RACES/ARES

[Brentbba]

Anyone here participate in their local RACES/ARES organizations?

Just got a letter from my local town Police Services doing a membership drive for this group in town. Disaster Preparedness, Ham Radio use, etc.

Considering checking it out since I'm not as active in Scouting as I used to be, but I've heard these groups when fully involved can be very demanding on your 'free' time.

 

[8comm13]

When I lived up in Crestline,CA I was active with the local RACES group. Back then it was run under the Shreiff Dept but right before I left the group it was switched over to the Fire Dept. I main reason I left was they required everyone to participate in a percentage of the drills. Problem was they always had the drills during the day when I was working and the company I worked for at the time did not like to give days off. Check them out by talking to some of the members and see how active they are.

 

[1911]

I belong to and am active in my county RACES/ARES. It is administered by the county sheriff's dept. Ours is not very demanding of time, but we live in a small, mostly rural county. The biggest emergencies we usually have are weather-related; high winds, hail, heavy rain and flooding, and the occasional tornado. So most of the work we do is storm spotting, but we practice communicating with/for the law enforcement agencies and fire departments too. I enjoy doing it, but it only takes a few hours a month for me.

 

[JamesR]

Basically, if I remember correctly, both are volunteer organizations. ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Services) requires no minimal time commitment, no government grant opportunities, unless the local ham radio club has a MOU with local hospitals/EOCs/etc. While RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) is connected with Civil Defense and has a minimum monthly time monthly commitment, can be eligible for government grants, and are activated by local, county and state jurisdictions and are the only Amateur Radio operators authorized to transmit during declared emergencies when the President of the United States specifically invokes the War Powers Act. So ARES less government "strings" RACES more government "strings". I hope someone corrects me if I'm incorrect.

 

[Rallyroo]

I volunteer in civil defense communications. The one I volunteer for is also managed by the Sheriff's Dept. We have to meet minimum hours requirements for the year. And there are ample opportunities.

annual training/refresher
during a wildfire
after a major earthquake or other natural disaster
power outage
manning a evacuation center
hospital evacuation drills
voting ballet transport
parades/marathons/traffic control
funeral detail (for a LEO, etc)