About Us

This is a video about Erie County ARES from the
2007 Simulated Emergency Test on WJET TV

ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) [PRONOUNCED AIR'-EEZ] is a trained group of amateur radio operators willing to assist emergency services and municipal agencies in an emergency or disaster.

They are specialists in various forms of communications modes from computerized packet radio, long distance HF voice and morse code, UHF/VHF voice, and even amateur television. Our members come from various walks of life including police; fire and ambulance services; doctors; nurses; lawyers; radio and computer technicians; and former military officers. In emergency situations we find ourselves being radio resource people for officials in command post and control group locations.
In some situations, our involvement may only be until other communications facilities can be established. Other times, it can be until the incident is completed. The ARES priorities will be coordinated by the Emergency Coordinator in consultation with the E.O.C. members. These may include:

• Providing a common communications link between agencies, control groups or services involved attending the command post location to be available to provide any required communications around the disaster site itself;
• Establishing assembly areas for responding volunteers outside of the effected area to control the assignment of the needed positions;
• Assisting social service agencies, such as the American Red Cross with registration and inquiry communications;
• Providing backup facilities for first responders in the event of loss of radio/phone services;
• Long distance relay of status to federal agencies should outside links be lost. Linking the National Weather Service to the disaster site to provide weather information in situations where weather is a critical factor;
• Supplying a team of trained communicators to assist in any related duty such as manning an evacuation perimeter