Who We Are

San Jose RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Serivice) is a supportive emergency communications group for the city of San Jose. We are all volunteers who have gone through training and use our own equipment to help others.

RACES, sponsored by City of San Jose's Office of Emergency Services, and FEMA, provides additional communications channels to the City organization in times of declared emergency. Communications support for public services events of a non-emergency nature are also provided by our amateur radio operators.

The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a public service provided by a reserve (volunteer) communications group within government agencies in times of extraordinary need. During periods of RACES activation, certified unpaid personnel are called upon to perform many tasks for the government agencies they serve. Although the exact nature of each activation will be different, the common thread is communications.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides planning guidance and technical assistance for establishing a RACES organization at the state and local government level.