The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), is a special phase of amateur operation sponsored by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is now part of the newly formed "Department of Homeland Security", that provides radio communications for civil-preparedness purposes only, during periods of local, regional or national civil emergencies. These emergencies are not limited to war or terrorists-related activities, but can include man made or natural disasters such as fires, floods and earthquakes. As defined in the rules, RACES is a radio communication service conducted by volunteer licensed amateurs, and is designed to provide emergency communications to local or state civil-preparedness agencies. RACES operation is
authorized by the FCC upon request of a state or federal official and is strictly limited to official civil-preparedness activity, in the event of an emergency-communications situation.Amateurs operating in a local RACES organization must be officially enrolled in that local civil-preparedness group. RACES operation is conducted by amateurs using there own primary station licenses, and by existing RACES stations. RACES is part of the amateur service and it operates in the amateur bands. The segments of the amateur bands it uses are shared with the rest of the amateur service in peace-time; in the event of war, its frequency segments would be exclusive.
Although RACES and ARES are separate entities it is common for participating amateurs to maintain dual membership in both organizations. The RACES regulations make it simple and possible for an ARES group whose members are all enrolled in and certified by RACES to operate in an emergency with great flexibility. Using the same operators and the same frequencies, an ARES group also enrolled as RACES can "switch hats" from ARES to RACES and RACES to ARES to meet the requirements of the situation as it develops.
Certified RACES operators carry State Emergency Worker cards with them while participating in RACES functions. These cards are issued and controlled by local Emergency Management Departments. Quite often, other special qualifications are also required such as First Aid and CPR training, basic SAR techniques and map reading along with special training in operation of amateur radio equipment and message handling.
Thurston County RACES members assisted in Y2K operations and were activated to support the local Emergency Operating Center and County Courthouse Complex after the Nisqually Earthquake in February 2000. Currently RACES is working with the Search and Rescue Council
and the Department of Emergency Management in upgrading their respective auxiliary communications assets.