RACES
was authorized by Congress and is affiliated with
FEMA. In Vermont,
RACES
is administered by
Vermont Emergency Management
(VEM), a part of the Vermont Department of Public Safety.
In Vermont, an licensec Amateur Radio Operator may request a
RACES
application form from VEM.
Return the completed form as instructed by information on the link above. The applicant needs
to be patient while the vetting process takes place.
RACES
certified operators may be requested to assume communications duties by
VEM
in
times of emergency.
Usually the request would come about two days after a given Vermont town has
declared an emergency to VEM. The "Town" declaration of an emergency means that Town Officials are
stating to VEM that the Town:
has depleted its resources with which to mitigate the problem, or
is about to deplete its resources with which to
mitigate the situation.
RACES operations in Vermont are
invoked by Vermont Emergency Management,
while
ARES activity is encouraged by the ARRL.
Many Amateurs wear both hats!
RACES Operators Take Note!
RACES Standard Operating Guidelines
state, on Page 4,
As an emergency escalates, the local or State Emergency Management representative
may call for RACES activation. At this time, with radio operators already activated,
the operation can smoothly transition from an ARES operation to a RACES operation.
It must be noted that when this happens, the RACES members are now under the
supervision of the local or STATE Emergency Management representative, and are no longer
directly involved with the ARES operation.
