The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) group is a Federal Communications Commission sanctioned organization affiliated with local civil-defense organizations consisting of Amateur Radio operators in order to provide communications during times of civil emergency or disaster. Operators will provide central communication needs in connection with safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communications are not available.The Bullitt County Disaster and Emergency Services (BC DES) RACES organization meets on a frequency of 146.700 MHz with a transmitter offset of -600 KHz. The Bullitt County Emergency Coordinator (EC) is
Persons desiring to join BC DES RACES must meet the following requirements:
- No fee required.
- Must have equipment to operate on assigned frequencies.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Must hold a valid FCC Amateur Radio Technician class license or higher.
- Must be a resident of Bullitt County or employed by a local government agency within Bullitt County (exceptions can be made by the RACES Executive Committee together with BC DES on an individual basis).
- Must make a formal written application to BC DES Radio Services and fill out the proper forms.
- Each member will check into a BC DES RACES net at least three times each month.
- Each member will try to check into the RACES net during periods of severe weather or natural disaster.
- Each member will try to check into the RACES net during drills and exercises being held by BC DES.
- Each member will try to make themselves available to participate in drills and exercises held by BC DES whenever possible.
- All members will maintain their own equipment for RACES use, including emergency backup power where possible.
- The RACES organization is administered by an Executive Committee by the Radio Officer with the approval of the BC DES Director. The members of this Executive Committee will consist of: DES Radio Officer, Training and Public Relations Officer, Digital Communications Officer, Net Control Officer, Data Processing Officer, and Technical Maintenance Officer.
- All FCC rules will be strictly adhered to by all members.
- Any questions or problems that cannot be satisfactorily addressed by the Radio Officer may be submitted to the Volunteer Coordinator of BC DES.
Level 1: Watch
- The Net Control Station will activate the net in Level 1 status and accept check ins from member operators.
- Member operators will check into the net for accountability.
- All stations will maintain informal stand-by status.
- All stations will advise the NCS of their availability to partcipate in the even of a Level 2 upgrade from the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
Level 2: Warning
- The NCS will active the net in Level 2 status and accept check ins from member operators.
- Member operators will check into the net for accountability.
- Member operators report to the EOC (DES) on the order from the Radio Officer.
- Message Priorities:
- Emergency injury situations.
- Emergency damage reports.
- Extreme and/or immediate weather situations.
- Severe weather observations will be relayed to the National Weather Service on the 146.700 repeater.
- Members will be prepared to react to requests from the EOC for communications tasks.
- No informal traffic!
- If a member operator must secure before the emergency is over, the operator shall request permission to do so from the NCS.