EmComm
Public Service Communications, and Emergency Communications (EmComm) is at the very core of the Amateur Radio Service. Public Serivce Communications has been the traditional responsibility of the Amateur Radio Service since 1913, when Amateurs at the University of Michigan, and Ohio State University, in conjunction with numerous individual Amateur operators successfully bridged the communications gap surrounding a large isolated area left by severe windstorms in the midwest.
Amateur Operators responded in the attack of Sept. 11, 2001, and to Hurricane Katrina. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina over 1000 Amateur Operators established the communications link for The Red Cross, and Salvation Army in areas where there existed no communications, phones, cell phones. Wikipedia has a more in depth info page on these and other events that define Amateur Radio's importance during both natural, and man made disasters.
ARES - Amateur Radio Emergency Service
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) to fulfill the general responsibility of the Amateur Radio Service Communications in an emergency.
Download
a full version of ARRL ARES manual here in PDF format.
Download
the ARRL ARES Field Resources manual in PDF Format.
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists
of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their
qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for
communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every
licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local
or national organization is eligible to apply for membership in ARES.
Training may be required or desired to participate fully in ARES.
Please inquire at the local level for specific information. Because
ARES is an Amateur Radio program, only licensed radio amateurs are
eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment
is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership.
Download and complete this ARES Registration Form. Submit the completed form to Ed Olague, K5OLA at K5SST.ORG, your local Emergency Coordinator for Hopkins County, showing your capabilities.
NTS - National Traffic System
During emergencies when other methods of communications are down ARRL Radiograms are sent through the National Traffic System in a well planned and executed effort to cummunicate information used to save lives and relay the health and welfare information about survivors.
Daily throughout the United States the NTS sends Radiograms to maintain practice for those times when it's existance and function are critical for communications.
You may download forms and instructions to
familiarize yourself with NTS at the following links.
Chapter
one of the ARRL NTS manual.
ARRL
Field Service Forms Page.
ARRL
Basic Radiogram PDF.
ARRL
FSD-3 Numbered Radiogram legend to abbvreviate typical messages.
Convenient
ARRL Radiogram with quick reference on same page.
Four
Page Instructions for those of us who are new to ARRL Radiogram.
More information about the National Traffic System is available at
other sites online. We recommend:
7290 Traffic Net
site Jo Ann Keith KA5AZK Net Manager
7290
Traffic Net Training Page with examples, forms, and documents
Traffic
Training by JoAnn Keith - KA5AZK in PDF format
TexasTrafficNet.org
ARRL North
Texas Section NTS Page
ARRL
North Texas Section NTS NETS
ARRL North Texas
Section as well as ARRL
West Gulf Division
Contact Ed by email using K5OLA at K5SST.ORG for assistance in becoming active in this vital communications medium.
Updated
June 29, 2017