Ham Radio and Emergency Communications: ARES, RACES, and SKYWARN

One of amateur radio's most important public service roles is emergency communications. When commercial communications infrastructure fails during disasters — when cell towers are overloaded or destroyed, when internet service is out, when power is gone — properly trained and equipped amateur radio operators can provide critical communication links. Three major programs organize this capability: ARES, RACES, and SKYWARN.

ARES: Amateur Radio Emergency Service

ARES is organized by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and consists of licensed amateur radio operators who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service. ARES sections operate at the county and regional level, often in partnership with county emergency management agencies.

ARES operators provide backup communication for hospitals, emergency operations centers, and relief organizations like the Red Cross. Participation is voluntary — operators train regularly through drills and nets, and deploy when called by the served agency during actual emergencies.

RACES: Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service

RACES is a formal FCC-recognized service operating under FCC Part 97. RACES groups are formed in cooperation with civil defense or emergency management agencies. During a declared emergency, RACES operators can be activated by the government agency and operate on specific RACES frequencies. Unlike ARES, RACES has an official governmental relationship and specific FCC rules governing its activation.

SKYWARN

SKYWARN is a National Weather Service program that trains volunteers to observe and report severe weather in real time. Many SKYWARN spotters are licensed amateur radio operators who report storm conditions directly to NWS forecast offices via dedicated ham radio nets. Ham radio is preferred because it does not depend on cell or internet infrastructure that may fail during severe weather.

Getting Involved

Any licensed amateur radio operator can join ARES by registering with their local ARRL section. SKYWARN training is available free from NWS and is open to anyone. A Technician license is sufficient for most local emergency communication roles, though General or Extra class opens additional HF capabilities for regional coordination.