Amateur Radio Club of Central Louisiana

We are a group of radio amateurs that offer our services as a Rapides Parish Amateur Radio Auxilary. RPARA is comprised of two organizations:

 Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)

Amateur Radio Emergency Service is a special interest group of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), dedicated to emergency communications and public service. The ARRL is a national organization, and is divided into divisions, sections, and districts. Rapides Parish is in the Delta Division, which encompases Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. Within this division are sections. Rapides Parish is part of Region 6, which also covers Vernon, Sabine, Natchitoches, Winn, Grant, , LaSalle, Catahoula, Concordia and Avoyelles Parishes

 Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)

The RACES organization is a national organization organized at the Federal and State levels, and administrated at the local level. RACES was originaly designed to be an auxiliary communications civil defense organization, to be activated in case of a national emergency such as war. Rapides Parish also has an organization called RACES (that also fullfills the national RACES function).  Rapides Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) administrates Rapides Parish RACES, and handles RACES registration.

In Rapides Parish, it is recognized that the RACES membership is drawn from the local ARES organization, and that the leadership of the RACES organization is the same as the ARES organization.

To register as a RACES volunteer you should contact your local Emergency Coordinator.

Why Amateur Radio for Emergency Communications?

Since Amateur Radio equipment does not rely on wires and communications facilities provided by common carriers and phone companies, it is immune to disruptions with the telephone system.

Licensed Radio Amateurs use a wide range of radio bands, each one with its particular strength in overcoming the barriers to radio communications. VHF (Very High Frequency -- 144 MHz) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency -- 440 MHz) radios are small and portable with lots of channels to handle a multitude of short range communications. HF (High Frequency) can propagate over mountains and valleys to provide coverage beyond VHF and UHF. Amateur Radio operaters can use a wide range of communication modes, whether TV, data, voice, or Morse code to exchange messages. The very nature of the Amateur Radio Service encourages amateurs to learn how to make contacts, regardless of the challenges that may abound.

Amateur Radio operators are distributed throughout the community, near schools, churches, and park facilities which are often used for evacuation shelters. They are located near hospitals and other key locations. They may already be near the scene of the trouble area and can respond.

Amateur Radio operators are allowed to run higher power than other licensed and unlicensed personal radio services such as Citizen Band (CB) and the Family Radio Service (FRS) and have more flexibility with the equipment. Therefore Amateur Radio can communicate over greater distances. Amateur Radio operators use their equipment regularly, which verifies that it's maintained and operational. Some of the equipment includes hand-held portables or mobiles installed in vehicles. The Amateur Radio operators are familiar with the operation and capabilities of their equipment, and how to overcome obstacles to radio communications that may exist within their neighborhood.

The ARES/RACES group Rapides Parish meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the Month to review disaster preparations, including preparations for responding to hurricanes. In an actual disaster, the ARES/RACES group places itself at the disposal of the American Red Cross, Office of Emergency Preparedness, Huey P.Long Medical Center, and other local entities.   After an exercise, drill, or hurricane, the ARES/RACES group participates in the community debriefing.

Mission Statement:

The Rapides Parish ARES/RACES mission is to develop and maintain the leadership and organizational structure necessary to provide radio communications support to emergency management agencies and other public service agencies in and around Rapides Parish and Central Louisiana.

When conventional communications are inadequate to meet the public safety or humanitarian needs. When Amateur radio resources may help facilitate response or recovery in any emergency situation. When lives and property can be protected. When human suffering can be relieved. When amateur radio resources may help facilitate effective activities performed for the good of the general public. Whenever and wherever it becomes necessary, so no community in need goes without essential communication.

Principles:

Rapides Parish ARES/RACES strives to enhance the reliability, quality, and professionalism of Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service personnel through the establishment of training and performance standards, policies, procedures, management, and supervision of amateur radio operators registered with this organization who may be activated to provide communications on behalf of the served agencies and clients requesting our assistance.

Vision:

Rapides Parish ARES/RACES pledges a commitment to preparedness and service in protection of public health, safety and welfare by encouraging innovative leadership and individual responsibility, which enhances the reliability and excellence of amateur radio emergency communications. We motivate amateur radio operators to excel in all facets of emergency communications and recognize those who exemplify our EmComm philosophy.

Values:

Rapides Parish ARES/RACES members reflect the following qualities and personal values:

We are responsible and accountable We demonstrate integrity and initiative.We are truthful and respectful of those we serve. We are, above all, dependable and trustworthy We strive to become integrated members of action teams. We strive to maintain personal growth throughout all activities. We are competent to perform our assigned duties and responsibilities.