ARES / RACES

ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service)

ARES consists of licensed amateurs who have registered their qualifications and equipment with local ARES leadership for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Training is usually required to fully participate. Only licensed radio amateurs are eligible for membership.

RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service)

RACES is an emergency radio service of licensed amateur radio operators who provide emergency communications to support state, county, or local emergency management authority. It is authorized by Part 97 Section 407 of the FCC rules and regulations governing amateur radio in the United States.

Difference between ARES and RACES

ARES is activated before, during and after an emergency.

RACES, on the other hand, almost never starts before an emergency. It is only active if government emergency management offices need communications support.

Not a Member of ARES?  

Interested in learning about ARES or just some of the topics we present?  Come to a meeting or check into the weekly net.  Visitors are welcome!

For more information about Anne Arundel County ARES, contact the EC at ka2jai@arrl.net or come to a monthly meeting.  To join ARES, fill out and send a registration form to ka2jai@arrl.net or give it to the EC at a monthly meeting. The registration form is located in the ARES/RACES Subpage by clicking on the down arrow to the left of ARES/RACES  in the main menu.