We are a group of trained Amateur Radio operators who volunteer our time and resources to assist our community during times of disaster or other communications emergencies. We also provide communication support for public events and non-profit organizations. While we primarily service McHenry County, we coordinate our efforts with other Illinois counties, the state and ultimately federal organizations. We conduct weekly radio nets and periodic training drills to insure that our level of preparedness continues to improve. Please feel free to browse around and check back often as our website is continuously improved and updated.
BREAKING NEWS!!!
From Brad Pioveson W9FX:
Although some of you may have already heard the news, here's the official word from our side of the tracks. As of Tuesday of this week, IEMA has established an Illinois State RACES program. On that afternoon, I was appointed State RACES Officer, and, our RACES program will include a State RACES station located in Springfield. This station will not be located at the State EOC but will be housed in a nearby IEMA facility. This facility is envisioned to house a variety of modes and frequencies, will be in direct communication with the State EOC under any circumstance, and, I can tell you that that IEMA has pledged to fully support our efforts. A working outline of a RACES plan is in place, and a more fully detailed plan is in the works.
There will be two Deputy State RACES Officers. These individuals are Jim Pitchford, N9LQF, of Girard in Macoupin County, and, David Lattan, W9PFD of Adair in McDonough County. Each IEMA Region will have a Region Radio Officer and two deputies/alternates. This gives us a presence in NW, Central, Southern Illinois areas. Each IEMA Region will have a Region RACES Officer and deputies. And, there will be six RACES operators for the Springfield (state) station. That's the broad outline of the state-level RACES program.
All other RACES activities and organizations will be local units. Counties that do not currently have a RACES program may - and are encouraged to - start one. Now, understand that RACES is not ARES. RACES belongs to the government - whether at the state or local level (county or city, in the case of those cities providing their own emergency management functions). All RACES operators must, by law, be a member of the EMA to which they are attached. That is to say, if one wishes to be a Macoupin County RACES officer or member, one must join (as a volunteer) the Macoupin County EMA.
ARES members are strongly encouraged to become wearers of dual hats and affiliate themselves with their local RACES organization, if one exists. If not, consider approaching your EMA Director and establishing such a unit. Toward this objective, I will be pitching the RACES program at the Illinois Emergency Services Management Association annual conference in Peoria in mid-April, and, I hope to also be included on the agenda as a speaker at September's IEMA conference in Springfield.
Where do the lines blur between RACES and ARES? That's an interesting question. They will blur, and, often. Whether by plan or happenstance, in most jurisdictions around the country, ARES and RACES are either referred to in print as RACES/ARES, or, there is a very close relationship between the organizations and how they operate before, during and after emergencies. This is not going to be a power struggle or a legalistic battle. We are going to follow the RACES rules for RACES operations and the rules state that RACES operations only happen when the government entity which 'owns' that RACES unit activates the unit for RACES operations.
There is a Memorandum of Understanding being developed between IEMA and Illinois RACES. It will stipulate that RACES is the single point of contact between IEMA and the Illinois amateur radio community. That is by design and is intended to keep the flow of information into Springfield manageable.
That's the short version of what's been happening behind the scenes in the past few weeks. Seeing this initiative through to fruition has been a well orchestrated group effort. Our State Government Liaison, Charlie Richey, K9DUE, has been very busy and is largely responsible for getting doors opened that were otherwise closed to us. Our Section Manager, Tom Ciciora, KA9QPN, has been most supportive in all of this and has kept me (mostly) sane while we tried to navigate through the troubled waters in our state capitol. Jim Pitchford, N9LQF, has been instrumental in making appearances in Springfield on our behalf. Each of those folks is owed a debt of gratitude, because, at the end of the hunt, we have finally gotten amateur radio back in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
A copy of IEMA's Press Release announcing the RACES program is attached.
McHenry Count RACES and ARES will be hosting basic communications training in January and February of 2010. This 2 hour event provides the basic training necessary to be a registered member of McHenry County ARES. It is required for all RACES members.
The training will be held at the McHenry County EMA Office and we would like to extend an invitation to all McHenry County ham radio operators to join us. To become a registered member you only need to attend one session.
If you have any questions about the training please use the “Contact Us” links at the top and the bottom of the page.
"ARRL Field Day is the most popular on-the-air operating event in amateur radio. On the fourth full weekend in June, tens of thousands of amateur radio operators gather for a public demonstration of our service. Field Day is part educational event, part operating event, part public relations event – and ALL about FUN! "
- ARRL Website
The McHenry County RACES group under the direction of the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency will be participating in the the 2009 ARRL Field Day (June 27 and 28th). All amateur radio operators and individuals interested in amateur radio are invited to attend this 24 hour operational period. We will be operating out of the McHenry County Government Center front building parking lot. Should you have any questions you can contact the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency at 815-338-6400 or John Zelz (W9ZE) / Al Lubow (KB9YMD) on the local K9ESV repeater 146.835 with a PL of 91.5.
Midwinter Hamfest and Portable Digital Station Project
We would like to thank everyone that came to see us at the ARES booth during the Midwinter Hamfest.
For those interested in our portable digital station project, below you can find printable versions of parts list and subsystem description that we hope can be useful if you decide to build one yourself. Check back often as we will publish more details about the project as it nears completion. If you have any questions about the project feel free to contact us using the links at the top and bottom of the page.
...DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST THURSDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO HAS ISSUED A DENSE FOG
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST THURSDAY.
* TIMING...AREAS OF DENSE FOG ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS FAR
NORTHEAST ILLINOIS TONIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY
MORNING.
* VISIBILITY...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS...AND POSSIBLY NEAR ZERO
ALONG THE LAKE MICHIGAN SHORE.
* IMPACTS...HAZARDOUS DRIVING DUE TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE
VISIBILITIES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A DENSE FOG ADVISORY MEANS VISIBILITIES WILL FREQUENTLY BE
REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE. IF DRIVING...SLOW DOWN...
USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS...AND LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AHEAD OF YOU.
