Each year members of the Radio Association of Erie contribute their skills and use of equipment to help with communications at various community activities for various non-profit organizations across the Erie area. We do this as our way of saying “Thanks!” for use of the Amateur Radio spectrum provided to us by the FCC.
Some of those events include: March of Dimes Walk America, Edinboro Triathlon, MS Walk, MS Bike Race, Run Around Erie, and the Caring Place Triathlon.
Emergency Communications
There are Amateur Radio Organizations such as ARES and Skywarn which provide Emergency Communications Services to Public Safety officials and Government Agencies. Emergency communications comes under the banner of ARES, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service. Here we provide backup communications to the Erie County and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and the Emergency Operating Centers (EOCs) in Erie and surrounding communities.. Hams operate from the EOCs, staging areas, shelters, hospitals… anywhere communications are needed when normal phone or radio channels may fail. To be ready, we participate in regular training, nets and drills that let us practice the skills we’ll need in actual emergency situations.
