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ARES/RACES |
Green County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) Why HAM Radio? Ham radio operators have experimented with and advanced the radio art since the beginning of radio. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established Part 97 of their rules to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles: (a) 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. ... (d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians and electronics experts. Ham radio operators have their own equipment and frequencies that can supplement those of public service agencies in time of need. ARES What is It? The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) was created in 1935 by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) to provide any type of radio communications support to public service agencies such as the Red Cross and the National Weather Service (NWS). Charity events, such as runs and bike rides, serve to hone skills that are needed for emergency communications. RACES What is It? Established by the FCC in 1952, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) provides communications to government agencies in times of need. RACES is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). RACES operators meet and train regularly with government officials so that they can be an effective part of an emergency response. ARES/RACES in Wisconsin are the same organization and are both NIMS and ICS compliant. Who Can Participate? Any FCC licensed amateur radio operator, consistent with the privileges of your license may participate. All members must be registered. Please contact the Green County Emergency Coordinator, Scott Feldt, KC9YI, at gcec@tds.net for membership information and forms. Members are expected to demonstrate that they are capable of effective response by: > Taking the Introduction to Incident Command System, FEMA IS-100 course > Taking the National Incident Management System, FEMA IS-700 course (Click on the NIMS & FEMA button links above for course info and online testing) > Participating in at least 12 training nets annually (Expexted but not required) > Participate in at least one activation a year, such as SKYWARN, public service or drill > Attend at least one in-person meeting annually (Expexted but not required) > Contribute to the team > Attend SKYWARN training biannually > Sending at least one (simulated) National Traffic System radiogram (A background check may be required to serve in some facilities.) Green County Emergency Coordinator - Scott Feldt - KC9YI Assistant Emergency Coordinator - Chuck Christison - KB9WZM ARES/RACES net Sunday nights at 7:30 PM. 145.110 MHz. Net Control is Scott - KC9YI |
COMMUNICATING WITH WEM DURING AN EMERGENCY |
The Wisconsin ARES/RACES radio station at WEM is managed by Wisconsin ARES/RACES and is most appropriately documented on our web site: http://www.wi-aresraces.org/ at "WEM ARES/RACES Station Initial Communications Plan". The actual link is: http://www.wi-aresraces.org/Documents/Activation_App endix_D.pdf. Please link to this rather than copying the document, so that you will get changes as it is updated. Wisconsin ARES/RACES is a valued partner of WEM. ARES/RACES has access to the radios as needed and WEM is linked to our web site. I do need to clarify roles and responsibilities. While WEM and ARES/RACES discuss ways in which we can help each other and work together, the bottom line is that WEM is responsible for how they run their business; ARES/RACES is responsible for handling FCC Part 97 communications. This Appendix D is part of a larger plan describing how WEM will activate ARES/RACES. Details of that have not been finalized yet, so they aren't being posted at this time. The important point to realize is that if local emergency management needs to use ARES/RACES to communicate with WEM in Madison, Appendix D lists the initial frequencies and modes that will be monitored at WEM. As much as possible, the operators assigned to WEM will monitor those frequencies at home as a backup. Please be sure to leverage your DEC's in setting up the initial contact. Other frequencies and modes will probably be available and can be discussed once that initial contact is made. Likewise, as the needs and capabilities of Wisconsin ARES/RACES change, the initial frequencies and modes will be updated. |
Online Emergency Communications Course |
FEMA/DHS has just issued an online Emergency Communications course it is on External Affairs 15 how the feds will provide public information and community outreach community affairs legislative liaisons during a disaster/emergency. The course takes about an hour. There is a test (24 questions) and if you pass (it is fairly easy) you get a certificate sent back to you electronically usually within an hour of passing the exam. The course link is listed below. http://training.fema.gov/EMIWEB/IS/IS250.asp Course Description/Goal: This course provides basic training on the concept and practical application of the ESF 15 Standard Operating Procedures to support Federal domestic incidents requiring a coordinated Federal response. The course is designed for all External Affairs staff (Public Affairs, Office of Legislative Affairs, Community Relations, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Private Sector), regardless of duty station, as well as to staff in all other agency divisions and Federal, tribal, State, local and voluntary agency partners. |
WinLink Digital Traffic and Training Net. |
Just a reminder, Tuesdays at 9:00 pm is the WI ARES/RACES WinLink Digital Traffic and Training Net. Check in by sending a message with "Check in" and your City, or Town in the subject line to our net controller kb9mma-5@winlink.org. This is a good chance to check and see how your equipment performs with your local Telpac Node so give it a try. Here is a listing of current Telpac Nodes with cities; AA0KU-10 Webster, K9LUK-10 Watertown, K9UWS-10 Superior, KA9KJE-10 Burlington, KA9VHG-10 Janesville, KB9BYP-10 Appleton, KB9MMA-10 Racine, KB9MMC-10 Milwaukee, KB9ZPV-10 Genoa City, KC9DOA-10 Fond du Lac, KC9EOW-10 Racine, KC9KIC-10, Raymond, N9BYS-10 Burlington, N9LOH-10 Elkhorn, N9NTB-10 Sun Prairie, N9RGX-10, Racine, N9UDO-10 Baraboo, W9DK-10 Manitowoc, W9SM-9 Mosinee, W9WK-10 Milwaukee, W9YYZ-10 Lodi, WB9USI-10 Mount Pleasant, WC9AAG-10 Madison, WD9GWG-10 Osceola. If anyone is interested in becoming a net control operator please drop Jim (KB9MMA) a line. Check these two urls if you are interested in setting up a Winlink station: http://www.winlink.org/software http://kb9mmc.ath.cx:8080 |
Click on map above to link to a page for a large view of the Green County road map. A PDF file reader is required. This may load slowly depending on your connection speed. This is a printable map. |
A few pictures during the 2009 S.E.T. have been posted. Click HERE for those pictures. |
ORDER WISCONSIN ARES/RACES APPAREL HERE |
ORDER OFFICIAL ARRL ARES APPAREL HERE |
