ARES & SKYWARN
Amateur radio plays a critical role in emergency communications. MCARC members participate in both ARES and SKYWARN to serve our community when it matters most.
ARES — 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 to apply for membership in ARES.
MCARC members interested in emergency communications are encouraged to register with the local ARES group and participate in training exercises.
SKYWARN — Storm Spotting
SKYWARN is a volunteer program of the National Weather Service (NWS). Trained severe weather spotters provide essential ground-truth reports that help the NWS issue timely and accurate warnings. Many SKYWARN spotters are amateur radio operators who can relay reports when other communications fail.
The NWS San Antonio office offers free SKYWARN spotter training classes. Watch for announcements at club meetings and on Discord.