Crime & Safety
Local Amateur Radio Operators Ready to Serve in Event of Emergency
Interview with members of Fort Lee's R.A.C.E.S. took place at recent St. Rocco festival.
As the acronym for Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services, R.A.C.E.S., implies, there is fast, efficient help for the community should the need arise during an emergency. While no one ever expects to be hit with a devastating event like Hurricane Katrina, experience proves it is wise to be ready, really ready, and members of Fort Lee's R.A.C.E.S. are.
R.A.C.E.S. is a government agency, an extension of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), comprised of licensed radio amateurs certified by a civil defense agency that would be capable of rapdily exchanging critical information via amateur radio frequencies during emergencies. R.A.C.E.S. in Fort Lee, an arm of Bergen R.A.C.E.S., has been in existence for one year. The group is activated by local, county or state authorities, and is the only amateur radio operating group authorized to transmit should the President of the United States ever invoke the War Powers Act.
As we approach another hurricane season, and as tornados become weekly occurences in these days of upside down weather, it's good to know who your helpers are in the community.
Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Meet Paul Umrichin and Tom Bennett, who are R.A.C.E.S. volunteers, part of a caring local team of men and women in Fort Lee. All that's needed to be a part of R.A.C.E.S. is willingness and heart. The requisite certificate is not so time-consuming, said Umrichin.
It's nice to know who the good guys are!
