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Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES)
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The RACES and ARES endeavors are the civil defense and peace time emergency response sides respectively of the Amateur Radio Relay League. The ARES/RACES network operates on amateur radio frequencies by authority of the FCC in support of emergency communications operations. ARES/RACES can augment existing public radio systems, substitute for damaged or inoperable systems, e.g. cellular phones, and establish communications links with otherwise inaccessible areas. ARES/RACES capabilities also include the transmission of data and video signals by means of sophisticated communications relays and data processing equipment. County OES has an Auxiliary Communications Support Officer (ACSO) assigned and who functions as the Area RACES Coordinator, with a contingent of locally based volunteers throughout the operational area. Monterey County maintains a separate ARES/RACES capabilities including multi-channel radios and Packet, digital, transmitted electronic systems. In addition, several cities and public non‑profit organizations within the county maintain similar ARES/RACES communications capabilities. These are highly dynamic capabilities provided by skilled volunteers. Capabilities included multi‑channel amateur radios and radio transmitted electronic data systems. All ARES/RACES volunteers serve as Disaster Service Workers, when officially activated. Several cities have well established amateur radio organizations assigned to support their local EOC operations. When the EOC is activated, local ARES/RACES networks coordinate with the RACES Coordinator stationed at the EOC. |
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