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Clallam County Amateur Radio |
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Mission Statement Contact & Meeting Information
The mission of Clallam County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (CCARES) is to provide auxiliary communications to support local emergency and disaster relief organizations when activated by Clallam County Emergency Management Department (CCEMD) or those organizations with which the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) maintains a Memorandums of Understanding. Amateur Radio in Emergency Communications The Communications Act of 1934, enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, created the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to execute and enforce the provisions of the Act. The FCC Rules, which implement the Act, provide for licensing of radio operators and regulate the Amateur Radio Service in Part 97, and state that the Amateur Radio Service is a "voluntary, non-commercial communications service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications." Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidance, State and County governments have developed Departments of Emergency Management (DEM), which are responsible for planning local and regional response to a wide range of emergencies. The American Radio Relay League is the national organization of Amateur Radio. To aid in providing emergency communications, the ARRL has created a Field Organization of volunteers which administer a National Traffic System (NTS) and an Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). The ARRL has Memorandums of Understanding with the following public safety and disaster relief organizations:
Here are a couple of photos of the ARES Emergency Communications Center installation at the American Red Cross in Sequim:
Clallam County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (CCARES) The Clallam County ARES is organized in two levels; as an affiliate of ARRL/ARES and as the recognized RACES organization by the Clallam County Division of Emergency Management. Membership in CCARES is open to all licensed Amateur Radio Operators that are residents of Clallam County, who first register with ARRL/ARES through the Emergency Coordinator. They are not required to attend training meetings and function as a second response unit in emergencies. CCARES members in good standing may register in the RACES program with the Clallam County Division of Emergency Management (CCEM) and serve as a primary responder during emergencies. RACES members are the core of the organization and are expected to attend training meetings and participate in drills and other events. CCARES regularly meets at 7:00 PM on the first Tuesday each month at the Clallam County EOC (Emergency Operations Center), located in the basement of the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 East 4th Street in Port Angeles. Entry to the EOC can be made at the bottom of the stairs into the lower level on the south east side of the courthouse (formerly the Health Department entrance.) Once inside, the EOC (also known as Training Room) is located straight ahead down the hall past the Health Department, restrooms, and elevator and is across the hallway from the vending machines. Door access is only permitted to holders of an authorized keycard, so call a member if there is no one there to let you in. CCARES members in the Forks area meet at the Forks City Hall in the Court Room at the same date and time as above. Video conferencing is used to provide an interactive connection to the Port Angeles meeting. CCARES 2-meter Net Information On the remaining Tuesdays of each month, CCARES initiates a check-in radio net at 7:00 PM on the Clallam County Amateur Radio Club repeater; 146.760, -600KHz offset, 100 Hz tone. The net consists of a check-in of members, check-in of visitors, and any reports and/or announcements. After the closing of the net, there are directions to check-in to the local simplex nets. Net Control Operator 2012 Schedule CCARES Net Control Coordinator: Rebecca Winters W7RJW Phone: 360-460-7592
Information on Participating in Clallam County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) For an overview of what ARES is, see the ARRL web site: Amateur Radio in Emergency Communications Overview. In Clallam County, there are three levels of involvement when you decide to join ARES. Each of the levels have different requirements; you can read about these levels in ARES Information Cover Letter below. To join ARES, you will need to fill out the documents in the ARES application packet:
To participate as a full active member, there are a number of training requirements, as listed in the above documents. This is requirement of the Clallam County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), as you would become an Emergency Worker in the Clallam County Emergency Management organization, under the auspices of the CCSO.To begin the Emergency Worker application process, you will need to fill out the forms in the Volunteer Application Packet:
As a full participant in CCARES, you will be required to take training on the Incident Command System (ICS.) Here are two documents relating to the ICS: First, the ICS overview, and second, the ICS Pocket Reference Guide. To request additional information regarding CCARES, refer to the contact information at the top of this page. Questions about filling out the forms may be directed to the Emergency Coordinator listed above or the contacts on the Clallam County Emergency Management web site. |
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