ARRL and American Red Cross Renew Agreement

   

The ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the American Red Cross have had a close working relationship for decades as ARES members provide communication backup for the Red Cross during disaster responses. The League and the Red Cross have just renewed their formal memorandum of understanding which lays out the parameters of their cooperation for another five years.  

 According to the ARRL Letter, the renewed memorandum calls on both parties to "maintain open lines of communication and to share information, situation and operation reports, as allowed to maintain confidentiality." The agreement also calls for local ARES and Red Cross units to jointly discuss plans for local disaster response and relief, for the groups to cooperate in joint training exercises and for Red Cross chapters to participate in ARRL exercises such as Field Day and the annual Simulated Emergency Test (SET). Hams are also reminded that if they wish to become Red Cross volunteers in addition to ARRL volunteers, they must undergo the Red Cross's standard volunteer background check.