The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, 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 to apply for membership in ARES. Training may be required or desired to participate fully in ARES. Please inquire at the local level for specific information. Because ARES is an Amateur Radio program, only licensed radio amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership.
ARES®Mission Statement
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service, a program of the ARRL, offers to its partners at all levels,
trained Amateur Radio Service licensees who are skilled in the use of a wide range of emergency and
disaster communications techniques and who are committed to supporting our partners’ missions in
service to the public.
ARES®Vision Statement
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®), a program of ARRL, The national association for
Amateur Radio®, is comprised of organized, trained, and identified Amateur Radio operators who
augment and support vital communications on behalf of the public through partner agencies and
organizations during emergencies and disasters. The Amateur Radio Emergency Service, through its
volunteer radio communicators, strives to be an effective partner in emergency and disaster response,
providing public service partners at all levels with radio communications expertise, capability, and
capacity.
ENY Section
The Eastern New York Section, one of four ARRL sections in New York State, consists of fifteen counties centered on the Hudson Valley from the New York City-Westchester County border north to the southern Adirondack mountains and including large portions of the Catskill and Taconic mountains. For emergency communications purposes, ENY ARES is organized into three districts: Central , Northern and Southern . The state Emergency Operations Center, located in Albany, is also within the section and is considered an independent district for liaison purposes.
ARES Leadership Structure
The ARRL Field Organization is the structure for the organization of each of the 71 sections across the US. Based on this, the Section Manager (SM), elected by members of the section, appoints staff in various areas. This includes ARES leadership staff. The Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) is responsible for coordination of emergency communications activities in the section. The SEC recommends appointment of Assistant Section Emergency Coordinators (ASEC), District Emergency Coordinators (DEC) and their assistants (ADEC) as well as Emergency Coordinators (EC) and assistants (AEC) at the County level. Appointees of EC and above must possess a valid amateur license as well as ARRL membership.
ARES Membership
ARES membership is open to all licensed amateur radio operators who wish to serve by registering their interest and
equipment. ARRL membership is not required to become a volunteer. Those wishing to join ENY ARES should register
their availability using our Membership Page.
