Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about the Amateur Radio Emergency Service
What do Amateur Radio
operators do during and after disasters?
Amateur Radio
operators set up and operate organized communication networks locally for
governmental and emergency officials, as well as non-commercial communication
for private citizens affected by the disaster.
Amateur Radio operators are most likely to be active after disasters
that damage regular lines of communications due to power outages and
destruction of telephone lines.
How do Amateur Radio
operators help local officials?
Many radio amateurs
are active as communications volunteers with local public safety organizations.
In addition, in some disasters, radio frequencies are not coordinated among
relief officials and Amateur Radio operators step in to coordinate
communication when radio towers and other elements in the communications
infrastructure are damaged.
What are the major
Amateur Radio emergency organizations?
Amateur Radio
operators have informal and formal groups to coordinate communication during
emergencies. At the local level, hams
may participate in local emergency organizations, or organize local
"traffic nets" using VHF (very high frequencies) and UHF (ultra high
frequencies). At the state level, hams
are often involved with state emergency management operations. In addition,
hams operate at the national level through the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency
Service (RACES), which is coordinated through the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, and through the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), which is
coordinated through the American Radio Relay League and its field
volunteers. In addition, in areas that
are prone to tornadoes and hurricanes many hams are involved in Skywarn,
operating under the National Weather Service.
Is Amateur Radio
recognized as a resource by national relief organizations?
Many national
organizations have formal agreements with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service
and other Amateur Radio groups including: