Welcome! So, you’re considering joining ARES? Please, keep reading. And remember, for any questions about our process, do not hesitate to ask questions prior to making a decision. Email the County Emergency Coordinator, Mark Earls, k7mee1@gmail.com
The very first requirement for being an ARES member is having a valid FCC issued Amateur Radio License.
Next, do you have the desire to volunteer? If so, do you have the ability to volunteer? That ability is having time in your schedule to meet, train and function during a disaster, even if sheltered in place.
If you have a valid FCC Amateur Radio license, desire and ability to volunteer, and you have made the decision this is right for you, go to https://www.idahoares.info/___register.php and fill in the information requested.
What does that get you? That gets you on the Idaho State ARES roster. They in turn notify the County Emergency Coordinator (CEC) for your respective county; if you’re reading this, then probably Bonner County. The CEC will reach out to you and direct you on what is next.
For Bonner County, we serve Bonner County Emergency Management (BEMG).
Per BEMG, Bonner County ARES/RACES members are required to have the following training unless otherwise stated.
- ICS-100.c – Introduction to Incident Command System (ICS)
- IS-700.b – Introducation to National Incident Management System (NIMS)
- Basic Spotter Training through National Weather Service (Recommended)
- All ICS courses can be found on the FEMA training website. https://training.fema.gov/is/crslist.aspx
Bonner County ARES/RACES, working with BEMG plans to adopt the ARES Emergency Communicator Individual Task Book as a guideline for member training. Download/Save and open in your favorite PDF viewer for the fillable version – http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/ARES/ARRL-ARES-FILLABLE-TRAINING-TASK-BOOK-V2_1_1.pdf
To meet the needs of our group and served agency, there may be changes to some topics as to what is Required, Encouraged and Optional.
Bonner County ARES/RACES has two ways you can be a member:
- as a Bonner County ARES/RACES, Emergency Management volunteer
- as a Bonner County ARES volunteer
What’s the difference?
Number 1 –
- Additional Applications (Our served agency is a local government agency.)
- Background Check (As with all government agencies, to be a part of their team, you have to have a background check. This is as simple as if you were going to purchase a firearm.)
- Covered by County Liability Insurance when called upon by the Emergency Management team.
- Response requests to staff the Comms Trailer, Emergency Operations Center (EOC), or alternate sites where communications may be needed.
- You are a ARES/RACES member with a County issued ID.
Number 2 –
- You are a member of Bonner County ARES. (Your services are limited and may be asked of you to be provided from your home base as a relay station or as a Net Control station.)
- You still participate in all other things ARES (Meetings, Training, Fair, Preparedness Expo, other non-emergency related events.)
Please, be encouraged. None of this is to discourage anyone from joining ARES. It is much easier than you may think. It does require some time, but we’ve all been there. We hope you will consider joining our team of volunteers.
When you are contacted by the Bonner County Emergency Coordinator, please let them know if your plan is to be only ARES, or also a RACES – Emergency Management Volunteer. This will aid in getting the necessary documents to you.
Thank You!!