Auxiliary Communications Service, ACS
The Sarasota County Auxiliary Communications Service. Inc., (ACS) - formerly Sarasota County ARES/RACES - is a program created to provide communications support for Sarasota County Emergency Management. This communications support includes operations on any authorized equipment or frequencies in support of any need that might be in any way connected with an eventual emergency. This may include: cellular, computer, email, facsimile, Internet, microwave, radio (police, fire, amateur, other), satellite, telephone, television, video conference, in-office support of personnel, operators of equipment and systems.
In addition, ACS members volunteer their time to assist Sarasota County Emergency Management with other miscellaneous functions or operations.
ACS makes possible the effective management and utilization of personnel in support of civil defense and disaster response and recovery.
Who Makes Up The ACS
The ACS is primarily made up of Sarasota County Amateur Radio operators dedicated to volunteering their time, equipment, and skills for emergency communications needs.
Several Sarasota County Amateur Radio Clubs support ACS, by recruiting their club members for the ACS. This reserve of volunteers from the various clubs, then
work together as one organization, providing communications for Sarasota County Emergency Management during times of need.
Anyone with a sincere interest and desire to help the community with its emergency communication needs, regardless of club or other Amateur Radio affiliations, are invited to become a part of the Sarasota County Auxiliary Communications Service.
What Services Does ACS Provide
The primary ACS objective is to provide backup communications services to Emergency Management during emergencies or disaster situations. This may consist of deploying operators to the Emergency Operations Center, the Red Cross, Emergency or Special Needs Shelters, Search and Rescue teams, or other locations that may need communications.
We also work with our local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, to teach Communications and to encourage CERT members to become ham radio operators to assist their CERT teams and ACS with communications.
Best Practices
Sarasota County ACS has been recognized by the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, for promoting "best practices" for Emergency Communications services.
