The Role of Amateur Radio in Emergencies

When hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, and other disasters strike, modern communication infrastructure is often among the first casualties. Cell towers go down, internet connections fail, and emergency services can find themselves operating blind. This is where amateur radio operators have historically stepped up — providing reliable, self-powered, independent communication when everything else fails.

Two primary organizations coordinate these efforts in the United States: ARES and RACES.

What Is ARES?

ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) is a program organized by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). It consists of licensed amateur radio operators who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service. ARES groups operate at the local, county, and section level.

ARES groups may provide support to:

  • Local emergency management agencies
  • The American Red Cross during disaster relief operations
  • Hospitals and medical facilities needing backup communications
  • Public service events like marathons, parades, and bike races
  • Search and rescue operations

ARES membership is open to any licensed amateur radio operator. No special endorsement is required, though many groups encourage members to complete FEMA's NIMS/ICS training courses to integrate smoothly with professional emergency responders.

What Is RACES?

RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) is a federally established program administered by local, county, and state civil defense or emergency management agencies. Unlike ARES, RACES operators are registered with a government agency and operate under specific FCC rules that apply during declared emergencies.

Key distinctions of RACES:

  • RACES operators must be enrolled with a civil defense agency
  • During certain declared emergencies, RACES may be the only amateur radio operation permitted on specific frequencies
  • RACES focuses specifically on government and civil defense communication needs

In practice, many amateur radio operators are members of both ARES and RACES, allowing them to serve in either capacity as situations demand.

Recent Examples of Ham Radio Emergency Operations

Amateur radio has proven its value in real-world emergencies time and again:

  • During Hurricane Maria (2017), Puerto Rico's entire telecommunications infrastructure was devastated. Ham radio operators provided critical health-and-welfare message traffic for weeks.
  • The 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California saw amateur operators coordinate evacuation information when phone lines were overwhelmed.
  • Amateur operators regularly support SKYWARN — the National Weather Service's network of trained weather spotters who report severe weather in real time.

How to Get Involved

Getting involved in emergency communications as a ham operator is straightforward:

  1. Get licensed — A Technician license is the minimum requirement. A General or Extra class license expands your capabilities.
  2. Find your local ARES group — Use the ARRL's online section and club finder to locate your local Emergency Coordinator (EC).
  3. Register with your county emergency management office for RACES enrollment
  4. Complete ICS/NIMS training — FEMA's free online courses (IS-100, IS-200, IS-700) are standard for emergency communicators
  5. Attend ARES nets and drills — Regular practice keeps skills sharp and builds relationships with served agencies

Equipment for EmComm

Effective emergency communication often means operating without commercial power. Recommended EmComm equipment includes:

  • A dual-band HT with extended battery or external battery pack
  • A portable HF transceiver (such as the Icom IC-7300 or Yaesu FT-891) for reaching distant EOCs
  • A portable power station or deep-cycle battery with solar charging capability
  • A go-bag with all cables, headsets, logs, and reference materials pre-packed

A Community Worth Joining

Emergency communications is one of the most meaningful ways to use your amateur radio license. Beyond the technical skills, it builds community, strengthens local emergency preparedness, and demonstrates the ongoing value of amateur radio to the public and to regulators. If you're looking for a reason to upgrade your license and expand your station — this is a compelling one.