New York City Amateur Radio Emergency Communicatios Service

New York City Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Service (NYC-ARECS) is a member run organization of NYC based amateur radio operators (hams) who are trained and dedicated to providing radio communications for civil-preparedness and relief agencies during periods of local, regional, or national civil emergencies. These emergencies may include natural disasters (such as fires, floods or earthquakes) or acts of terrorism.

While the organization of NYC-ARECS started in late 2003 (and it’s constitution ratified by it’s members in March 2004), our roots are deep in amateur radio public service and emergency communications dating back to the 1980’s through other organizations. Past activations are: 1992 Coastal Storm, 1996 Blizzard, Hurricane Floyd, Y2K, 9/11-WTC Attack, the Staten Island Oil Barge Explosion, the Blackout of 2003 and others. These well trained and dedicated people saw a need to form an organization that was not controlled by those who did not live inside the greatest city in the world – New York City. A member run organization was formed to chart it’s own course in training, special event public service and readiness.

One of the emergency radio activities that NYC-ARECS supports is the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES). RACES is a radio communication service conducted by volunteer licensed amateur radio operators, as authorized by the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the United States government in 1952, to provide emergency communications to local or state agencies. The New York City RACES program has a track record of also providing emergency communications for any disaster relief agency that is working with local government to aid the citizens of New York City.

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