RACES
Warren County RACES
Information about the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service in Warren County, New York
Warren County RACES now has a Facebook Page
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.
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 in a process that took six months.
The resulting standby RACES service was designed to provide a quicker and smoother transition in the event the President ever needed to silence the regular Amateur Radio Service again when invoking the War Powers Act.
Description and Authority
RACES is an organization of Federal Communication Commission (FCC) licensed amateur radio operators who volunteer to provide radio communications for state and local governments during times of emergency. Created in 1952 primarily to serve in civil defense emergencies, RACES provides essential communications and warning links to supplement State and local government agencies during emergencies.
RACES is organized to provide emergency communications for civil preparedness purposes only. RACES is a special part of the amateur radio service sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and is conducted by amateur radio operators using their primary station licenses or by existing RACES stations. In the event that the President invokes the War Emergency Powers Act, amateur radio operators enrolled with their local emergency management offices would become limited to certain frequencies, while all other amateur operations would be silenced.
During an emergency, RACES is operated under the direct control of the local emergency management office, as authorized by the FCC and the Director of the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO).
RACES is authorized by Section 606 of the Communications Act of 1934 as amended by Part 97.407 of the Federal Communications Commission. A copy of FCC Part 97.407 can be found in Appendix I of this document. RACES guidance is also provided by FEMA document CPG1-15 March 1991.
NOTE: FCC rules, Part 97, still apply to all RACES stations and RACES operators participating in RACES operations.
RACES provides a pool of emergency communications personnel that can be called on in time of need. RACES groups across the country prepare themselves for the inevitable day when they will be called upon. When a local, state, or national government agency activates a RACES group, that RACES group will use its resources to meet whatever need that agency has.
Traditional RACES operations involve emergency message handling on Amateur Radio frequencies. These operations typically involve messages between critical locations such as hospitals, emergency services, emergency shelters, and any other locations where communication is needed. These communications are handled in any mode available, with 2 meters FM being the most prevalent.
Other tasks that RACES personnel are involved with may not involve Amateur Radio communications. For example, RACES communicators may become involved in public-safety or other government communications, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) staffing, and emergency equipment repair.
Whatever need arises, trained RACES personnel are ready and prepared to help. RACES groups develop and maintain their communications ability by training throughout the year with special exercises and public-service events. When that fateful day occurs, RACES will be there to meet the challenge.
Local units within RACES operate via local Amateur Radio frequencies and repeaters.
The New York State RACES SSB HF Net is operational Sunday mornings at 0900 on the frequency of 3993.5 kHz. LSB.
David Gealt, KD2BVA is the RACES Radio Officer for Warren County.
Derrick Helms, KD2ALW is the RACES Deputy Radio Officer for Warren County.
Click Here to Contact Warren County RACES
Jami Olden, N2ZTC is the RACES Radio Officer for Washington County.
Click Here to Contact Washington County RACES
RACES Info and Gear:
- link to RACES DOCUMENTS
- RACES/Volunteers - Warren County Office of Emergency Services
- Warren County RACES Membership Application Form
- Washington County RACES Membership Application Form
- Multicounty RACES check in Net Form - This net check in form should be filled out by all stations participating in W2WCR RACES Nets, Drills, and Activations on the W2WCR repeater system.
- Multicounty RACES Net script - This net script is used by RACES net control on the W2WCR repeater system for RACES Nets, Drills, and Activations
- NYS Homeland Security and Emergency Services - Interoperable and Emergency Communications - NYS RACES
- NY RACES Standard Operating Procedure
- VT state RACES
- FEMA CPG 1-15 March 1991 - Federal Emergency Management Agency, Civil Preparedness Guide 1-15 as reissued March 18 1991, Guidance For Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
- Communications Act of 1934 - RACES is authorized by Section 606 of the Communications Act of 1934 as amended by Part 97.407 of the Federal Communications Commission
- Please Log All RACES Volunteer Time Here
- It is strongly suggested that RACES members also join ARES
RACES Training:
- FEMA IS-100.b - Introduction to Incident Command System (ICS), ICS-100
- FEMA IS-700.a - National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Introduction
- FEMA IS-200.b - ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
- FEMA IS-800.B - National Response Framework, An Introduction
