Introduction: The Will County Emergency Management Agency, in conjunction with amateur radio operators from Plainfield, Bolingbrook and Joliet, established the Will County Amateur Radio Emergency Service^® in June, 2002 to provide auxillary communication in the event of an emergency in the County of Will, Illinois. At that time Rob Sobkoviak, K9NYO (ex. N9AJA), Will County Emergency Coordinator for Illinois ARES^®, was named RACES Officer of the Will County EMA. WCARES is a part of the structure of the American Radio Relay League's emergency communications organization called the Amateur Radio Emergency Service^®. Individual ARES^® units are located in communities in Will County and led by Assistant Emergency Coordinators. WCARES provides communication at several area events in training for emergencies. In addition, on-air training nets are held and members are trained in emergency communication and weather-spotting. WCARES is an integral part of the SKYWARN weather spotting program of the National Weather Service. In October, 2002, Illinois Section leadership recommended that WCARES offer primary assistance to the National Weather Service Chicago Forecast Office at the NOAA office at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois. During severe weather events in Northern Illinois, this station is manned by ham operators from Will County, though the station is not operated by WCARES. In February, 2005, N9UEB became the new Emergency Coordinator for Will County.

What is RACES?: The Title 47 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 97, Subpart E, § 97.407 providing for Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) allows an official with a local emergency management agency to appoint an amateur radio operator of at least General class as RACES Officer for that emergency management agency. In June, 2002, Robert Sobkoviak, K9NYO (ex. N9AJA), was appointed as Will County Emergency Management Agency's RACES Officer by WCEMA Deputy Chief Harold Damron. WCEMA further authorized Plainfield Radio League station WW9AE to operate as Will County's RACES station. In January, 2005, Tim Smith, N9UEB, joined the Will County EMA to eventually take over as RACES Officer.

What is ARES^®?: The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES^®) is the emergency communications branch of the American Radio Relay League, the national organization for amateur radio in the United States of America. Any amateur radio operator, whether a member of the ARRL or not, can become a member of ARES^®. On May 15, 2002, Rob Sobkoviak, K9NYO (ex. N9AJA), was appointed Illinois ARES^® Emergency Coordinator for Will County by then-ARRL Illinois Section Manager Bruce Boston, KD9UL on the recommendation of then-ARRL Illinois Section Emergency Coordinator Bob Hajek, W9QBH. Sobkoviak's appointment was ratified by the current ARRL Illinois Section Manager Shari Harlan, N9SH and the current ARRL Illinois Section Emergency Coordinator Pat Ryan, KC6VVT. In February, 2005, Tim Smith, N9UEB, became the new Emergency Coordinator for Will County so that K9NYO could concentrate on duties as the Northeast District Emergency Coordinator (DEC).

How did Will County ARES^® come into being?: Will County ARES^® (and RACES) is the result of the combined efforts of Rob Sobkoviak, K9NYO (ex N9AJA), Roger Bonuchi, AC9Y (ex WB9JXE), Will County Assistance Emergency Coordinator for Plainfield (and RACES Officer of the Plainfield Emergency Management Agency) and Harold Damron, N9SAM, Deputy Chief Director of the Will County Emergency Management Agency.

When does Will County ARES^® assist? WCARES exists to provide emergency mobilization of area amateur radio operators. WCARES personnel have provided communications during "fun-runs", parades and other area events. This allows them to train in tactical communications as well as provide communications in case of medical emergencies or other problems during an event. WCARES can be called out at the discretion of Will County ARES^® Emergency Coordinator Tim Smith, N9UEB. Generally this happens on the recommendation of Will County EMA directors or upon the request of the National Weather Service. Will County RACES may only be activated by directors of the Will County EMA.

Why does Will County ARES^® Assist?: In times of emergency such as a natural disasters, chemical spills, large-scale traffic accidents or even a terrorist attack, the usual public service communications channels become stressed or overloaded with emergency communications by fire, police, ambulance, EMA/ESDA and other agencies. WCARES personnel are always at the ready with their own equipment and supplies to provide emergency communications aid on amateur radio frequencies. Amateur radio operators provide the ability to quickly and efficiently set up communications "nets" locally, state-wide, nation-wide or world-wide that run on portable and emergency power. This was witnessed locally on August 28, 1990 when the worst tornado in Illinois' recorded history, an F5 twister, hit Plainfield, Illinois and amateur radio operators arrived on scene in a matter of minutes to assist. In addition to each ham operator who left his job or family and came to assist Plainfield, particular thanks go to the Wheaton Community Radio Amateurs and the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network.

Membership / Participation: To be a member of Will County RACES, one must be a licensed amateur radio operator interested in emergency communication and a member of the Will County Emergency Management Agency. To be a RACES Disaster Worker, one must be a licensed amateur radio operator interested in emergency communication and register his/her name and contact information with WCEMA through RACES. To be a member of Will County ARES^®, one must be a licensed amateur radio operator interested in emergency communication and committed to training in emergency communication.

Potential RACES/ARES^® members or workers should be interested in being trained and certified in emergency communication as well as emergency preparedness. All RACES/ARES^® personnel furnish their own communications equipment and supplies and report directly to county EMA leadership via the Will County Emergency Coordinator and RACES Officer.

Will County ARES^® holds training nets on the 444.550 MHz WW9AE/R repeater located in Joliet, Illinois. This repeater is licensed to the Plainfield Radio League amateur radio club in cooperation with the Will County Emergency Management Agency. The repeater uses an input of 449.550 MHz with a 114.8 Hz CTCSS tone required. The repeater output is on 444.550 MHz and has excellent area coverage. This repeater is available for regular amateur usage, although all operators should yield to emergency traffic.

For more information about RACES, see the national RACES web site. For more information about ARES^®, see the ARRL's ARES^® web page or send an e-mail to willctyares@yahoo.com.