Is There a Future for the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES^®)?

Recently, some fellow hams were talking about ARES^® and its present and future roles in emergency communications.  Allow me to summarize their discussions.

ARES® Background

For many years, governments relied on amateur radio as the go to backup for their emergency communications needs.  When called upon, hams would deploy and serve in EOCs, emergency shelters, hospitals and other places where emergency communications were essential.  

But Times Have Changed

Since September 11, 2001 federal, state and local governments have improved and unified their public service emergency communications systems.  Private cellular companies have also enhanced and hardened their telecommunications infrastructure to a great degree.

Hams have not sat still.  They’ve embraced new modes and methods of emergency communications to stay viable in their backup role.  Much of FEMA’S National Incident Management System (NIMS) command and control structure has been incorporated into amateur radio emergency communications training.

Getting back to the hams I expected to hear the group espouse their training and the importance of ARES^®.  Instead, what I heard sounded more like a pity party.  “Emergency managers don’t want us in their EOCs.  They don’t need us as backup emergency communicators.”

Remember the Motto

Have today’s emergency managers and hams forgotten the ARES^® motto: “When all else fails?”  I guess the meaning of those words that were part and parcel of amateur radio for many decades are now just meaningless words.

A Call to Action

How do we correct this downward slide?  First, ARES^® hams in leadership and public information roles need to promote the importance of amateur radio to counties, cities, towns, HOAs, CERT teams and most importantly the general public.  They need to seek every opportunity to speak and explain the value amateur radio provides – especially in times of distress and emergency.

Second, ARES^® leaders as well as every other ham must reinvigorate the role of ARES^®.  “When all else fails,” there is still a need for ARES^® services. If you are a licensed amateur radio operator please get involved with your local ARES^® group.

comments? email them to treasurecoasthams@gmail.com