ARES
Amateur Radio Emergency Service
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 during emergencies or when disaster strikes.
Membership: Membership in ARES is FREE, and the only prerequisite is that you hold a valid Amateur Radio license. ARRL membership is not required to join ARES. If you wish to join, contact your Emergency Coordinator (see above) for a registration form.