What is RACES?
RACES is the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service, as authorized by Part 97.407 of the FCC Rules and Regulations. Its mission is to operate and maintain Amateur, Public Safety, and other communications systems, and to provide mutual aid communication services, assisting government officials in the protection of life and property. In some areas of California, RACES organizations use the name ACS (Auxiliary Communications Service) instead of RACES.
The San Diego County RACES Unit is made up of about 100 FCC licensed radio operator volunteers who work under the San Diego County Sheriff’s Wireless Division, and the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services.
RACES personnel are citizen volunteer employees of the County of San Diego who donate their time, personal equipment, training and capabilities for public service.
San Diego County RACES is an organization of the San Diego Operational Area, Unified Disaster Council, County Office of Emergency Services (UDC/OES) and is administered by the Emergency Planning Detail, Emergency Services Division of the Sheriff's Department. RACES personnel are citizen volunteer employees of the County of San Diego who donate their time, personal equipment, training and capabilities for public service.
How is RACES utilized?
A "State of Emergency" does not have to exist or be declared to activate RACES. Every effort is made to use RACES resources as frequently as possible to maintain both personnel and equipment in a continuing state of readiness and proficiency. Any responsible government official may request RACES to assist in a special communication needs during large-scale operations or exercises, wildland fires or other emergencies.
The primary RACES station is located adjacent to the County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) within the County Communications Center, in San Diego. It is from this facility that all incoming and outgoing information is processed for the county.
During an emergency, in the county, the RACES unit passes information from the field Incident Command Post to the county Office of Emergency Services and the sheriff’s communications center. The RACES Unit also staffs 32 fixed radio stations throughout the county at fire and police stations in conjunction with the RACES-1, the mobile communications unit, and ECHO III, the mobile command and communications unit.
RACES also works very closely with the San Diego Humane Society and S.P.C.A. Animal Rescue Reserve, the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue communications unit, the Sheriff’s Off Road Enforcement Team and other county agencies, providing mutual aid and supplemental communications.
