ist nach einer Vorschrift der Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ein Standby Dienst . Das Konzept eines… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Amateur Radio Emergency Service — infobox Organization name = Amateur Radio Emergency Service image border = size = 125px caption = msize = 125px mcaption = abbreviation = ARES motto = formation = extinction = type = Non profit organization status = purpose = Emergency response… …   Wikipedia

  • Amateur Radio Emergency Communications — (AREC), formerly the Amateur Radio Emergency Corps , is a service provided by the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART) which provides trained radio communicators and communication systems for emergency situations.Mission… …   Wikipedia

  • Emergency service — Emergency services are organizations which ensure public safety by addressing different emergencies. Some agencies exist solely for addressing certain types of emergencies whilst others deal with ad hoc emergencies as part of their normal… …   Wikipedia

  • Amateur radio emergency communications — In times of crisis and natural disasters, Amateur radio is often used as a means of emergency communication when wireline, cell phones and other conventional means of communications fail. Unlike commercial systems, Amateur radio is not as… …   Wikipedia

  • Amateur radio licensing in the United States — In the United States, amateur radio licensing is governed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Licenses to operate an amateur stations for personal use are granted to individuals of any age, free of charge, once they demonstrate an… …   Wikipedia

  • American Radio Relay League — infobox Organization name = American Radio Relay League image border = size = 100px caption = msize = mcaption = abbreviation = ARRL motto = The National Association for Amateur Radio …   Wikipedia

  • War Emergency Radio Service — The War Emergency Radio Service (WERS) was a precursor to the civil defense and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service systems in the United States. At the start of the Second World War the United States Congress had suspended all amateur radio… …   Wikipedia

  • Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network — For information relating to the planet, please see Saturn. The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) is a network of amateur radio operators that provide emergency communications between Salvation Army posts, and pass messages with …   Wikipedia

  • Amateur radio — Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is both a hobby and a service in which participants, called hams, use various types of radio communications equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for public service, recreation and self training …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”