Bid: $RACESBUL.335
Subject: BUL 335: FEMA & the RACES 2/2


From: W6WWW@KD6XZ.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NOAM
To  : RACES@ALLUS

TO: ALL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES VIA AMATEUR RADIO
INFO:    ALL COMMUNICATIONS VOLUNTEERS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE
INFO:    ALL AMATEURS U.S   (@USA: INFORMATION); CAP, MARS
FROM:    CA GOVERNORS OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
         (W6SIG@WA6NWE.CA)            Ph: 916-262-1600
         2800 Meadowview Rd., Sacramento, CA  95832
         Landline BBS  Open to All: 916-262-1657

RACESBUL.335  MGT - Policy : FEMA & the RACES 2/2
RELEASE DATE:  July 18, 1994

Question: Does FEMA activate RACES ?

Response: NO. Statements to that effect are incorrect.

First, there is no Federal RACES.

Second, The agency that activates RACES is the one that sponsors
(or has) the RACES unit: i.e., the county, city or state.  NO
action of FEMA, or of State OES, is required to activate the
RACES unit of a jurisdiction (i.e., County, City) that has need
of its abilities in support of its communications. Even in
Hurricane Andrew and the Northridge quake (both major disasters)
FEMA had to wait for a request from the State before it could go
in to do anything. That's part of the legal separation of
government in the U.S.

A RACES unit is a part of the government jurisdiction that it
serves. It provides PUBLIC SAFETY communications and related
duties for that specific local or state government [or to other
governments that request mutual aid from them under a Mutual Aid
plan.]

The RACES (or equivalent emergency communications unit) function
is to establish and support command, liaison and communications
circuits for the Public Safety requirements of THAT government.
Hence its utilization can be sparse: (1) if the local government
EMA people haven't grasped the programs full capability; (2) if
other Public Safety circuits are intact; (3) if the support
needed is administrative, rather than that of operators (as most
Amateurs have yet to realize how to be of aid without operating a
radio.) As more RACES participants realize just how they can
become "part of government" in mental concept as well as in
practicality (as unpaid staff) the more that government begins to
rely on them and turn to them the very first thing in any
escalating event, no matter how small. When that happens, the
hassle over "activation" becomes moot.
[end of 2 part series by Cary Mangum, LLB., JD., W6WWW, Chief
State Radio Officer.]