MICHIGAN CITY RACES / EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), is a public service provided by a reserve (volunteer) group of Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) Operators that is administered by local, county and state emergency management agencies, and supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the United States government. As a part of the Amateur Radio Service, it provides radio communications for civil-preparedness purposes only, during periods of local, regional or national civil emergencies. These emergencies are not limited to war-related activities, but can include natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, power outages, floods, victim searches, air crashes, and many others.

RACES is a branch of Emergency Management for LaPorte County and Michigan City, Indiana. Formed in the 1952, it was then a branch of Civil Defense. Over the years, with the change of several Directors, RACES, in died out. Since the events of 9-11, FEMA and Michigan City and LaPorte County Emergency Management has taken a proactive approach. Because of recent Presidental Directives and recent FCC Part 97 Rule Changes, RACES in Michigan City was reformed. In November 2008 we expanded to also cover all of LaPorte County as one Unified Team.

RACES is no longer as it was in the 1960's. RACES members are highly trained and are required meet certain standards and educational requirements. RACES members must hold a valid FCC license. RACES members must pass a background check. RACES members must complete required NIMS training. RACES members must be registered and certified by the local Emergency Management Director.

In the event of an emergency which necessitates invoking the President's War Emergency Powers under the provisions of section 706 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 606, RACES stations and amateur stations participating in RACES may only transmit on assigned frequency segments, and all other Amateur Radio communications stops.

During RACES activation, only RACES stations can communicate with RACES station per FCC Part 97.407

The RACES organization provides or supplements communications during emergencies where normal communication systems have sustained damage. It may be used in a wide variety of situations, including Natural Disasters; Technological Disasters; Nuclear Accidents; Nuclear Attack; Terrorist Incidents; and Bomb Threats.

Michigan City and LaPorte County is vulnerable to a wide range of natural, technological, and human related hazards. Periodic disasters resulting from natural or man made disasters may cause injuries, loss of life, disruption of services. Such events may also have a negative impact on the area in which they occur long after the event has taken place. Communications connectivity remains to be vital to successfully respond to and manage disasters.

RACES goal is to provide last resort / backup or overflow Emergency or Disaster Communications for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, LaPorte CountyEmergency Management and Michigan City Emergency Management.

Michigan City / LaPorte County RACES has a core group of three RACES Officers. Additionally we have a management support team comprised of three Incident Command (IC) Liaisons, three RACES Staging Officers, and a Training Officer.

When all else fails, RACES provides emergency communications keeping Local, State and Federal Govermental agencies in contact with each other.