97.401 Operation during a disaster.
(a) When normal communication systems are overloaded, damaged or disrupted because a disaster has occurred, or is likely to occur, in an
(b) area where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC, an amateur station may make transmissions necessary to meet essential
(c) communication needs and facilitate relief actions.
(b) when normal communication systems are overloaded, damaged or disrupted because a natural disaster has occurred, or is likely to occur, in an area where the amateur service is not regulated by the FCC, a station assisting in meeting essential communication needs and facilitating relief actions may do so only in accord with ITU Resolution No.640 (Geneva, 1979). The 80 m, 75 m, 40 m, 30 m, 20 m, 17 m, 15 m, 12 m, and 2 m bands may be used for these purposes.
(d) when a disaster disrupts normal communication systems in a particular area, the FCC may declare a temporary state of communication
(e) emergency. The declaration will set forth any special conditions and special rules to be observed by stations during the communication
(f) emergency.
RACES is a volunteer communications arm controlled by regional, state and county Emergency Management Agencies.