If RACES is activated the Siskiyou County RACES/ACS Officer will notify those operators in his/her district. Your RACES/ACS OFFICER may call or announce on the radio of activation. You may be asked to fill a need or stand-by. Be prepared. Information will be passed on as it becomes available. It is important that operators monitor the prearranged district staffing nets when a RACES activation is pending.

Upon activation, Siskiyou County OES will issue a request and incident number. This number insures Workers’ Compensation coverage and is our official license to activate. This number must be on all documents.

The RACES/ACS OFFICER or his/her designate perceives the need for a possible RACES activation. The RACES/ACS OFFICER will either place members on alert or initiate an actual activation. Upon alert or activation the RACES/ACS OFFICER will advise the appropriate OES Official, and proceed, as the RACES/ACS OFFICER deems necessary. Either the RACES/ACS OFFICER or the OES Official will obtain the incident number/request number for the activation. The two parties will agree upon the individual requesting the number.

The RACES/ACS OFFICER or his/her designate is notified by OES Official, or RACES leadership to place members on alert or initiate activation. The RACES/ACS OFFICER will receive the incident and request numbers at the time of contact and proceed as requested. This number must be on all documents.

The served agency may request RACES support through Siskiyou County OES or the local RACES/ACS OFFICER.

RACES primary reporting agency is Siskiyou County OES. RACES is available to support all governmental agencies, as well as non-governmental agencies, such as the American Red Cross, Search and Rescue Groups, Salvation Army, etc. RACES is not available to support commercial endeavors except in the event of a declared emergency or disaster, and then, only in a disaster-support role.

RACES activities have included:

Each net operation will be under the supervision and control of an experienced RACES member. RACES’ nets are directed nets and traffic will be limited to the mission requirements. In disasters of extended magnitude, operations will be activated so that a data collection net is established in each district. No individual station operator will participate in a net, a band, or type of operation outside the class of his/her license unless under the direct supervision of a licensed operator in the class of operation being conducted.

All Nets will be conducted on the Siskiyou County Amateur Radio Association (SCARA) Repeater System.

If the Repeater is down we will use Simplex on the output frequency.

A long sleeved shirt will be worn. Only RACES patch’s will be worn. No other patches/emblems may be worn.

The RACES ID Card is to be attached by a suitable clip to the front of the shirt, preferably to the left breast shirt pocket.

Trousers will be full length (no shorts or cutoffs).

All RACES Members will wear proper clothing to protect them from the cold, rain or snow.

Shoes or boots appropriate for your assignment. 'Athletic style' shoes (i.e. running shoes) should not be worn.

Suitable head protection will be worn (appropriated for assignment).

The following is a list of equipment that should serve the RACES operator in a variety of assignments.

In some cases you will be asked to stand-by on the frequency, as operators may not be needed immediately. Be sure to continue to monitor the frequency until the net is shut down, or you are sure that there will be no further need for operators.

Make every reasonable effort to never go 'solo' on a field assignment

When you are called to serve make sure that you present yourself in an organized, professional manner. Listen more than you speak, and become familiar with how your served agency operates. Check to see if your transmissions are interfering with nearby conversation.
There will be a de-briefing some time after the mission is completed.

Remember, you are required to think on your feet, but you are not a maker of policy. Be prepared to facilitate communication be it on the cell phone, fax machine or amateur radio.