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As simple as this may sound, A.R.E.S. is the
"Amateur Radio Emergency Service" every word of which is
important.
First, there is the word Amateur. Contrary to what many think,
it doesn’t imply unlearned or untrained. The correct synonyms
are actually un-paid or part-time. The meaning as it applies
to Amateur radio is to simply say we are volunteer radio
operators as apposed to commercial radio. This is why it is
against FCC rules to use amateur radio for commercial
purposes, or to accept money for our contributions. To be an
amateur radio operator, the FCC requires that individuals pass
examinations in technical and regulatory competence. Amateur
operators are usually quite distinctive from citizens band
(CB) operators who require no training or licensing. To the
contrary, Amateurs come from various walks of life including
police, fire and ambulance services, doctors, nurses, lawyers,
radio and computer technicians, former and current military
officers as well as other professionals, most of which already
understand and are accustom to being professionally trained as
a requirement to perform there duties.
The second operative word being
radio, which simply defines the type of equipment we use as
Emergency communications. As a group, we should be specialists
in various forms of communications modes from computerized
packet radio, Winlink 2000, long distance HF voice, Morse
code, UHF/VHF voice, APRS.
The third word Emergency refers to why the FCC allows us as
much spectrum as they do. A.R.E.S. is a trained group of
amateur radio operators willing to assist emergency services
and municipal agencies in an emergency or disaster.
Communications is often cited as the weakest link in the
command and control component of an emergency. Experience has
shown that in emergencies, traditional systems become
overloaded or are often disabled. Agencies who normally don't
need radio communications will need it. Services that don't
usually coordinate with each other will need to. People who
seldom or never have used a radio are now on them for extended
periods of time. Batteries that are used only to monitor for a
few hours a day, when pressed into emergency service often
fail. During the same emergency, telephone systems often
become overloaded and fail. Cellular phones as a component of
any emergency communications plan is a mistake. The Cellular
system is often the first to fail. ARES is designed to operate
during such an emergency.
The forth operative word is SERVICE. Amateur radio is a
service as defined by the FCC. The Amateur radio emergency
service has been utilized extensively in major disasters such
as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, and floods in many parts
of the world. Our service might include:
#1 Providing a common communications link between agencies or
other communications services at the Command Post location or
the EOC.
#2 Being able and available to provide any required
communications around the disaster site itself.
#3 establishing staging areas for responding volunteers
outside of the effected area.
#4 Providing backup facilities for first responders in the
event of loss of radio/phone services.
#5 Providing distance relay of status to agencies should
outside links be lost.
#6 Providing a standard e-mail services that is compatible
with existing agencies equipment using software they are
already familiar with such as outlook or outlook express.
So in a nutshell. The why A>R>E>S question is answered, simply
by understanding the meaning of the group. Having a functional
A.R.E.S. group, means having a team of trained communicators
who are willing to volunteer there time and resources both
before and during an emergency.
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