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.

Michigan City RACES is a branch of Emergency Management for 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 Michigan City died out. Since the events of 9-11, FEMA and Michigan City 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.

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.

Unlike the most RACES organizations, Michigan City RACES has three (3) RACES Officers in stead one, whose roles are interchangeable. The RACES Officers are responsible for communications with in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Field Command and communications.

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

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