Emergency communications (emcomm)

When storms, fires or outages knock out phones and internet, trained amateur radio operators can pass messages for the agencies and relief groups that need them. Emcomm is not about having the biggest radio. It is about being registered, trained, reachable, and calm on a net.

Independent guide. Not affiliated with ARRL, ARES, FEMA, CISA, the American Red Cross, NWS or any emergency management agency. Your local Emergency Coordinator and the agency you serve set the actual rules of engagement.

Emcomm v1.0 · written 2026-10-08 · rules and links checked as of Oct 2026

Who does what

Group	What it is	Who can join	How to start
ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service)	ARRL's volunteer program. Licensed hams register their skills and equipment with local ARES leadership and support served agencies (emergency management, hospitals, Red Cross and others).	Any licensed amateur; ARRL membership not required. Training expectations are set locally.	Submit the ARES registration to your local Emergency Coordinator (ARRL ARES · ARES Plan · Field Organization).
RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service)	A Part 97 mode of operation for a civil defense / emergency management organization. Stations and operators must be registered or enrolled with that organization.	Licensed amateurs enrolled by the local or state emergency management office.	Ask your county or state emergency management office whether it runs RACES (§97.407).
AUXCOMM / COMU	Government incident-communications roles. AUXCOMM covers auxiliary (often amateur) communicators working inside an incident's Communications Unit.	Volunteers credentialed by the sponsoring agency.	CISA: Auxiliary emergency communications · CISA: Communications Unit
SKYWARN	NWS volunteer storm-spotter program. No ham license required.	Anyone who takes the free training.	SKYWARN chapter
Red Cross and other relief groups	Many relief organizations use amateur radio volunteers for shelters and logistics, under their own volunteer rules.	Per organization.	American Red Cross · ARRL served agencies

Many hams belong to more than one. A common pattern: ARES member, RACES-enrolled with the county, SKYWARN-trained.

What the rules actually say

Emergencies do not suspend Part 97 in general. Four provisions matter most:

Rule	Plain meaning	Cite
Safety of life and property	When normal communications are unavailable, an amateur station may use any means of radiocommunication at its disposal for essential communication about the immediate safety of human life or immediate protection of property.	§97.403
Station in distress	A station in distress may use any means to attract attention and get help — and other stations may use any means to assist it.	§97.405
RACES	Only registered stations and enrolled operators; only communications authorized by the civil defense organization; drills limited to 1 hour per week (or up to 72 hours, twice a year, with state approval).	§97.407
Employer drills	You may operate on behalf of an employer (for example, a hospital) only in emergency-preparedness tests or drills. Non-government drills: 1 hour per week, or up to 72 hours no more than twice per calendar year. Otherwise, no communications for pay or for your employer.	§97.113(a)(3)(i)

Everything else still applies: identification every 10 minutes and at the end (§97.119), no encryption, and only the privileges of your license class except in a true §97.403 situation. Third-party rules (§97.115) apply when a non-ham (for example, a shelter manager) speaks on your station.

Myth: "In an emergency, anyone can use a ham radio." The emergency rules above are written for amateur stations, and §97.405 lets a station in distress use any means to get help. Don't plan around being unlicensed. If someone in your household might need a radio in an emergency, get them licensed, or give them a service that doesn't need an exam: 911, FRS, GMRS (license, no exam), or satellite SOS on a phone. See What is ham radio?.

Training ladder

Most groups ask for some or all of these. FEMA courses are free; course codes are as of Oct 2026.

Step	Course	Provider
1	IS-100.c Introduction to the Incident Command System	FEMA EMI
2	IS-700.b Introduction to NIMS	FEMA EMI
3	IS-200.c Basic ICS for Initial Response	FEMA EMI
4	IS-800.d National Response Framework, an Introduction	FEMA EMI
5	Intro to EmComm (ARRL online course; see the catalog for current cost)	ARRL emcomm training
6	SKYWARN spotter basics	SKYWARN chapter
7	Local: net-control practice, your group's task book, AUXCOMM if your agency offers it	Your EC / agency

Passing messages

Format	When	Reference
Tactical voice	"Shelter 2, Net Control — need 40 cots." Use location or function names; ID with your call sign on schedule.	Your net's SOP
ICS-213 General Message	The standard written message form in incident command. Many served agencies expect it.	FEMA ICS forms
Radiogram (NTS)	ARRL's National Traffic System format with precedence, check (word count) and handling instructions; relayed through scheduled nets.	ARRL NTS · Radiogram walkthrough
Winlink	Email-style messages over radio (HF or VHF) with attachments and forms, through gateways or peer-to-peer.	winlink.org · Keyboard modes

Radiogram handling takes practice: precedence, the check (word count) and the relay rhythm are easier to learn on a quiet weekly net than during a disaster. ARRL's NTS page explains the system and the NTS 2.0 modernization project, and your section's traffic manager can point you to a net. Our NTS radiograms page walks through the form, the check count and a worked example.

Write it down, read it back, log the time in UTC. Running a net? Net Scribe on this site keeps check-ins and confirm-before-save logs in your browser.

Go-kit (start small)

Dual-band handheld, spare battery pack, AA battery shell, charger (12 V and AC)
Better antenna than the stock rubber duck (a roll-up J-pole or mag-mount)
Programmed and printed list of local repeaters, simplex channels and net times
Earpiece or headphones (shelters are loud)
Pencils, paper, ICS-213 blanks, clipboard; a watch set to UTC
ID, credential/badge from your group, emergency contact card, cash
Water, snacks, medications, layers, rain gear, flashlight/headlamp
Later: 12 V battery, mobile radio, HF portable station — the same gear you use for parks works (Field pack)

First month plan

Find your local ARES group through your section (ARRL ARES by section) and email the Emergency Coordinator.
Check into the local weekly ARES or emergency net — see First net.
Complete IS-100.c and IS-700.b.
Build the small go-kit above; program and print the frequency list.
Volunteer at a public-service event — the best low-stress practice for emergency nets.
Take SKYWARN training if your area has severe weather.

SKYWARN · Public-service events · Clubs and Elmers
Net Scribe · First net · Ethics, safety & etiquette

Sources (checked Oct 2026)

47 CFR §97.113, §97.115, §97.119, §97.403, §97.405, §97.407.
ARRL: ARES, ARES Plan, Field Organization, emcomm training, NTS, served agencies.
FEMA Emergency Management Institute course pages and ICS forms. CISA SAFECOM AUXCOMM and Communications Unit. Winlink.

v1.0, 2026-10-08.

Notes & edits

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