The Vital Role of Amateur Radio in Emergency and Civil Defense

The history of amateur radio (or "ham radio") is deeply interwoven with emergency communications and civil defense, a public service role that dates back over a century. Early in the 20th century, before the development of robust commercial communication networks, amateur radio operators demonstrated their critical value by relaying vital messages during natural disasters, such as floods and storms, when conventional systems failed. The US government formally recognized this proven capability during World War II, when the War Emergency Radio Service (WERS) was created, primarily utilizing licensed amateurs for civil defense communication after all other amateur operations were silenced. This precedent solidified the understanding that amateur radio operators—with their diverse equipment, technical expertise, and commitment to volunteering—form a highly resilient and distributed communications resource. Following the war and into the Cold War era, this concept evolved into the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), established in 1952, to provide communications support for state and local government agencies during civil defense and major emergencies.

Today, amateur radio operators participate in a variety of organized programs, working closely with government and non-profit organizations to provide auxiliary and backup communications.

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES): This program, sponsored by the non-profit American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national association for amateur radio in the US, consists of licensed amateurs who voluntarily register their qualifications and equipment for public service communications duty. ARES operates within the conventional Amateur Radio Service. It is generally the first amateur group activated in a local emergency, working with a wide array of served agencies, such as the American Red Cross and local emergency management.

Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES): Still active, RACES is a governmental program administered by local, county, and state emergency management agencies and supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). RACES is defined by FCC rules (Part 97.407) and provides radio communication for civil preparedness, as well as in specific circumstances when the President invokes war powers, thereby limiting non-essential amateur operations. Local RACES volunteers are typically registered as Disaster Service Workers with their respective government agencies.

Auxiliary Communications (AuxComm): In some jurisdictions, the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliant program, AuxComm, has been adopted or integrated. AuxComm is a broader concept that encompasses all auxiliary emergency communications specialists, including those from Amateur Radio (ARES/RACES), Citizen Band, and other volunteer services, ensuring they are trained to operate within the standardized Incident Command System structure used by professional emergency responders.

SKYWARN: While not solely an emergency communications program, many amateur operators are also trained as severe weather spotters for the National Weather Service (NWS) under the SKYWARN program, utilizing their radios to relay critical, real-time ground observations to forecasters.

These programs rely on significant partnerships. The primary non-profit organization is the ARRL, which supports ARES and maintains Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with numerous agencies, including the American Red Cross and the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). On the government side, key partners include the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which licenses and regulates the service; FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which endorse and integrate amateur radio services like RACES and AuxComm into national emergency planning; and state and local emergency management agencies, which organize and activate local RACES and ARES units.