NEHC

What Is ARES®

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service®, (ARES®),is a nationwide organization consisting of licensed amateur radio operators who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. The organization is divided into sections, districts and counties and units.

One of the key functions of ARES® is to assist in message handling for the benefit of disaster victims. ARES® has assisted thousands in disaster affected areas get messages to loved ones to let them know that they are safe when other methods of communication are inoperable, overloaded or inaccessible.ARES® membersassist governmental and non-governmental agencies with communications when emergencies exist and normal communications are compromised or insufficient. We also assist the community by providing communication services during public events. During an emergency, ARES members establish and operate base stations at shelters, command posts, emergency operations centers, hospitals and other areas to provid necessary communications between and within the various agencies.

ARES® helps support agencies such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army, hospitals and the National Weather Service through communications related tasks and operations. Many ARES members are trained SKYWARN spotters for the National Weather Service.

Any licensed amateur radio operator is eligible to apply form embership in ARES®.The only qualification, other than possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve. Membership in AARL or any other organization is not required to serve in ARES®

About Us

The Northeast Harris County Amateur Radio Service, (NEHC ARES®) is one of the 4 units of Harris County ARES®(West Gulf Division / South Texas Section / District 14) of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service®, (ARES®).Our primary service area is the section of Harris County, Texas north of IH-10 and east of IH-45. We coordinate with and are directed by Harris County ARES® which in turn is directed by Texas ARES®.Members of NEHC ARES are actively involved in emergency communications. Members organize, plan and train to providecommunications support for events and at Served Agency locations in our local communities. If you are interested in becoming a member of NEHC ARES or any other Harris County ARES unit please join Harris County ARES.

Mission

The mission of NEHC ARES is to provide reliable and alternate communications to our served agencies in times of emergency, disaster, or national crisis. This is accomplished through the training of ARES® volunteers in communication procedures, national operational procedures as required by FEMA (ICS, NIMS) and the development of the technical skills necessary to complete communication missions under a variety of situations including adverse communication conditions.

Meetings

NEHC ARES meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM at Holy Comforter Lutheran Church located at 1901 Woodland Hills Drive, Kingwood, Texas 77339. Meetings are not held on national holidays. Meetings that fall on a national holiday will be rescheduled. All amateur radio operators are welcome.

Weekly Net

Any amateur radio operator is invited to check in to the NEHC weekly net held each Thursday evening at 8:00 PM on the TEAC VHF2 (Kingwood) repeater at 147.280 MHz, + Duplex, Offset 0.6 MHz, Tone 103.5. Winlink check ins are encouraged and should be sent to K5WEL@winlink.org.