There are two important facets to being prepared

1.     Taking care of your family and home  
2.      Being ready to respond to an activation, if appropriate

    Each of these facets are important if you wish to be as effective as possible.  There may be times when responding to an activation to a remote location could be inappropriate.  That is a call which you alone can make.    It may well be that your community has already been devastated and that you feel a need to assist them.  As an amateur your ability to assist and your ability to provide communications may make the difference to your family and your neighbors.

    Proper preparation may require additional training.  We strongly urge that you seek some of the following training.

•     NIMS (National Incident Management System) Training is now expected for all persons responding to assist in a declared emergency.  It is expected that all responders will have taken these courses.  The specific instructions for getting this training below. 

•     First Aid training, as sponsored by the American Red Cross or another local entity.
•     CERT training as sponsored by the local Emergency Management Agency.
•     Training in message handling, as provided by your local ACES/RACES team, emergency management or your Section officials.
•     Training in emergency communications (EMCOMM)- as offered by the ARRL in their C-CE Courses. (The level 1 course is strongly advised for all who are truly interested in being effective in assisting the various agencies that can be served by EMCOMM.)  The referenced site also lists a number of other valuable courses.
•     Familiarizing your self with the Incident Command System now a standard for emergency responders.  (Once at the FEMA web site - click on Download the printed materials available online.)  The information at this site can be downloaded in segments.  It will provide a better understanding of the way emergency responder are expected to organize the response to an incident.
• Please notify your team leader when you finish a course and send an electronic copy of any certificates.