Escambia Co AL RACES

RACES develops and maintains their communications ability by training throughout the year with special exercises and public-service events. When that fateful day occurs,RACES will be there to meet the challenge. Founded in 1952, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a public service provided by a reserve (volunteer) communications group within government agencies in times of extraordinary need. During periods of RACES activation, certified unpaid personnel are called upon to perform many tasks for the government agencies they serve. Although the exact nature of each activation will be different, the common thread is communications. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is responsible for the regulation of RACES operations. RACES is administrated by a local, county, or state civil defense agency responsible for disaster services. This civil defense agency is typically an emergency services or emergency management organization. RACES and other reserve emergency communications functions, provides a pool of emergency communications personnel that can be called upon in time of need. RACES units across the country prepare themselves for the inevitable day when they will be called upon. When a local, county, or state government agency activates its EMCOMM, that unit will use its communications resources to meet whatever need that agency has. Traditional RACES operations involve emergency message handling on Amateur Radio Service frequencies. These operations typically involve messages between critical locations such as hospitals, emergency services, emergency shelters, and any other locations where communication is needed. These communications are handled in any mode available, with 2 meters FM being the most prevalent. During time of war, when the President exercises his War Emergency Powers, RACES might become the only communications allowed via amateur radio. For more information contact us via email or Facebook.