From the files of the ARRL Automated Mail Server, (info@arrl.org):
Prepared as a membership service by the American Radio Relay
League, Inc., Technical Information Service.
file: \public\info\hiram\redcross.txt created: 1-07-94
Reprinted from: Statement of Understanding Between the American Radio
Relay League, Inc., and The American National Red Cross
Copyright 1992 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
All rights reserved.
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Statement of Understanding Between the American Radio Relay
League, Inc., and The American National Red Cross
Foreword
The American Radio Relay League, Inc., and The American National
Red Cross have had cooperative statements of understanding since 1940.
The original statement of understanding was updated in 1964 and again
in 1974 by agreement between the two organizations. The American Radio Relay League, Inc., (ARRL) is a noncommercial
association of radio amateurs, bonded for the promotion of interest
in amateur radio communication and experimentation, for the relaying
of messages by radio, for the advancement of the radio art and of the
public welfare, for the representation of the radio amateur in
legislative matters, and for the maintenance of fraternalism and a
high standard of conduct.
A primary responsibility of the amateur radio service, as
established by Part 97 of the Federal Communications Commission's
regulations, is the rendition of public service communications for
the general public, particularly in times of emergency when normal
communications are not available. Using amateur radio operators in
the amateur frequency bands, the ARRL has been in the forefront of
this service, direct to the general public and through government
and relief agencies, and continues to be so. To that end, in 1935,
the ARRL organized the Amateur Radio Emergency Corps, now called the
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), and in 1949, the ARRL created
the National Traffic System (NTS). Together, ARES and NTS comprise
the ARRL's public service field organization of volunteer radio
amateurs. Red Cross chapters are responsible for establishing, coordinating,
and maintaining continuity of communications during disaster-relief
operations whenever normal communications channels are disrupted or
overloaded. This document revises and updates previous statements of
understanding and renews the status of close cooperation and
coordination between the two organizations for the public benefit.
I. Purpose
The purpose of this document is to state the terms for an
understanding between the American Radio Relay League, Inc., and The
American National Red Cross that will serve as a broad framework within
which volunteer personnel of the ARRL may coordinate their facilities
and equipment with the Red Cross for communications in disaster relief,
inclusive of any disaster except those caused by enemy action.II. Definition of Disaster
A disaster is an occurrence such as hurricane, tornado, storm,
flood, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, earthquake, drought,
blizzard, pestilence, famine, fire, explosion, volcanic eruption,
building collapse, commercial transportation wreck, or other situation
that causes human suffering or creates human needs that the victims
cannot alleviate without assistance.III. Recognition The American Red Cross recognizes that the amateur radio service,
because of its excellent geographical station coverage, can render
valuable aid in maintaining the continuity of communications during
disasters and emergencies when normal communications facilities are
disrupted or overloaded. The American Radio Relay League recognizes the American Red Cross
as the agency chartered by Congress through which the American people
voluntarily extend assistance to individuals and families in need as a
result of disasters.IV. Authority of The American National Red Cross
By congressional charter, dated January 5, 1905, The American
National Red Cross is charged with the following responsibility:
To continue and carry on a system of national and international
relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the
sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other
great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures
for preventing the same.V. Organization of the American Red Cross
The national headquarters of the American Red Cross is located in
Washington, D.C. National headquarters is responsible for
establishing and implementing policies and regulations that govern
Red Cross activities and for providing administrative and technical
supervision and guidance to chapters and national sector units.
The chapter is the local unit of the American Red Cross within
its assigned territory, subject to the policies and regulations of
the corporation. There are more than 3,000 chapters across the
United States.
Each chapter is responsible for developing a special disaster
preparedness and relief committee composed of the best-qualified
volunteers available. This committee studies the disaster hazards
of the territory and surveys local resources for personnel and for
equipment and supplies, including transportation and emergency
communication facilities, that are available for disaster relief
It also formulates cooperative plans and procedures with local
governmental agencies and private organizations for carrying on
relief operations should a disaster occur. Disaster Services at
national headquarters coordinates the total resources of the
organization for utilization wherever needed for large disasters.VI. Organization of the American Radio Relay League The American Radio Relay League is governed by a Board of
Directors composed of 16 persons and elected by the membership.
Its headquarters is located in Newington, Connecticut. Since 1914,
the ARRL has been the standard-bearer in amateur radio affairs
throughout the United States.
The ARRL has a field organization that covers the United States,
including U.S. possessions and Puerto Rico, and Canada. This field
organization is administered under elected section managers in 73
sections. (A section is an ARRL-created political boundary roughly
equivalent to states and provinces or portions thereof)
For local emergency communications, the ARRL sponsors the Amateur
Radio Emergency Service (ARES), which is organized under local and
district emergency coordinators and is directed in each section by a
section emergency coordinator. Complementing the ARES is the National
Traffic System (NTS), which functions daily in the handling of medium-
and long-haul formal message traffic and whose network operations can
be stepped up to meet the needs of an emergency situation. National
Traffic System activities at the section level are supervised by a
section traffic manager.VII. Method of Cooperation
In order that the communications facilities of the ARES may be
coordinated and utilized to the fullest advantage during disasters and
emergencies, the American Red Cross and the American Radio Rely League
have agreed to the following:* Through its national headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, the
American Radio Relay League will maintain liaison with Disaster
Services at American Red Cross national headquarters in Washington,
D.C., so that there may be the closest possible cooperation in
emergency communications planning and in the coordination of amateur
radio communications facilities for disaster relief operations.* The American Red Cross welcomes the cooperation and assistance of
the American Radio Relay League, through its field organization, to
extend emergency communications planning into the jurisdictions of
the local chapters. Red Cross chapters may further this cooperation
by requesting an American Radio Relay League emergency coordinator
to serve as a Red Cross disaster volunteer, as appropriate, for
emergency communications pre-disaster planning and during disaster
emergencies.* Whenever there is a disaster or an emergency requiring the use of
amateur radio communications facilities, the Red Cross, through its
local chapter or through the national sector, may request the
assistance of the officials of the American Radio Relay League
nearest the scene of disaster or emergency. This assistance may
include:
1. The alerting and mobilization of volunteer emergency
communications personnel in accordance with a prearranged plan.
2. The establishment and maintenance of fixed-, mobile-, and
portable-station emergency communications facilities for local
radio coverage and point-to-point contact between Red Cross
officials and locations, as required.
3. Adequate provisions for maintaining continuity of
communications for the duration of the emergency period or
until normal communications channels are substantially restored.* Detailed operating plans for the full utilization of the
communications facilities of the amateur radio service should be
developed by the local Red Cross chapter in cooperation with the
ARRL emergency coordinator.* The American Red Cross will recommend to Its chapters that
membership on disaster preparedness and relief committees include
representation from the appropriate officials of the American Radio
Relay League.* The Red Cross will furnish chapters copies of this statement of
understanding and the American Radio Relay League will similarly
furnish copies to its field officials. This agreement is in force as of the date indicated below and
shall remain in effect unless terminated by written notification from
either party to the other.July 13, 1982 George M. Elsey
President
The American National Red Cross Victor C. Clark
President
The American Radio Relay League, Inc.
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The ARRL members and HQ staff would like to thank the following people
for their contributions to this information file:
KC1SX
Send any additional information or changes to mtracy@arrl.org.
73 from ARRL HQ.