Amateur Radio Emergency Service ARES organization

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is a volunteer organization composed of licensed amateur radio operators who provide emergency and public service communications during disasters and crises, especially when conventional communication systems fail.rac+1

Purpose and Activities

ARES is designed to support emergency response agencies—such as government departments, non-government organizations, and utilities—by providing qualified communications personnel and ad-hoc radio links when needed. Its members can set up field stations and operate off-grid to relay critical information when regular networks are overloaded or unavailable.pwcares+1

Organizational Structure

• ARES groups organize at local, district, section, and national/regional levels, offering mutual aid for large-scale emergencies.arrl+1

• Leadership begins with local Emergency Coordinators (ECs), who act as contact points and group organizers.wikipedia+1

• Higher levels include District Emergency Coordinators (DECs) and Section Emergency Coordinators (SECs), each overseeing progressively larger geographic areas.pwcares+1

• In Canada, ARES is coordinated by Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC), with eight national sections (e.g., Alberta, Manitoba), similar to the U.S. system managed by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).rac+1

Membership Requirements

• The only requirements to join ARES are a valid amateur radio license and a sincere desire to serve the public interest.k7yca+2

• Emergency-powered equipment is preferred but not required.k7yca

• Training may be necessary or recommended, often coordinated with local agencies.arrl+1

Historical Role

ARES units have provided communications for relief efforts during major disasters like the September 11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and North American blackouts, demonstrating their value when public communication infrastructure collapses.rac+1

Affiliations

• ARES operates in the United States and Canada, affiliated with ARRL (U.S.) and RAC (Canada).wikipedia+1

• The group exists independently of government control, apart from compliance with amateur radio regulations (e.g., FCC in the U.S.).sctexas+1

ARES is recognized as a vital resource for emergency communications thanks to its technical expertise, rapid deployment capability, and strong volunteer base.pwcares+1

1. http://www.arrl.org/ares
2. https://www.rac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ARESintro_trifold_English-1.pdf
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_Radio_Emergency_Service
4. https://www.rac.ca/emergency-services/
5. https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/ARES/ARES%20Manual.pdf
6. https://pwcares.org/doc/ARES_Strategic_Plan
7. https://www.sctexas.org/Files/Library/27363/10-ARES.PDF
8. https://www.pwcares.org/doc/aresman.pdf
9. https://www.k7yca.org/about-us/ares-races/
10. http://www.emrg.ca/ares.htm