ARES is a public service organization of the American Radio Relay League, consisting of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment to supply communications when disaster strikes or for public events, in the interest of informing amateurs and the general public concerning the operations and programs designed as a public service in times of emergencies and special events. ARES groups in all United States are dedicated to serving the communities in which we live, working hand in hand with the American Red Cross, local and state governments, and other nonprofit, community-service organizations. ARES provides emergency communications when all normal means of communications have failed due to storm damage or being jammed by overuse.