The Islip ARES Group consists of licensed amateur radio operators who dedicate their time and equipment to assist public officials and charitable organizations with communications in a time of need.
These individuals are registered with the American Radio Relay League's Amateur Radio Emergency Service, (ARES) they may also be registered with the Suffolk County Emergency Management Office as RACES volunteers.
We provide emergency communications during declared disasters, at that time our volunteers are disaster service workers under RACES. Created by the FCC and sanctioned by FEMA
RACES or the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service uses amateur radio operators as disaster service workers to provide emergency and urgent communications for the public good.
During times that are not declared disasters, our volunteers are organized under ARES. ARES or the Amateur Radio Emergency Service is a field organization of the ARRL We provide adjunct and emergency communications for public officials and charitable organizations.
So what does that mean ??
Well how about examples ??
During a coastal evacuation the Red Cross opens shelters to house persons displaced by the storm. Amateur operators would become the communications hub for shelters and chapter headquarters. During such a task we would monitor communications by all participating agencies, and provide a communications resource to relay traffic as well as gather information from the content of communications so monitored. The ham radio operator who performs these functions has already been trained in Shelter Operations and Mass Care Concepts.
During our hypothetical storm the State Office of Emergency Management might ask the Red Cross to provide an assessment of the areas damaged. Ham Radio operators would often be assigned such tasks. The ham radio operator who performs these functions has already been trained in Damage Assessment.
Islip is the home to Islip-MacArthur airport a major transportation center for Suffolk County. Long Island is in the path of many air routes, including international routes. Lets assume there was an Mass Causality Incident involving the airport or the surrounding coastline so often used in air transportation. Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services would assign a triage officer to key elements in the crisis, the triage officer would identify causalities and SCFRES personnel would assign ambulance destinations. A ham radio operator who has been qualified under the RACES program might be assigned to "shadow" the triage officer or dispatcher and relay the triage orders to another ham operator nearby who would post the information on a data network. Ham operators assigned to hospitals would receive data from the packet network so hospital administrators could plan accordingly. In reverse the operator at the hospital could relay information to the triage officer regarding bed availability or conditions at a particular hospital.
In Suffolk County the mission of ARES and RACES is identical, the only difference is the circumstance or level of activation. We stand ready to assist our community and public officials with their communications or logistical needs.
Charitable organizations rely on us to assist them with their logistical and communications needs during those events where such assistance is needed. While these agencies may have their own communications equipment, no quantity of cell phones will make up for the eyes and ears of ham operators on the look out for problems during a marathon or walkathon. And even if they have two way commercial radios, they couldn't possibly maintain the discipline and order that a directed net allows. Ham radio operators practice traffic handling, your average volunteer doesn't.
Because amateur radio is so diverse a hobby, we have volunteers who specialize in communications techniques not practiced by the public at large. Data and Television modes may be operated by portable stations in the field. Communications may be relayed to HF operators to carry the information long distances. We have the discipline, skills and technology to meet any communications needs. We know the language of a fireman or a policeman, or a national guardsman and can communicate with all of them ! What more could an emergency manager need from a communicator ?
Although its activities are limited in this area, we also train for SKYWARN duties.
Administrative Stuff
The Islip ARES Group is recognized by the IRS under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code as a non-profit organization formed in the public interest. We recently incorporated in the State of New York as a non-profit corporation. The group is governed by a board of directors who are elected annually by the membership.
Sponsors and where the money comes from?
The Town of Islip has recognized us as their RACES resource. They have provided us with an office at Islip Town Hall, complete with emergency power and telephone. We maintain an EOC adjacent to the Town Communications center. Corporate sponsors have been generous and recognize the effect of our mission in the community. We would like to thank all those who have donated, your contributions have "made it happen".
These individuals are registered with the American Radio Relay League's Amateur Radio Emergency Service, (ARES) they may also be registered with the Suffolk County Emergency Management Office as RACES volunteers.
We provide emergency communications during declared disasters, at that time our volunteers are disaster service workers under RACES. Created by the FCC and sanctioned by FEMA
RACES or the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service uses amateur radio operators as disaster service workers to provide emergency and urgent communications for the public good.
During times that are not declared disasters, our volunteers are organized under ARES. ARES or the Amateur Radio Emergency Service is a field organization of the ARRL We provide adjunct and emergency communications for public officials and charitable organizations.
So what does that mean ??
Well how about examples ??
During a coastal evacuation the Red Cross opens shelters to house persons displaced by the storm. Amateur operators would become the communications hub for shelters and chapter headquarters. During such a task we would monitor communications by all participating agencies, and provide a communications resource to relay traffic as well as gather information from the content of communications so monitored. The ham radio operator who performs these functions has already been trained in Shelter Operations and Mass Care Concepts.
During our hypothetical storm the State Office of Emergency Management might ask the Red Cross to provide an assessment of the areas damaged. Ham Radio operators would often be assigned such tasks. The ham radio operator who performs these functions has already been trained in Damage Assessment.
Islip is the home to Islip-MacArthur airport a major transportation center for Suffolk County. Long Island is in the path of many air routes, including international routes. Lets assume there was an Mass Causality Incident involving the airport or the surrounding coastline so often used in air transportation. Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services would assign a triage officer to key elements in the crisis, the triage officer would identify causalities and SCFRES personnel would assign ambulance destinations. A ham radio operator who has been qualified under the RACES program might be assigned to "shadow" the triage officer or dispatcher and relay the triage orders to another ham operator nearby who would post the information on a data network. Ham operators assigned to hospitals would receive data from the packet network so hospital administrators could plan accordingly. In reverse the operator at the hospital could relay information to the triage officer regarding bed availability or conditions at a particular hospital.
In Suffolk County the mission of ARES and RACES is identical, the only difference is the circumstance or level of activation. We stand ready to assist our community and public officials with their communications or logistical needs.
Charitable organizations rely on us to assist them with their logistical and communications needs during those events where such assistance is needed. While these agencies may have their own communications equipment, no quantity of cell phones will make up for the eyes and ears of ham operators on the look out for problems during a marathon or walkathon. And even if they have two way commercial radios, they couldn't possibly maintain the discipline and order that a directed net allows. Ham radio operators practice traffic handling, your average volunteer doesn't.
Because amateur radio is so diverse a hobby, we have volunteers who specialize in communications techniques not practiced by the public at large. Data and Television modes may be operated by portable stations in the field. Communications may be relayed to HF operators to carry the information long distances. We have the discipline, skills and technology to meet any communications needs. We know the language of a fireman or a policeman, or a national guardsman and can communicate with all of them ! What more could an emergency manager need from a communicator ?
Although its activities are limited in this area, we also train for SKYWARN duties.
Administrative Stuff
The Islip ARES Group is recognized by the IRS under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code as a non-profit organization formed in the public interest. We recently incorporated in the State of New York as a non-profit corporation. The group is governed by a board of directors who are elected annually by the membership.
Sponsors and where the money comes from?
The Town of Islip has recognized us as their RACES resource. They have provided us with an office at Islip Town Hall, complete with emergency power and telephone. We maintain an EOC adjacent to the Town Communications center. Corporate sponsors have been generous and recognize the effect of our mission in the community. We would like to thank all those who have donated, your contributions have "made it happen".