RAPIDES PARISH ARES / RACES
We are a group of radio amateurs that offer our services as a Rapides Parish Amateur Radio Auxilary. RPARA is comprised of two organizations:
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
Amateur Radio Emergency Service is a special interest group of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), dedicated to emergency communications and public service. The ARRL is a national organization, and is divided into divisions, sections, and districts. Rapides Parish is in the Delta Division, which encompases Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. Within this division are sections. Rapides Parish is part of Region 6, which also covers Vernon, Sabine, Natchitoches, Winn, Grant, , LaSalle, Catahoula, Concordia and Avoyelles Parishes
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)
The RACES organization is a national organization organized at the Federal and State levels, and administrated at the local level. RACES was originaly designed to be an auxiliary communications civil defense organization, to be activated in case of a national emergency such as war. Rapides Parish also has an organization called RACES (that also fullfills the national RACES function). Rapides Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) administrates Rapides Parish RACES, and handles RACES registration.
In Rapides Parish, it is recognized that the RACES membership is drawn from the local ARES organization, and that the leadership of the RACES organization is the same as the ARES organization.
To register as a RACES volunteer you should contact your local Emergency Coordinator.
Why Amateur Radio for Emergency Communications?
Amateur Radio operators are distributed throughout the community, near schools, churches, and park facilities which are often used for evacuation shelters. They are located near hospitals and other key locations. They may already be near the scene of the trouble area and can respond.
The ARES/RACES group Rapides Parish meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the Month to review disaster preparations, including preparations for responding to hurricanes. In an actual disaster, the ARES/RACES group places itself at the disposal of the American Red Cross, Office of Emergency Preparedness, Huey P.Long Medical Center, and other local entities. After an exercise, drill, or hurricane, the ARES/RACES group participates in the community debriefing.
We are a group of radio amateurs that offer our services as a Rapides Parish Amateur Radio Auxilary. RPARA is comprised of two organizations:
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
Amateur Radio Emergency Service is a special interest group of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), dedicated to emergency communications and public service. The ARRL is a national organization, and is divided into divisions, sections, and districts. Rapides Parish is in the Delta Division, which encompases Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. Within this division are sections. Rapides Parish is part of Region 6, which also covers Vernon, Sabine, Natchitoches, Winn, Grant, , LaSalle, Catahoula, Concordia and Avoyelles Parishes
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)
The RACES organization is a national organization organized at the Federal and State levels, and administrated at the local level. RACES was originaly designed to be an auxiliary communications civil defense organization, to be activated in case of a national emergency such as war. Rapides Parish also has an organization called RACES (that also fullfills the national RACES function). Rapides Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) administrates Rapides Parish RACES, and handles RACES registration.
In Rapides Parish, it is recognized that the RACES membership is drawn from the local ARES organization, and that the leadership of the RACES organization is the same as the ARES organization.
To register as a RACES volunteer you should contact your local Emergency Coordinator.
Why Amateur Radio for Emergency Communications?
Amateur Radio operators are distributed throughout the community, near schools, churches, and park facilities which are often used for evacuation shelters. They are located near hospitals and other key locations. They may already be near the scene of the trouble area and can respond.
The ARES/RACES group Rapides Parish meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the Month to review disaster preparations, including preparations for responding to hurricanes. In an actual disaster, the ARES/RACES group places itself at the disposal of the American Red Cross, Office of Emergency Preparedness, Huey P.Long Medical Center, and other local entities. After an exercise, drill, or hurricane, the ARES/RACES group participates in the community debriefing.