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Amateur Radio Emergency Service®
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)® is a program developed by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL)®, LLC, located in Newington, CT. The program is managed by Emergency Coordinators appointed by the ARRL and consists of FCC licensed Amateur Radio Operators who have volunteered and registered their skills, training and radio equipment for use during an emergency or disaster situation.
ARES has “Memorandums of Understanding” with local, state and federal disaster response agencies and provides communication services during disasters or other incidents that have overloaded or destroyed the local communication infrastructure. These agencies include the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), Greene County Sheriff’s Office and Office of Emergency Management, the American Red Cross, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and many others.
ARES team members are also members of the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) of Virginia and are trained in many modes of radio operation. ARES maintains a radio room at the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, but can set up and provide emergency communications wherever it is needed. They are capable of providing their own electrical power, shelter, food, water, etc.
You must have an Amateur Radio License from the FCC to be an ARES team member. If you are interested in joining ARES, please feel free to contact Steve Bowman at ec@aresgcva.us for more information.
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)® and American Radio Relay League (ARRL)® are registered trademarks of the American Radio Relay League, LLC, located in Newington, CT.