Mission

When requested and based on availability, we deploy teams that provide backup Roane County voice and data emergency communications (EmComm) via radio in support of the following served agencies (not in priority order - depends on emergency).  Each served agency below is assigned a separate Roane EmComm Team.  Openings are available as the Team Chief or member of each served agency EmComm Team. See this webpage for detailed Served Agency and other info.

Who We Are

• Many Roane Amateur Radio Club (Roane ARC) members and other area hams volunteer to provide emergency radio communications (EmComm) support.
  
• All EmComm team members are licensed amateur radio operators and are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission.
  

Operations

• Each Roane EmComm Team supports its assigned served agency primarily using the Roane ARC's VHF repeater system at 147.105+ MHz (107.2 Hz CTCSS).
• Simplex VHF or UHF communications are used when links can be established.
• The Teams support the county via dispatch in accordance with priorities set by the Director, Office of Emergency Services.
  
• During emergencies, selected team members may serve as Net Control Operators in coordination with the Roane County Emergency Operations Center at the Roane 911 Center.
• A link with the State EOC is normally done via HF radio.  The Roane EOC does not have an HF transceiver, so a mobile HF station would need to be set up until that time, or a relay could be established via the repeater with a home station.  Depending on radio wave propagation, contact could also be made via VHF repeaters in Charleston.
• The following slide depicts the general emergency support timelines for most emergencies.  (Courtesy of the 2010 Dayton Hamvention FCC briefing by Curt Bartholomew, N3GQ, Subject: Volunteer Emergency Communicators: What Are Your Issues?)
  

Current Status (as of January 2025)

• The Roane EmComm Teams concept was established in August 2025 with one to five available responders (depending on emergency).
• Among the fifteen organizational EmComm teams listed above, only the EOC team can be supported at this time.  However, ham operators normally volunteer when needed and requested.  There are 62 FCC-licensed hams in Roane County, of which 38 reside in Spencer.  We will be reaching out to them via snail mail, as we do not have other contact information like email or phone numbers.
  
• As members officially join each EmComm team, we will update this website.

Upcoming Events

• The Roane Amateur Radio Club Wednesday Night Nets at 8:00PM: 147.105 MHz, CTSS 107.2 (open to all amateur radio operators)
  
• Social Gatherings: Second Monthly Thursdays at 6 PM at Spencer's Gino's Restaurant (open to everyone interested)
  

Team Staffing Openings and Requirements

All Roane EmCommTeams are overall led by the Roane County ARES Emergency Coordinator and RACES Officer (EC/RO), who in turn reports to the Roane County Director of Emergency Services; the latter reporting to the Roane County Board of Commissioners.

Participation varies depending upon each individual's preferences. The categories below are not exclusive of each other; but some require background checks, some require specific training, etc. The first four categories are usually activated when severe weather has struck or is about to strike the county – e.g., tornadoes, hurricanes, snowstorms, etc. – or when the county is staffing the EOC to support a major scheduled county event such as the annual Black Walnut Festival. The last category (engineering) involves more configuration and preparation, versus a response mission.

• EOC Staffing. (EOC EmComm Team) This category involves staffing the County EOC, when needed. This category requires a simple background check (for EOC access) and certain FEMA courses (e.g., ICS-100, 200, 700, 800) since the operator will be integrated into the Incident Management System.

• Served Agency Support.  (Served Agency EmComm Team) Each one of the fifteen served agencies listed above will have its own dedicated Roane EmComm Team and Team Chief.
  

• Shelter Staffing. (Shelter EmComm Team) This category involves staffing a county reception center and/or shelter. This category requires a background check, since the operators will be given unescorted access within the designated reception center and/or shelter, and will be working with county residents of all ages. Shelters are normally set up by the American Red Cross.
  

• Neighborhood Support. (Neighborhood or Community EmComm Team) This category involves supporting inside your neighborhood, reporting back to the EOC or other EmComm teams what you see, what you need, Health & Welfare messages, etc.

• RF Engineering Support. (RF Engineering EmComm Team) This category involves engineering, installing, and maintaining our ham radio infrastructure and equipment. Examples include maintaining our radios and antennas within the EOC (TBD), Emergency Management Vehicle (EMV)(TBD), deployment kits (TBD), maintaining our software and ham specific IT infrastructure, etc.

Experience has proven that radio operators respond more capably in times of emergency when they have practiced in an organized group and have been certified in certain Emergency Communications skills. There is no substitute for experience gained before the need arises. Registration does not require possession of any specially designed equipment. All communicators can be of assistance to the local emergency manager, regardless of class of license, equipment owned, or personal circumstances.

Future Capabilities

We are in the planning stage to incorporate the following services:

• ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) a national service of the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL.org)
• RACES (Amateur Radio Civil Emergency Service)
  
• National Traffic System (NTS) NTS2
• CERT Community Emergency Response Team CERT Basic Training Manual
  
• Skywarn
  
• Winlink email over radio - on HF locally
  
• SHARES (Shared Resources) - a DHS program primarily on HF
  
• MARS (Military Auxilliary Radio System) - primary on HF
  
• SATERN - (Salvation Army Emergency Radio Network)
• Civil Air Patrol
• REACT (Radio Emergency Associated Communications Teams)
• Neighborhood HamWatch
• Adventist Disaster Relief Agency
  
• The Salvation Army
  
• FNARS - FEMA National Radio System: FNARS involves amateur radio operators who provide critical support in EmComm. It is a nationwide high frequency (HF) automatic link establishment (ALE) network. I helped them get their FCC callsigns.
  
• AuxComm Provides position types and training to help provide all-inclusive emergency communicators to EOCs and public safety. Not technically an organization. I helped edit the training courses.  Includes the AUXC, COMT, and COML positions in the ICS COMU.
  
• FRS, GMRS, MURS, and CB: With the increase in power authorized for FRS & GMRS to 2 watts and the addition of FM to CB, we need to re-analyze the utility of FRS, GMRS, MURS, and CB in neighborhoods to relay info to the EOC. (Thanks to Robert, KA4VNK)
• Addition of a LPFM/AM emergency radio station or another 2m repeater ($)
  

• Other emergency radio services as time permits

Our Wish List

1. Roane County government incentives for recruiting Roane EmComm Team members.
   
2. At least two ham radio-equipped responders for each served agency in Roane County, one of which is a Team Chief.
• There are 15 served agencies in Roane County that each need an EmComm team
3. At least two ham radio-equipped responders for each community in Roane County.
• City of Spencer and Reedy Town
• 75 Roane County Communities: Allentown, Alvord, Amma, Antioch, Barrs, Bartlett Addition, Billings, Bowers Hill, Bright, Campbell , Addition, Cicerone, Clarence, Clio, Clover, Cotton, Countsville, Depue, Doddtown, Dukes, East Meadows, Elana, Flatfork, Flint Town, Gandeeville, Geneva, Grace, Graux, Green Acres, Harley, Harmony, Hassock Addition, Holswade Addition, Kettle, Lattimer, Leaning Oak, Linden, Liverpool, Looneyville, Millard, Moore, Morford, Morning Star, Mount Hope, Mount Olive, Mount Welcome, Nancy Run, Newton, Osbornes Mills, Otto, Peniel, Pigeon, Quiet Vale, Red Knob, Reedyville, Roxalana, Rushville, Ryan, Sandy Summit, Schilling, Schilling Addition, Schoolhouse Hill Addition, Seaman, Speed, Stringtown, Sunflower, Triplett, Tristan, Uler, Vandalia, Vicars, Wallback, Walnut Grove, Walton, Wellington, and Zona.
  
4. A second county-level two-meter repeater system dedicated to emergency communications and mutual assistance. (A new Yaesu Fusion 2 meter/70 cm repeater is awaiting frequency pairs.)
   
5. A packet radio (AX.25) bulletin board system (BBS) on a VHF and HF frequency independent of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and celluar carriers (in development).
   
6. Hams to staff a Roane County mutual assistance EmComm team to assist surrounding counties when needed.
7. A Roane County EmComm response vehicle, such as a repurposed retired ambulance or 4x4 vehicle.
   

More Information

• A brochure is available (See the downloadable PDFs at the top of this webpage).
  
• EmComm plans, an ID card, a frequency card, training, licensing, certifications, recognition certificates, and other documentation are available to registered team members.
• To donate, join a team, or to obtain more information please contact Bart, N3GQ, ARES Emergency Coordinator and RACES Radio Officer for Roane County at [email protected], text 3047860871, or call on the Roane ARC repeater at 147.105 MHz, PL 107.2 Hz (monitored most hours of the day).
  

WV Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) District Map:
Roane County is in District 3 below:
Roane County is in Region I
(below per the WV Interoperability Communications Field Operating Guide [WVFOG] Version 2.1, November 2020)

See also the current 2025 NIFOG for more emergency frequencies (page 103 for amateur radio emergency frequencies) which Ross Merlin, WA2WDT, an old friend, created.