Riverside County RACES
W6CDF/Voice - KF6NPC/Digital

• Overview
• Authorities
• Member Requirements
• RACES Activation
• Operations
• Uniform Regulations
• Suggested Equipment
• Guidelines
• Appendices
  • #1 - RACES Alerting System
  • #2 RACES Communications Systems Test
  • #3 RACES Telephone Numbers
  • #5 Incident Number Requests
  • #6 RACES Job Descriptions
  • #8 Recommended Training
  • #11 Familiarization Exercise
• Glossary
• Abbreviations
• Download Manual

 

RACES Activation

All RACES activation requests shall be made through OES. Once RACES is activated, the district Emergency Coordinator (EC) will notify those operators in his/her district.  The EC may call or announce the activation on the radio.  You may be asked to fill a need or stand-by.  Be prepared.  Information will be passed on as it becomes available.  It is important that operators monitor the prearranged district staffing nets when RACES activation is pending.  (Please see the frequency lists in Appendix 7 for your district.

• Local Activation

If the EC, or his/her designee, perceives the need for a possible RACES activation, the Emergency Coordinator (EC) will either place members on alert or initiate an actual activation.  Upon alert or activation, the EC will advise the appropriate Deputy Chief and proceed, as the EC deems necessary.   See Appendix 5 for Incident Number Request procedure.

• Formal Activation

The EC, or his/her designee, will be notified by the Office of Emergency Services, Perris Emergency Command Center, or RACES leadership, to place members on alert or initiate activation.  The EC will receive the incident and request numbers at the time of contact and proceed as requested.

• Serviced Agencies

RACES primary reporting agency is OES.  RACES is available to support all governmental agencies, as well as non-governmental agencies, such as the American Red Cross, Search and Rescue Groups, Salvation Army, etc.  RACES is not available to support commercial endeavors, except in the event of a declared emergency or disaster, and then only in a disaster support role.

Served Agency Activation

The served agency may request RACES support through the Office of Emergency Services, Perris Emergency Command Center, or the local EC.  The RACES member receiving the request must notify the OES Duty Officer and request the Incident Number (See Appendix 5 for incident Number Request procedure).  Next you need to notify the RACES Chief Officer and your local Deputy Chief.

• Mutual Aid Service

Any Federal Agency (e.g. USFS, BLM, BIA) or any jurisdiction/agency outside of Riverside County may request RACES activation.  However, this call is a mutual aid request and therefore must be processed through CalEMA and OES.  If you receive such a call, it is imperative that you ensure the individual makes the request through OES.  Any member responding to or acting on a request for service without prior OES notification and approval does so without coverage from the RACES Disaster Service Workers program and is subject to removal from the RACES program and/or prosecution.

Planned Events

OES must first approve the RACES participation in any Planned Event. Follow Appendix 5 for Incident Number Request procedure.

Typical Activities

RACES activities have included:

Support of Field PIO	Red Flag Patrols
Resource Management and Tracking	NWS Spotter Program
Search and Rescue	Mountain Monitor Program
Health and Welfare	City/City and City/County Communications
Damage Assessment	Support of Animal Control
Public Service Events
Training Drills for Field Communications and Message Handling

These activities have been direct requests for service, either as a mutual aid resource or as normal operations within County boundaries.