Emergency Amateur Radio Service – EARS
Licensed amateurs and GMRS operators in Smith County who volunteer their skills and equipment to support communications during emergencies and disasters.
Who can join
Any licensed amateur radio operator may register, whether or not they belong to a club. Licensed GMRS operators may also register; their ID carries GMRS rather than amateur radio. Owning emergency-powered equipment is helpful but not required. Training may be required or recommended.
How it is organized
The county has two townships, Carthage and Gordonsville, and three response areas:
- Northern: the Pleasant Shade Community Center.
- Central: the Smith County Sheriff’s Office.
- Southern: the Gordonsville Police station.
An Emergency Coordinator leads the program and works with county emergency medical services and law enforcement. Assistant coordinators may help; assistants and above must hold a General Class license or higher.
Relationship to CERT
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a FEMA program, run locally by a sponsoring agency, that trains volunteers in basic disaster response so they can support emergency responders in a major disaster. CERT members do not have to belong to a rescue squad or fire department.
Radio Frequencies That You Should Know
