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A Global Solution to Emergency Communications Management

Fairfield County ARES is a field organization of the ARRL and is composed of FCC licensed amateur radio operators who are trained emergency communicators, and volunteer personal time, skill and equipment to serve in the public interest.

Experience

NIMS & ICS TRAINED

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) guides all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector to work together to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to and recover from incidents.

  • Incident Command System
  • Basic Net Operations
  • Message Handling
  • Working with Served Agencies

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The Amateur Radio Operator’s Role in Emergency Communications

Public service has been a traditional component of the Amateur Radio service since 1913. Amateurs at the University of Michigan and The Ohio State University, in conjunction with other individual operators in and around the region, successfully bridged the communications gap created by a severe windstorm in the Midwest. At that time, disaster support work was not very organized and was performed spontaneously at best. Today that scenario has transformed into one of a structured organization with mutual support from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and National Traffic System (NTS). Today’s ARES® members provide needed communications assistance to their communities during a natural or other disaster, but it doesn’t stop there. They also may be engaged for public service events – parades, marathons, etc.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is the use of the radio frequency spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emergency communications.

You can transmit anywhere between a quarter (0.4 km), half a mile (0.8 km), two miles (3.3 km), or 60-200 miles (97-322 km) with a ham radio. However, the transmission distance depends largely on your antenna’s distance above the ground, the terrain, and weather, among other factors.

Ham radio operators can provide voice and data communication in these scenarios. Ham radio operators may be used remotely at auxiliary command posts, emergency shelters, evacuation sites, emergency operations centers, medical facilities, police and fire stations, and public works sites.

Amateur Radio operators have informal and formal groups to coordinate communication during emergencies. At the local level, hams may participate in local emergency organizations, or organize local “traffic nets” using VHF (very high frequencies) and UHF (ultra high frequencies).

Ham radio resources are available for emergency communications support to any public service agency, and can bridge interoperability gaps between served agencies on a local, tribal, and/or state level.

An effective communication plan ensures that people are safe during potentially fatal emergencies. Having Wardens that are able to calmly, bravely and patiently communicate during an emergency is essential for keeping your building’s occupants safe during a crisis.

How can we help?​

A team of qualified Amateur Radio Operators are ready to assist you with your emergency communication needs.

Let’s Get Started!