TO: ALL WEST VIRGINIA ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM WV SECTION EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WV ARES® BULLETIN NR 10.33 DATE: August 15, 2010
SUBJECT: ARES® / RACES / RED CROSS
Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES®) is dedicated to providing backup and overload communications for public service agencies during emergencies and/or disasters. They also feel the need to provide communications for public service events such as walks, runs, parades, bike races, etc.
When registered as an ARES® member, you may be asked to provide communications for a number of activities. It doesn't mean that when you register with ARES®, that you are required to provide the above type communications, it just give the ARES® officials the ability to know who might be interested, and are willing to help. This has made our public service use of amateur radio more interesting.
Being dual registered as Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)/ARES® provides us with the training or a title needed to assist other agencies, such as the Red Cross during local and national "Disasters". This includes flooding, wind damage, large fires, etc. ARES® and RACES who are in the field can provide information by reporting where damage assistance may be needed.
To help the Red Cross even more is to be qualified in "Damage Assessment". The Red Cross does "Damage Assessment" classes from time-to-time. If you are trained in damage assessment you could be volunteering your time while you are in the field doing other activities. By being trained in "Damage Assessment" the reports that you send back to the RED CROSS would be official.
If you take Red Cross training, you are not only registered as ARES® and RACES, you are now registered with Red Cross, and you have strengthened your local Red Cross by providing additional peoplepower for other events and incidents.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV
WV ARES® Section Emergency Coordinator
WV ARES® District 3 Emergency Coordinator