...helping promote and providing resources for Mississippi hams...
Central Mississippi Amateur Radio Association
Rankin County ARES/RACE
What is ARES?
Amateur Radio Emergency Service, which has developed since 1935, is a part of the AmateurRadio Relay League (ARRL) Field Organization. Part 97 of the FCC's RULES and REGULATION, which covers the Amateur Radio Service ,states under "Basis and Purpose" in 97.1 (a) that: "Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary non-commercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications." Amateurs have been involved with Public-service communications, emergency communications, since 1913.
In the early days the involvement was unprepared and without any coordination. As stated in the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS MANUAL, published by the ARRL, "As time progressed, the need for and value of organization became evident, resulting in the establishment of organized trunk lines and net systems; later the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the National Traffic System (NTS) were formed to complete the organization." Today, "The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment 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 for membership in the ARES. The only qualification, other than the possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve. Because ARES is an amateur service, only amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership".
Interested?
If you are interested in assisting with Rankin County ARES, please contact Rick Nichols K5FV, Emergency Coordinator for Rankin County at k5fv@cmsara.org. You can also come to the monthly CMSARA meeting at Rankin EOC, 601 Marquette Road, Brandon MS on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Application forms will be available.
If you are interested in assisting with Madison County ARES, please contact Randy Crocker, W5UQT, Emergency Coordinator for Madison County at w5uqt@arrl.net.
Additionally, a chat board has been set up for Rankin, Madison, and Hinds ARES groups. Please click on the link below to go to the site. Once there, you can register and post any information of interest to ARES. http://rankinares.proboards.com/