When disasters knock out cell towers, internet service, and commercial power, amateur radio operators often become one of the last independent communications systems still functioning. Across North America, ARES and RACES volunteers support shelters, hospitals, emergency operations centers, relief agencies, and local governments using radio systems that can operate completely off-grid.
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The Difference Between ARES and RACES
ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) is organized through the ARRL and supports a wide range of public-service and disaster-relief organizations. Operators may assist Red Cross shelters, hospitals, community emergency teams, search-and-rescue groups, or local public events.
RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) operates under FCC Part 97.407 and is tied directly to government emergency management agencies. During official activations, RACES operators may work inside municipal or state emergency operations centers alongside emergency-management staff.
In practice, the distinction often overlaps. Many operators belong to both groups, train together, and use the same communications infrastructure.
The frequencies below are some of the most widely recognized and consistently monitored channels used during emergency communications operations in the United States and Canada.
Primary Nationwide HF Emergency Frequencies
Most large-scale emergency communications activity still relies heavily on HF radio because it allows regional and interstate communication without infrastructure.
Band | Frequency | Mode | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
80m | 3.975 MHz | LSB | Nighttime regional emergency nets |
80m | 3.993 MHz | LSB | Region 7 RACES and regional coordination |
40m | 7.250 MHz | LSB | Daytime emergency coordination |
40m | 7.265 MHz | LSB | Western U.S. regional activity |
20m | 14.265 MHz | USB | SATERN emergency traffic |
20m | 14.300 MHz | USB | Maritime Mobile Service Net |
20m | 14.325 MHz | USB | Hurricane Watch Net |
The Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz becomes especially active during tropical storms and hurricanes, maintaining direct communications with stations in affected regions. If you want a deeper breakdown of how the net operates and when to monitor it, see our Hurricane Watch Net frequencies guide.
14.265 MHz is widely associated with SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network), which handles health-and-welfare traffic and disaster support communications. We cover the system in more detail in our SATERN frequencies article.
14.300 MHz, operated by the Maritime Mobile Service Net, is not technically an ARES or RACES frequency, but it routinely handles maritime emergencies, relay traffic, and severe-weather assistance across enormous distances.
Why 60 Meters Matters in Disaster Communications
One of the most useful emergency communications bands is also one of the least discussed.
60 meters fills an important gap between 80 and 40 meters and is exceptionally effective for NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) propagation. During disasters, this allows dependable regional communication across several hundred miles, even in mountainous terrain or heavily damaged areas.
Common emergency channels include:
Channel | Frequency | Use |
|---|---|---|
Channel 3 | 5.3485 MHz USB | Regional emergency coordination |
Channel 5 | 5.3715 MHz USB | Interstate and state coordination |
Many experienced emergency operators consider 60 meters one of the best true disaster-communications bands available to amateurs.
Most Emergency Communications Happens Locally
Despite the attention given to national HF frequencies, most real-world ARES and RACES activity occurs on local VHF and UHF repeaters.
County emergency groups often maintain:
- backup-powered repeaters
- linked repeater systems
- tactical simplex channels
- portable field repeaters
- hardened communications sites
The most commonly monitored simplex frequencies include:
Band | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
2m | 146.520 MHz | National simplex calling |
2m | 146.550 MHz | Common tactical simplex |
70cm | 446.000 MHz | National UHF calling |
Operators who understand their local repeater coverage, backup power capability, and simplex alternatives are usually far more effective during actual deployments than operators who simply memorize national frequency lists.
Digital Modes Are Now Central to Emergency Communications
Emergency communications is no longer voice-only.
Modern ARES deployments increasingly rely on digital systems such as Winlink for passing:
- ICS-213 forms
- shelter reports
- logistics requests
- hospital communications
- resource coordination
Many operators now consider Winlink proficiency just as important as voice-net operation.
APRS on 144.390 MHz also plays a growing role in emergency response by providing GPS tracking, tactical positioning, weather data, and real-time situational awareness for deployed operators.
Weak-signal messaging systems like JS8Call continue gaining popularity among preparedness-focused operators because they can pass keyboard traffic reliably under difficult propagation conditions.
FEMA, SHARES, and Interoperability
ARES and RACES do not operate in isolation. During major incidents, amateur radio operators may work alongside:
- FEMA coordination teams
- SHARES stations
- National Guard communications units
- hospitals
- CERT organizations
- Red Cross shelters
- public-safety agencies
If you are interested in the broader emergency-monitoring landscape beyond amateur radio, including federal interoperability systems, Coast Guard channels, military disaster-response frequencies, and maritime emergency communications, see our guide to disaster-response frequencies for FEMA, Coast Guard, military, and National Guard operations.
What Emergency Nets Actually Sound Like
Many newcomers expect emergency nets to sound chaotic and dramatic. In reality, well-run emergency communications nets are highly structured and disciplined.
Net control stations prioritize:
- concise transmissions
- message accuracy
- frequency discipline
- tactical clarity
- efficient traffic handling
During major incidents, operators may spend hours passing logistical traffic, shelter updates, supply requests, or hospital status reports with very little casual conversation.
The operators who become truly valuable during emergencies are not necessarily the ones with the largest stations or most expensive radios. They are the operators who remain calm, copy traffic accurately, and communicate clearly under pressure.
How to Get Involved
The best way to learn emergency communications is through local participation.
Find your county ARES or RACES organization and begin monitoring weekly nets. Learn which repeaters are actually used during exercises and public-service events. Practice simplex operation. Build a portable station and experiment with battery-powered communications.
Most active groups today strongly encourage FEMA ICS training, especially:
- IS-100
- IS-200
- IS-700
- IS-800
Just as important, spend time learning your regional communications environment. Understanding local repeater coverage, propagation behavior, portable antennas, and digital systems matters far more than simply collecting frequency charts.
Some Thoughts
ARES and RACES remain relevant because they provide something modern infrastructure cannot fully guarantee: communications resilience.
When storms, fires, floods, or infrastructure failures take conventional systems offline, amateur radio operators continue passing information using systems that can operate independently for days or even weeks.
The frequencies themselves are only part of the story. What truly matters is the network of trained operators behind them β people who continue practicing, maintaining equipment, building portable systems, and preparing long before the next emergency occurs.
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