Canadian Amateur Radio Emergency Database

Since the introduction of a Radio Amateurs of Canada Field Services national emergency program, the responsible RAC officials have been working behind the scenes to launch an effective Canadian Amateur Radio Emergency Database, or 'CARED', in support of the RAC Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and mutual aid.

Steps are being taken by RAC's National Emergency Coordinator Ken Oelke, VE6AFO, and CARED Manager Drew Watson, VA7DR, to ensure both RAC and the ARRL are on the same page when it comes to the deployment of ARES personnel. In this regard it is beneficial that RAC and ARRL have uniformity in their respective programs. Cooperation and coordination with Section officials, elected and appointed, will be vital in accomplishing a useful database.

Full details of the CARED, including how qualified Radio Operators might go about being added to the database, will appear in the November-December 2008 issue of The Canadian Amateur magazine and a special page on the RAC Field Organization area of the RAC website, www.rac.ca, will be created.

Bob Cooke VE3BDB
RAC Vice President Field Services

Radio Amateurs of Canada