The Washtenaw County Amateur Radio Public Service Corps (ARPSC) coordinates amateur radio public service and emergency communications for Washtenaw County, Michigan. It acts as an umbrella organization of amateur radio operators working with local government and other groups to prepare for and carry out radio communications during an emergency, a large public event, or times of severe weather. To provide branding and name recognition, ARES, RACES, and Skywarn are the official capacities in which we work.

RACES

The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) provides emergency communications support to local or state civil-preparedness agencies during periods of local, regional or national civil emergencies. RACES operates under federal government control, and is coordinated locally by the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Division in association with the RACES Officer (RO). Washtenaw County has included RACES in their comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan that covers state, county and city units along with other agencies that will be required to manage a disaster. Certification in several FEMA Independent Study courses and completion of a background check is a requirement for participation. 

ARES

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) was developed by the Amateur Radio Relay League and provides for a system of licensed amateurs for various emergency and public service functions across the country. ARES activities are open to any amateur radio operator, and function under the rules of the ARRL and locally the Emergency Coordinator (EC).

Skywarn

Skywarn is a volunteer partnership established by the National Weather Service and advanced by local emergency managers across the nation that utilizes amateur radio operators who take additional severe weather detection training to report severe weather events as they happen and in real time. Any amateur radio operator wishing to participate in a Skywarn net must complete one of the Skywarn Training classes hosted annually by the Emergency Services Division or by the National Weather Service. Skywarn identification numbers are valid for two years, and will only be issued to those who have completed training hosted via the Emergency Services Division. Skywarn Nets are run out of the County EOC.

Hospital Emergency Amateur Radio Team (Region2South)

The mission of the Region 2 South hospital amateur radio team is to provide emergency communications for participating hospitals in the event of a catastrophic communications failure. Each licensed, amateur radio operator is a trained and vetted volunteer of the healthcare facility to which they are assigned and is also a recognized volunteer with the Washtenaw County Sheriff Emergency Services Division. If the facility experiences an internal or external communications failure the team can provide inter-facility communications and serve as a relay point to either the Region 2 South hospitals or the county emergency operations center (EOC) using the amateur radio. This team of volunteer, vetted, licensed, amateur radio operators may be activated in advance of severe weather events or in response to other emergencies or disasters by the individual healthcare facility to which they are assigned.

All Washtenaw County amateur operators are encouraged to enroll and get involved. Be sure to see the announcements for the latest news and the calendar for upcoming events.

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