OPERATING GUIDELINES

Responsibilities

In the event of a hurricane, or other county-wide emergencies, amateur radio operators shall be responsible for emergency communications (see definition for Emergency Communications), for the following, not in order of priority:

1. Evacuation assistance

2. Shelter operations

3. Special Care Facilities

4. North Broward Hospital District

Membership

Any licensed amateur radio operator meeting the current requirements is eligible for enrollment in RACES/ARES. Identification (RACES/ARES) The method used to identify RACES/ARES volunteers is the Broward County Emergency Management Division photo I.D.

DEFINITIONS

a. Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES): The volunteer radio communications division of the County Emergency Management Division.

b. Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES): A nationwide organization of radio amateurs organized by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).

c. Citizen Radio Emergency Workers (CREW): An organization of Citizen Band operators, trained to interface with RACES, ARES, NTS and municipal agencies to provide communications and support for emergency and public service activities.

d. American Radio Relay League (ARRL): The nationwide organization of amateur radio operators which coordinates amateur field services in the United States.

e. National Traffic System (NTS): A network the ARRL established for the passing of formal messages.

f. Military Affiliated Radio System (MARS): An organization of radio amateurs who provide auxiliary communications for the military.

g. RACES Officer (RO): Amateur radio operator appointed by the Broward County Emergency Management Division/Office of Information Technology as the leader of RACES in the Broward County RACES/ARES organization.

h. ARES Emergency Coordinator (EC): Amateur radio operator appointed by the ARRL as the leader of ARES in the Broward County RACES/ARES organization.