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How do I get involved?
Contact us and volunteer. You can be
of help to our client organizations by training in the disciplines
needed for appropriate communication. Training in Emergency Communications
BEFORE you are needed will help you develop the skills necessary
to be an effective ARES communicator. Our success in ARES depends
solely on the readiness and training of our participants.
How does Amateur Radio emergency communications compare with
Other Amateur Radio Activities?
Emergency communications uses basic skills and activities as a
foundation. Amateur Radio operators will find that much of emergency
communications borrows from existing aspects within our hobby. For
example, each operator is federally licensed after a period of study
and examination on varying levels of technical, operating and regulatory
knowledge. Each operator routinely uses that privilege to practice
and build upon the ability to communicate via radio. One uses general
operating practices to converse on repeaters and HF. National Traffic
System (NTS) practice offers skill sets for passing formal traffic
efficiently and accurately. Contesting emphasizes speed, listening
skills and endurance. Field Day offers the chance to practice operating
out of tents, handling radios powered by generators. Public Service
events let us practice flexible communications practices while walking
around serving a public event. These are some of the ways that regular
Amateur Radio activities resemble skills used for emergency communications.
Emergency communications builds upon and extends this foundation
in ways that normally do not occur in regular daily living, and
are present only during times of emergency or disaster.
Unlike public service events that are scheduled and planned
in advance, emergency communicators are often activated with little
or no previous warning to organize and coordinate field operations.
Unlike public service events where the communicators serve primarily
under the direction of one lead organization, emergency communicators
must handle several key organizations simultaneously.
Unlike NTS which may have one or two nets, emergency communicators
are often dealing with several nets simultaneously to pass messages
within a limited timeframe.
Unlike repeaters and tower installations, stations must
be portable and must be set up and operational in a matter of minutes
or at most, a couple of hours.
Unlike contesting which involves contacting any station
for points, emergency communicators are looking for specific stations
to contact now, to pass traffic. Teamwork, not competition between
stations, rules the day.
Unlike Field Day, where one can plan on a single 24- or
27-hour operation, emergency operations are likely to continue for
at least several days.
Unlike general Amateur Radio activities, emergency operations
happen in real-time. Things can't be delayed. Unlike general Amateur
Radio activities, which involve primarily Amateur Radio operators,
emergency communications involves both amateurs and non-amateurs
alike.
Unlike commercial communications solutions, where there
is no reserve for handling an instantaneously massive increase in
communications needs, emergency communicators have the equipment,
skill and knowledge to innovatively manufacture additional communications
capacity in very short order.
And, in all this, leadership, teamwork and initiative are
key factors to success. Simply put, Amateur Radio emergency communications
offers a very rich, challenging and rewarding environment to apply
Amateur Radio knowledge and skills in unique situations where no
one else has a viable solution. Amateur Radio operators that have
honed out the knowledge and skills have truly earned their certification.
During an event do your best to maintain a courteous, professional
image. You may be working with several agencies such as police,
fire, first aid squads, National Guard, etc. Extend every possible
courtesy to members of these groups. Make sure they know who you
are, and what your communications capabilities are. Remember we
are primarily there to communicate.
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