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The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a United States government programme that provides for amateur radio communication during civil emergencies. Unlike ARES, which is a volunteer programme run by the ARRL, RACES is established by federal regulation and operates under the authority of local, state, or federal emergency management agencies.
RACES exists to ensure that amateur radio operators can provide communication support even under the most extreme circumstances — including situations where normal amateur radio operations might be restricted or suspended.
RACES is established and governed by the FCC under Part 97 of the Code of Federal Regulations (47 CFR §97.407). The programme is also referenced in FEMA regulations and the Federal Civil Defense Act.
Key regulatory provisions include:
Activation authority. RACES can only be activated by a government official — typically the local or state emergency management director — during a declared civil emergency or an imminent threat. RACES stations cannot self-activate.
Operating privileges during emergencies. When the President of the United States invokes war emergency powers, normal amateur radio operations may be suspended under the War Emergency Radio Service provisions. In this scenario, RACES-enrolled operators could continue to operate on designated frequencies. While this provision has never been invoked, it is the historical reason RACES was created — to maintain amateur radio capability even if general amateur operations were suspended.
Frequency restrictions. When RACES is activated, participating stations are limited to specific frequency segments within the amateur bands. In practice, these segments overlap heavily with normal amateur allocations and cover all commonly used emergency frequencies.
Communication restrictions. During RACES activation, communication is limited to civil defence purposes. Operators function as part of the government emergency management structure, not as independent volunteers.
RACES is organized through the existing civil defence and emergency management structure:
Each participating jurisdiction (city, county, or tribal area) establishes a local RACES programme within its emergency management agency. A RACES Officer (often a licensed amateur radio operator who also serves in emergency management) oversees the programme.
Local RACES groups maintain:
State emergency management agencies may coordinate RACES programmes across their jurisdictions and maintain statewide communication plans that include RACES resources.
FEMA provides overall programme guidance and policy. The FCC regulates the amateur radio aspects of RACES operation.
To participate in RACES, an amateur radio operator must:
Unlike ARES (where any licensed amateur can register online), RACES enrollment is handled locally by each emergency management agency. Requirements and processes vary by jurisdiction.
The RACES activation process is more formal than ARES activation:
During RACES activation, participating operators technically operate under RACES rules (47 CFR §97.407) rather than the general amateur rules, though the practical differences are minimal.
RACES and ARES are often compared, and understanding the differences helps operators decide where to focus their involvement:
| Aspect | ARES | RACES |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsoring organization | ARRL (private organization) | US Government (FEMA/FCC) |
| Activation authority | ARES leadership (EC, DEC, SEC) | Government official only |
| When activated | Any emergency or public service event | Declared civil emergencies |
| Operating authority | Standard amateur rules (Part 97) | RACES rules (§97.407) |
| Membership | Open to any licensed amateur | Must be enrolled by local EMA |
| Training requirements | ARRL-defined levels | Varies by jurisdiction |
| Scope | Broad — emergencies, events, drills | Civil defence communications only |
| Flexibility | High — can self-deploy, assist any agency | Limited to government direction |
In practice, many communities have found it most effective to combine their ARES and RACES programmes. Operators register with both, and the combined group operates under ARES rules for day-to-day activities and public service events, but can shift to RACES authority during declared emergencies when government direction is required.
This combined approach — often simply called "ARES/RACES" — offers the flexibility of ARES with the legal authority of RACES. It avoids duplicating effort and ensures that the same trained operators are available regardless of the legal framework in effect.
RACES training requirements are set by each local jurisdiction but commonly include:
Many of these requirements overlap with ARES training levels, making it straightforward for operators to participate in both programmes.
RACES programmes typically maintain equipment at government facilities:
Enrolled RACES operators are also expected to maintain personal equipment that they can bring when activated, similar to an ARES go kit.
RACES was created during the Cold War era when the possibility of suspended amateur radio privileges during a national emergency was a genuine concern. While that scenario seems less likely today, RACES remains a relevant programme for several reasons:
The programme is most active in communities where the local emergency management agency actively maintains and supports it. In jurisdictions without an active RACES programme, ARES typically fills the emergency communication role.