Who "Activates" the RACES? (RB290)

In some areas of the country volunteers call out their own operators without having a "higher authority" to which they report in order to be activated or mobilized.

In other areas of the country --- possibly with completely different government agencies --- volunteers whether fire, search and rescue or communications, report to a sponsoring agency before responding to an event. There may be little opportunity for Amateurs to self-activate if there is a government agency assigned responsibility in that area.

In one such area, the following paraphrased extract came from an unnamed but concerned official:

"As an official responsible for administering a RACES program I am concerned over the procedure utilized in requesting assistance to the situation in "Blank" county; where members of our RACES unit were asked to assist by a request broadcast on Amateur frequencies directly to potential volunteers . . . This request should have been made to the person authorized by the local disaster council with which such volunteers are registered. Direct contact between one county and volunteers registered with a separate county raises questions of liability, dual registration, and procedural error."

This was in a state where there was a statutory designated responsible government agency. It also involved out-of-county mutual aid. It was not a critical emergency but one that had been occurring for days when the call went out for help. It was not a matter of "whose turf is it", but of responsibilities, liabilities, and knowing what was going on in the jurisdiction. Someone forgot the procedure when they asked for assistance over the repeater without going first to the RACES sponsoring agency and requesting them to use their mobilization procedure.

Think about it!