The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a Federal Program designed to allow State and Local EMA officials to take control of Amateur (HAM) Radio Frequencies using trained HAM radio operators during extreme instances of emergency or disaster that might require government control of these vital communications resources

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is an Amateur Radio Relay League nationally sponsored program where HAM radio operators work together at the local level to provide emergency communication services to government and public service agencies.

Because ARES groups are self governing, highly trained and responsible, there has been little need for government to activate RACES in recent history. Even during 911, earthquakes, forest fires and hurricanes. ARES has functioned responsibly without the need for government intervention.

SKYWARN is a National Weather Service sponsored program whose primary purpose is to solicit Storm Spotter reports from NWS trained participants. Over eighty percent of trained Storm Spotters are HAM radio operators. The primary goal is for trained spotters to provide ground truth reporting of NWS radar and other sensors to better enable NWS personnel to issue more timely and accurate warnings to the public. The secondary role, though just as important if not more so in many cases, is to report storm damage to both NWS and publice service officials.

The Lee County ARES/RACES/SKYWARN group provides an information network via radio contact from the Lee County EOC to the Alabama Emergency Management Agency EOC in Clanton, the NWS in Calera and other ARES/RACES/SKYWARN organizations in the event of a disaster, enemy attack, severe weather or incident which might endanger life or property. The activation of a ARES/RACES/SKYWARN greatly enhances the capabilities of the Lee County EOC. In addition, qualified HAMs play a vital role in Emergency Management operations by providing manpower during activated operations and back-up communications for other agencies and volunteer organizations. During severe weather, they conduct a storm spotter SKYWARN net on VHF Amateur Radio frequency 147.15 MHz primary, 147.06 MHz backup.

The East Alabama Amateur Radio Club meets at Trinity Methodist Church at 7 p.m. on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. FCC license tests are provided at 5:45 p.m. prior to the Club meeting. Amateur Radio classes are conducted every Tuesday night at 6:30 PM except on Club meeting night.  The contact is Glynn O'Steen at (334)501-9821.