Pasco County Emergency Management

Our Primary Mission:
The mission of the Pasco County ARES/RACES Group is to support and enhance the communications needs of its served agencies with the versatile talents and flexible resources of trained and competent amateur radio operators, thereby serving the public interest in times of emergency or special need and fulfilling the basis and purpose of the amateur radio service. 

Although RACES and Amateur Radio Communications (ARES) are separate entities, we advocate dual membership and cooperative efforts between both groups whenever possible for an ARES group whose members are all enrolled in and certified by RACES to operate in an emergency with great flexibility. Using the same operators and the same frequencies, an ARES group also enrolled as RACES can "switch hats" from ARES to RACES and RACES to ARES to meet the requirements of the situation as it develops. For example, during a "non-declared emergency," ARES can operate under ARES, but when a state or federal authority officially declares an emergency or disaster, the operation can become RACES with no change in personnel or frequencies. So in order to properly function in an emergency or disaster we have combined our groups and resources to become what is now called the PASCO COUNTY ARES/RACES Group.

Background:
RACES is an organization of amateur radio operators who volunteer to provide radio communications for state and local governments in times of emergency. Created in 1952 primarily to serve in civil defense emergencies, RACES provides essential communications and warning links to supplement state and local government assets during emergencies.

RACES is a special part of the amateur operation sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  RACES provides emergency communications for civil preparedness purposes only.  RACES is conducted by amateurs using their primary station licenses or by existing RACES stations. In the event that the President invokes the War Emergency powers, amateurs officially enrolled in the local civil preparedness group would become limited to certain frequencies, while all other amateur operations would be silenced.

RACES Eligibility:
Any United States citizen, who possesses a valid FCC Amateur Radio Operator License, technician class or higher, is eligible to become a member of RACES,

The Role of State and Local Governments:
Local Governments
The role of local governments is to establish and train a RACES organization designed to provide or supplement essential emergency communications within their local jurisdiction.

State Governments
The role of State governments is to establish and train a RACES organization designed to provide or supplement emergency communications between elements of State Government and between State and local governments.

FEMA's Role:
FEMA's role is to provide planning guidance, technical assistance, and funding for establishing a RACES organization at the State and local government level.

Definitions:
RACES is a radio communications service, conducted by volunteer licensed amateur radio operators, for providing emergency communications support to State and local governments.

RACES Station is an amateur radio station licensed civil defense organization, at a specific land location, to provide the facilities for amateur radio communications.

Amateur Radio Communications (ARES) is noncommercial radio communications by or among amateur radio stations solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary or business interest.