The MARION AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE – MARES:
We are the Marion chapter of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service ® (ARES ® ) consisting of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is eligible to apply for membership in the ARES. Training may be required or desired to participate fully in ARES. Please inquire at the local level for specific information. Because ARES is an Amateur Radio service, only licensed radio amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership. The ARES organization has a hierarchical structure starting at the National Level, the Section Level, the District Level (optional), and the Local Level with Emergency Coordinators (EC’s) at each level. Within the various levels operations are typically carried out in team units. More information can be found at: http://www.arrl.org/chapter-1-ares
What Then Is RACES?:
RACES, administered by local, county and state emergency management agencies, and supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the United States government. It is a part of the Amateur Radio Service that provides radio communications for civil-preparedness purposes only, during periods of local, regional or national civil emergencies. These emergencies are not limited to war-related activities, but can include natural disasters such as fires, floods and earthquakes.
As defined in the rules, RACES is a radiocommunication service, conducted by volunteer licensed amateurs, designed to provide emergency communications to local or state civil-preparedness agencies. It is important to note that RACES operation is authorized by emergency management officials only, and this operation is strictly limited to official civil-preparedness activity in the event of an emergency-communications situation.
ARES and RACES:
After World War II, it became evident that the international situation was destined to be tense and the need for some civil-defense measures became apparent. Successive government agencies designated to head up such a program called on amateur representatives to participate.
In the discussions that followed, amateurs were interested in getting two points across: First, that Amateur Radio had a potential for and capability of playing a major role in this program; and second, that our participation should be in our own name, as an Amateur Radio Service, even if and after war should break out. These principles were included into the planning by the formulation of regulations creating a new branch of the amateur service, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service, RACES.
Recognition of the role of Amateur Radio as a public service means responsibility. RACES regulations are printed in full in the ARRL publication, The FCC Rules and Regulations for the Amateur Radio Service, along with the rest of the amateur regulations. Every amateur should study closely and become familiar with these rules; civil preparedness, now a major function, may become our only on-the-air function if we are plunged into war. More information can be found at: http://www.arrl.org/chapter-4-ares-and-races