Harvey County RACES Unit Volunteer Policy

Basic Requirements of Volunteers
To be a RACES operator you must:
* Be a United States Citizen
* Hold a valid Amateur Radio License of any class*
* Register with a RACES are equal opportunity "employers" and a place can normally be found for anyone, including those with physical limitations. Registering In Harvey County, you may register to serve with the Emerency Preparedness Director
* To register with a municipal unit, contact the Radio Officer in your municipality. If there is no officer or you can not contact him or her, contact the Emergengy Preparedness Director by email (lbuller @ harveycounty dot com).
* Volunteers with the County Staff generally first get experience with a municipal RACES unit or an ARES unit. If you would like to apply for the County RACES Unit, contact the Emerency Preparedness Director as above, but you are encouraged to first discuss the idea with your municipal Radio Officer.

RACES members responsibilities:
(1) Participate in the training sessions;
(2) Brief the RACES Officer of any changes in equipment or amateur status that may affect operation in the RACES program;
(3) Develop a strong background in emergency procedures, FCC Rules and Regulations, and network procedures;
(4) Be available when emergency communications are required by the appointing Director;
(5) Help strengthen the organization by offering suggestions and positive feedback to correct deficiencies;
(6) Comply with volunteer standards or exceed them, and submit in writing, when terminating membership

More specifically, Harvey County RACES members are encouraged to:
* Regularly attend scheduled meetings wih the Emergency Manager
* Participate and check in to the weekly RACES net on at 7:30pm on the each Monday either at a meeting, at home, or in your car.
* Participate in drills and exercises and check in to nets when possible.
* Attend any special meetings that may be called
* Listen to your radio to 146.610 and local media outlets during times of heightened risk, e.g. severe storms.
* Make yourself available anytime there is an actual need for operators! * Improve your radio operating skills and techniques
* Increase your knowledge of both amateur radio and emergency operations
* Maintain a well-stocked and working inventory of personal radio gear

Use the following links (which are extremely dated) for other RACES information courtesy Arlington,. VA RACES

• Simplex Operations & Personal Preparedness

• Amateur Radio Emergency Network for Hospitals

• Disaster Survival Skills for the Urban Environment

• EmCom Aids & Procedures

• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Other forms available from