The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is eligible for membership in the ARES. The only qualification, other than possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve. Because ARES is an amateur service, only amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership 

There are three levels of ARES organization in the West Central Florida Section, they are section, district and local.

At the section level, the Section Emergency Coordinator is appointed by the Section Manager (who is elected by the ARRL members in his or her section) and works under his/her supervision. In most sections, the SM delegates to the SEC the administration of the section emergency plan and the authority to appoint DECS's and EC's.

 At the Section level, the ARRL Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator (ASEC) is appointed by the SEC to fill in for the SEC as needed and is specifically charged with assuring that all of the DEC's and EC's turn in their monthly and annual reports. This also includes FD activities and other Special Events. The ASEC is also charged with assisting the DEC's and EC's as requested to help them coordinate training and development of new EC's and their Assistants . The ASEC is has those responsibilities and more as assigned by the SEC.

The ARRL District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) is appointed by the SEC to supervise the efforts of local Emergency Coordinators in the defined district. The DEC's duties involve the following and much more:

• Coordinate the training, organization and emergency participation of Emergency Coordinators
  in your district of jurisdiction.
• Each county in the West Central Florida Section has an Emergency Coordinator (EC.) The EC is appointed by the SEC.

It is at the local level where most of the real emergency organizing gets accomplished, because this is the level at which most emergencies occur and the level at which ARES leaders make direct contact with the ARES member-volunteers and with
the officials of the agencies to be served. The local EC is therefore the key contact in the ARES. The EC is in charge of all
ARES activities in his/her area, not just one interest group, one agency, one club or one band.

Public Service Communication Manual(.PDF)


ARES Field Resources Manual(.PDF)

West Central Florida Section ARES/Section Information Nets

Every Saturday Morning at 08:30 AM EST
on 3.911 MHz (Alt) 7.281 MHz

 

NEW TIMES and a NEW DIGITAL TRAINING NET - Join In

West Central Florida Section ARES VHF Nets

Every Monday Evening at 7:30 PM
on the NI4CE Repeaters
 

West Central Florida Section ARES Digital Training Nets

Every Wednesday Evening at 7:30 PM
on the 28.115 Mhz
 

                                         (click on above text)

Section Emergency Coordinator:

Neil Lauritsen, W4NHL
 

Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator:

Ben Henley, KI4IGX

Bernard "Bernie" Huth, W4BGH - Digital Comms - Email Address: berniehuth@verizon.net

Tampa Bay Counties District Emergency Coordinator: Larry Ruegger, KO4QS

            ( Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas Counties)
 

Inland Counties Emergency Coordinator: Fred Seely, AA4ME

             (Desoto, Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties)
 

Coastal Counties District Emergency Coordinator: Ron Wetjen, WD4AHZ

                (Charlotte,  Manatee and Sarasota Counties}

                                                  ARES Emergency Coordinators