The FCARES Manual is under revision. As such, it is not available in PDF format. In the interim, completed sections of the manual provided here in HTML format.

• Organizational Definitions
• Membership and Leadership
• Relationships with Outside Entities
• Standards of Decorum
• Safety
• Activation and Response Protocols
• Net Operations
• Frequency Usage
• Emergency Phone Numbers
• Ready Kit

Amateur Radio Emergency Service
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is a registered trademark of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) in Newington, Connecticut. ARES is organized in the following manner as cited by the ARRL Public Service Communication Manual.

Chapter One: Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is eligible for membership in the ARES. The only qualification, other than possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve.

1.1 ARES Organization
There are four levels of ARES organization--national, section, district and local. National emergency coordination at ARRL Headquarters is under the supervision of the ARRL Field and Educational Services Manager, who is responsible for advising all ARES officials regarding their problems, maintaining contact with federal government and other national officials concerned with amateur emergency communications potential, and in general with carrying out the League's policies regarding emergency communications.

1.2 Section Level
At the section level, the Section Emergency Coordinator is appointed by the Section Manager (who is elected by the ARRL members in his or her section) and works under his/her supervision. In most sections, the SM delegates to the SEC the administration of the section emergency plan and the authority to appoint District and local ECs.

1.3 Local Level
It is at the local level where most of the real emergency organizing gets accomplished, because this is the level at which most emergencies occur and the level at which ARES leaders make direct contact with the ARES member-volunteers and with officials of the agencies to be served. The local EC is therefore the key contact in the ARES. The EC is appointed by the SEC, usually on the recommendation of the DEC. Depending on how the SEC has set up the section for administrative purposes, the EC may have jurisdiction over a small community or a large city, an entire county or even a group of counties. Whatever jurisdiction is assigned, the EC is in charge of all ARES activities in his area, not just one interest group, one agency, one club or one band.

1.4 District Level
In the large sections, the local groups could proliferate to the point where simply keeping track of them would be more than a full-time chore, not to mention the idea of trying to coordinate them in an actual emergency. In some cases, the districts may conform to the boundaries of governmental planning or emergency-operations districts, while in others they are simply based on repeater coverage or geographical boundaries.

1.5 Assistant ECs
Special-interest groups are headed up by Assistant Emergency Coordinators, designated by the EC to supervise activities of groups operating in certain bands, especially those groups which play an important role at the local level, but they may be designated in any manner the EC deems appropriate.

1.6 Planning Committee
These assistants, with the EC as chairman, constitute the local ARES planning committee and they meet together from time to time to discuss problems and plan projects to keep the ARES group active and well trained.

Fayette County Amateur Radio Emergency Service
Fayette County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (FCARES) is an accredited member organization of the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service Program. As such, it is permitted to use the ARES name, concept, methods, and logo.

Jurisdiction:
KY Amateur Radio Emergency Service boundaries correspond with KY Emergency Management boundaries. Under this system, local ARES organizations are organized at county political boundary level. Coordination and activities of Fayette County ARES shall be limited to the political boundaries of Fayette County, Kentucky.

Fayette County is located in KY ARES District 13.

Organizational Structure:
In accordance with the leadership structure protocols set forth in the ARRL Field Service Manual, Assistant Emergency Coordinators serve at the pleasure of and to assist the Emergency Coordinator to manage major program areas.

Leadership Council:
The EC as coordinator and AECs as advisors to the EC shall serve as a council to conduct the business of the organization. This includes:

Legal Notices:
Fayette County ARES retains the ability to enter into agreements known as "Memoranda of Understanding" (MOU) with other entities to formalize a relationship between ARES and that entity. Memoranda of Understanding establish recognition of the purpose and role of each organization within the agreement and do not necessitate any personal or organizational liability to either party.

All participation in operations conducted by members is done so at their own risk. As volunteers, participants in ARES assume all risks for personal or equipment liability. One exception to this is coverage under KY Emergency Management Workers Compensation if injured during activation by a participating agency contingent on advanced completion of all appropriate paperwork required

Membership:
As a volunteer organization, FCARES considers participation by members as contributions to the amateur radio community serving the their neighbors and citizens of Fayette County.

Membership shall be granted to any licensed amateur radio operator who submits an application for membership without discrimination, or membership status in other amateur radio organizations. Membership is granted without monetary dues. Dues for membership in FCARES are participation in the organization and helping accomplishing its goals. Members are expected to participate at a level dictated by their personal life situations.

Termination of Membership:
Membership in Fayette County ARES will be terminated for the following reasons:

Immediate relief of participation shall originate from the EC or AEC in charge of an operation or specific program. Within a reasonable span of time, confirmation of this relief of membership will be considered and confirmed or reinstated by the entire Leadership Council.

Leadership in Fayette County ARES:
Coordinators of the organization are subject to the same requirements of members of the organization with additional requirements mandated by their positions. These include:

Coordinators must complete the following training requirements:

ARES coordinators are expected to lead by example.

ARES volunteers are special people. They serve the community interest by providing their expertise, communication capabilities, time and effort during emergencies and events. Being an ARES volunteer also comes with serious responsibility. FCARES members conducting operations are expected to follow the following standards of decorum

• Always practice good operating procedures using commonly accepted amateur radio etiquette. Remember transmissions are within earshot of the media, government officials, or media. Respect and adhere to all rules and regulation of any facility you are operating from within.
• Never talk to the media for any reason concerning an incident. That is the role of the agency's public information officer. If the inquiry is regarding amateur radio's role in the incident, refer them to the FCARES coordinator for information.
• Stay out of disaster areas unless you have specifically been sent there.
• Be sensitive to your environment. For example, if you are performing damage assessment duties, and happen upon a person standing in front of their demolished house, do not talk about the fact that you were the one who "spotted the tornado, and reported it." They are more interested in the fact that their life has been torn apart.
• If you find yourself in a situation that you are unsure how to handle, ask for guidance from ARES leadership, or the person in charge at your location. Likewise, if you don't know an answer to a question asked of you, don't be afraid to say "I don't know, but if you like, I can try to find an answer for you." If it is not a situation you think you should handle, refer the person to the ARES coordinators or the management of that location.
• Along with your desire to help the community, your radios and your ready kit, don't forget to take the most important tool to be used in any operation; COMMON SENSE. Use your head, and realize what is most important, what you need to do, and sometimes more importantly what you do not need to do.
• Remember to look outside the scope of the operation being conducted. There will be operators who are helping their families, friends, and neighbors navigate the effects of the disaster who are not involved in the agency-led operation. There are several repeaters in Lexington. Keep this in mind, and leave one of those repeaters open for their use. If you are one of these operators and require urgent or emergency assistance, contact the net control on the emergency net frequency.
• Keep your stress levels as low as possible during an emergency operation. Operational stress is one of the primary reasons mistakes occur, or you can be injured. Some of the ways to reduce that stress are as follows:
• Take care of your home and family first. Then respond. There is no negotiation for this rule.
• When you are relieved, you are relieved. Go rest! Come back fresh later. Do not report back to duty too exhausted to perform effectively. If your relief does so, send them back home, and notify net control to find a replacement.
• Do not be afraid to ask for clarification on a task. Understand it before starting. Asking questions if not considered a sign of stupidity.
• Practice common courtesy in your participation. Events require planning. If you have signed up for an event and are unable to attend, please notify the coordinator as soon as possible. During an emergency operation, please allow time for a relief operator to be found before abandoning your post.
• Don't take the word "amateur" in "amateur radio" too seriously. When we walk onto a scene, into an EOC, or arrive at an event we are professionals in our specific role. Above all, it is your duty to serve the common good with humility. There is no room in the emergency service arena for attitude, self-pride, selfishness or ego. Amateur radio operators assisting with communications are not the solution to the problem; we are part of the solution that is comprised of many agencies, organizations and individuals giving of themselves for the community.

Although FCARES coordinators will never knowingly ask you to operate from a position that is hazardous to your welfare, safety is your responsibility. As a volunteer, you determine your participation in events and/or emergency operations and assume your own liability. You understand your capabilities and limitations better than anyone. You also know the hazards of the environment at your location more thoroughly than someone talking to you over the radio.

Take the responsibility for your welfare. This is part of the "Home and Family First" mentality of the organization. If you are injured or become a fatality during an emergency operation, you create a situation of loss for your family.

It would be impossible to provide a list of all possible safety rules. If you have a specific area of safety you have questions about, go to your preferred Internet search engine and search for that information. Please use the following as a guide for general safety.

General Safety:
Please use the following to guide your response to an event or emergency operation. A key principle in your response is to not become a part of the emergency.

Severe Weather Safety:
Severe weather is the most common emergency activation for FCARES. As such, it deserves extra attention. Field spotting is hazardous. If you choose to be a field spotter, it is your choice. FCARES coordinators will never send you into a severe storm. For those who do act as field spotters, keep the following in mind:

Activation of Fayette County ARES:
Fayette County does not "self activate." Activation only occurs from a formal request of a government agency, medical facility or disaster relief organization. These will be referred to as an "entity" within this section of the manual for brevity.

The one exception to this rule is for severe weather. FCARES has been authorized by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Louisville, KY to activate a "Skywarn" severe weather net if severe weather conditions dictate.

Only the Emergency Coordinator or an Assistant Emergency Coordinator designated by the EC will activate FCARES upon request for assistance from an entity with a valid need.

In the unfortunate event of a disaster where all coordinators are disabled or deceased in a disaster, any amateur radio operator contacted by an entity can take the responsibility of rendering assistance using traditional and documented ARES methods and principles contained in this document.

Activation Levels:
There are three levels of activation within Fayette County ARES:

Method of Activation:
Activation of FCARES can occur by any and all available communication methods depending on the most appropriate for the situation. These methods include radio, phone, and/or Internet communications.

Response to Activation:
The person contacting operators for activation will provide information concerning the response. If activation occurs over radio frequencies, Net Control will be the provider of information.

Fayette County Amateur Radio Emergency Service is not a government agency. As members of the organization, amateur radio operators possess no specific privileges or powers other than those specifically granted and credentialed by local, state or federal government agencies for specific tasks executed in cooperation with one of those agencies during an operation.

Members of Fayette County ARES are not legally permitted to respond to incident scenes unless directed to do so by a government agency. Likewise, ARES members are not permitted to utilize automotive warning devices such as red/blue lights and sirens unless specifically authorized in writing by an agency having such privileges under Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS).

ARES members wishing to install warning devices in their vehicle to allow for "notification of presence" to other motorists while pulled off the side of the road are permitted (as are all citizens) to install amber (yellow) lights by KRS.

ARES members are expected to observe all traffic and other laws as mandated by KRS.

Fayette County ARES conducts weekly on-air nets, emergency nets, and event nets. A Net Control Station (NCS) who is responsible for traffic flow conducts these nets. All operators must follow the lead of the NCS procedurally, and in spirit.

The scheduled FCARES net meets Wednesday evenings at 9:00 on 147.120- (Tone 141.3)

Before participating in any net, operators need to take stock of the situation. Listen to the traffic on the net, and determine whether it is appropriate for you to transmit. There are four things you need to consider before even keying your transmitter: The following is not meant in a rude fashion, but PTT does not mean "Push Then Think."

• Is the net in informal or formal session?
• Is the frequency quiet because the NCS has cleared it for emergency traffic only?
• Is the NCS calling for operators to check into the net?
• Is what you have to say really important and related to the situation?

If you cannot answer any one of those questions, DO NOT TRANSMIT.

Depending on the situation at hand, a net will either be formal, or informal.

Formal Nets:
Formal nets are conducted whenever an emergency exists, ARES has been activated by an emergency agency, or at the discretion the NCS. Formal nets are controlled nets. Operators participating on the net are only to transmit at the direction of net control, or if they have emergency traffic.

If a net is in formal session, maintain radio silence until the NCS specifically calls you, or asks for operators to check in. When passing traffic on a formal net, be sure to speak clearly, concisely, and briefly as possible.

During an emergency, there may be stations on the fringe of reception range with weak signals trying to report emergency information. If an operator is transmitting needlessly at the same time, the weaker signal station will not be heard, and able to pass their emergency traffic.

The mission of a formal net is to obtain, relay, and distribute information to emergency agencies with accuracy, and speed. During an emergency, agencies only want specific information, and all other information is superfluous, and not needed.

Do not distract the net with needless transmissions. For example, do not check into a Skywarn net and ask for a weather report. The NCS will advise net participants what information has been requested and is appropriate.

Informal Nets:
Informal nets are conducted whenever there is an impending emergency, in the cleanup phase after an emergency, during our weekly nets, and at events. The format is much more laid back, and flexible than a formal net. During an informal net, operators can check in at will, and have more freedom to operate. Here are some key points to remember in an informal net:

• The NCS is still in control of the frequency - follow his/her lead.
• Be aware the net may go to formal session very quickly as conditions change.
• Leave a space of 2-3 seconds between transmissions in the event a station has emergency traffic and needs to break in.
• If you need to use the frequency for personal use, let the NCS know. They will let you make contact with your other party, and you can move off to another frequency.

Weekly Nets:
Weekly nets are informal. Their primary purpose is to provide a gathering place for those interested to discuss topics related to ARES and receive news and info about the FCARES program.

At the very basic level, good net practices are the same as good amateur radio practices.

Fayette County ARES utilizes many repeater and simplex frequencies depending on operational requirements.

Repeaters:

• 147.120+ (PL 141.3)
  Primary Operations and Weekly Net
• 444.125+ (PL 88.5)
  Wide Area Backup Repeater

Simplex:

• 146.490
  144.910
  Secondary event and operations simplexes
• 146.550
  KY ARES Simplex
• 146.520
  National Simplex Frequency
  

Repeater Failure and Interference:
In the event that a repeater becomes unusable or fails during a net, tune your radio to the simplex output of the repeater; turn off your offset and CTCSS tones. Net Control will relay via simplex as to what repeater or simplex frequency the net is moving to.

In the event of natural or manmade interference, net control will relay information, or appoint a high power station to relay information as to the new location of the net.

Simplex Band Plan:
FCARES conforms to the US Band Plan for local simplex operations. In the event a net is moved from the frequencies above, they will be in the following ranges:
2 M:
144.90-145.10, 146.40-146.58, 147.42-147.57

70 cm:
445.00-447.00

Kentucky Amateur Radio Emergency Service Frequencies:

The following frequencies have been adopted by KY ARES for statewide use.

75 Meters:

• 3.972.5 LSB Statewide Tactical Net (KY Emergency Net) from 2100Z to 1400Z
• 3.590 Packet Statewide Tactical/Resource from 2100Z to 1400Z (no established regular nets)
• 3.585 RTTY Statewide Tactical/Resource from 2100Z to 1400Z (no established regular nets)

40 Meters:

• 7.228 SSB Statewide Tactical (KEN) from 1400Z to 2100Z
• 7.198 SSB Statewide backup from 1400Z to 2100Z
• 7.090 Packet Statewide Tactical/Resource from 1400Z to 2100Z (no established regular nets)
• 7.087 RTTY Statewide Tactical/Resource from 1400Z to 2300Z (no established regular nets)

10 Meters:

• 28.400 SSB Statewide Tactical (no established regular nets)

6 Meters:

• 50.150 SSB Statewide Tactical (no established regular nets)
• 52.490 FM Statewide Tactical (no established regular nets)

2 Meter Digital:

• 145.070 Packet Keyboard to Keyboard from 0000Z to 2359Z (no established regular nets)
• 145.090 Packet BBS to BBS from 0000Z to 2359Z (no established regular nets)
• 145.030 Packet BBS to BBS from 0000Z to 2359Z (no established regular nets)
• 144.225 SSB Where available from 0000Z to 2359Z
• 144.087 RTTY Where available from 0000Z to 2359Z
• 144.390 APRS Where available from 0000Z to 2359Z

2 Meter Phone:

• 146.550 Statewide Simplex 0000Z to 2359Z (no established regular nets)

Preparing for an Activation - The "Ready Kit":

Philosophy:
It is impossible to plan for every eventuality. Even it you did, it would require an 18-wheeler to haul it around. Common sense and moderation are golden rules in preparing a ready kit. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a web site with general recommendations for everyone at http://www.ready.gov. That is a good place to start planning for you and your family. Keep the "Home and Family" rule in mind. Prepare for their welfare first.

In addition to your home "ready kit," please accept the following recommendation for you amateur radio response kit. These items are included on many other ready kit lists, and experiences of amateur radio operators. Not everyone will have all the items below, or the resources to obtain them, but the more you have, the more prepared you will be.

Basic Ready Kit:

Personal Items:

• Extra Cash (ATMs may be down)
• Any medications you regularly take
• ID cards (Licenses agency IDs, etc)
• Wallet card with emergency contact phone numbers, list of medical conditions and needs.
• Anything you require for special needs
• Food
• Water - 1 gallon per person per day
• First Aid Kit
• Flashlight and batteries
• Keys to locations you have keys to.
• Maps of local and surrounding area
• Watch or alarm clock

Amateur Radio Items:

• Radios (at least 2m and 440)
• Batteries for all your electronic devices
• Writing pad and pens
• Extra HT antennas
• Mag-Mount antenna(s)
• Ear or headphones
• Microphones
• Coax
• Connectors
• Electrical and Duct Tape
• Heavy and light gauge wire
• Repeater list
• Log book
• Message Forms
• Scanner

Advanced Ready Kit:
Disasters may last for several days. Considering a 72-hour emergency kit is recommended for those who will be working in a disaster area. The following items are suggested for such a kit. Feel free to add anything you deem necessary for you. Don't forget to rotate these items

• Several changes of clothing proper for the conditions and season
• Blankets and warming items if it is winter
• Extra fuel for vehicles
• Toilet Articles - Baby wipes are good for adults too.
• Over the counter meds - Aspirin, etc
• Flashlights and Candles
• Lighters and Waterproof Matches
• Shelter (tent & sleeping bag)
• Camping Gear
• Protective hard hat
• Gloves for work or weather
• Foul weather gear
• Plastic storage bags
• 50-100-ft Parachute Cord or nylon cord
• Portable stove, mess gear & cleaning kit
• Safety glasses
• Toolbox w/soldering iron & spare parts
• SWR bridge & extra coaxial cable