<!DOCTYPE html><html><head><meta charset=utf-8><meta content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" name=viewport><title>About SCCo ARES/RACES - SCCo ARES/RACES</title><link href=/-68DF08D8-/styles.css rel=stylesheet></link><script src=/-6807DB09-/script.js></script><script>if ('serviceWorker' in navigator) navigator.serviceWorker.register('/offline.js', {scope: '/'})</script></head><body><div id=•menuHover></div><menu id=•menu style=display:none><li id=•menuCloseLi><a id=•menuClose class=•menuIcon aria-label="Close Menu" href=#><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#menu></use></svg></div></a><li id=•navUpLi><a id=•navUp class=•menuIcon aria-label="Parent Page: Santa Clara County ARES/RACES" href="/"><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#chevron-up></use></svg></div></a><li id=•navLeftLi><a id=•navLeft class=•menuIcon aria-label="Previous Page: Credentials" href=/credentials><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#chevron-left></use></svg></div></a><li id=•navRightLi><a id=•navRight class=•menuIcon aria-label="Next Page: Services We Provide" href=/services><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#chevron-right></use></svg></div></a></li><input type=hidden id=•navDown href=/about/organization></input><li class=•tile><a href="/"><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#home></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>Home Page</div></div></a><li class=•tile><a href=/activities/events.php><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#calendar></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>Calendar &amp; Signups</div></div></a><li class=•tile><a href=/training><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#presenter></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>Training &amp; Practice</div></div></a><li class=•tile><a href=/operations><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#radio></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>Operations</div></div></a><li class=•tile><a href=/credentials><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#award></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>Credentials</div></div></a><li class=•tile><a href=/about><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#info></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>About SCCo ARES/RACES</div></div></a><li class=•tile><a href=/services><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#checklist></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>Services We Provide</div></div></a><li class=•tile><a href=/reference><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#books></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>Reference Information</div></div></a><li class=•tile><a href=/sitemap><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#sitemap></use></svg></div><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle>Site Map</div></div></a></menu><div id=•offlineWarn>No connection to server.  Showing local offline copy of page.</div><header id=•banner><a id=•menuOpen aria-label="Open Menu" href=#><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#menu></use></svg></div></a><div class=•bannerStripe></div><div id=•bannerMiddle><img id=•bannerLogo alt="Santa Clara County Seal" src=/-67DB4F6F-/county-seal.svg><div id=•bannerTitle>Santa Clara County
ARES<span id=•bannerRTM>®</span>/RACES</div></div><div class=•bannerStripe></div><a aria-label=Search href=/index><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#search></use></svg></div></a></header><main id=•page><h1>About SCCo ARES/RACES</h1><div class=•default><div class="•gridMain •tilesTop"><p>SCCo ARES/RACES is an organization of over 500 volunteer radio operators providing emergency communications services
   within Santa Clara County.
</div></div><div class="•columns •twocolX •twocolL •headPad"><div class=•column><h2 id=organization>Organization</h2><div class="•moreBox •pad"><a class=•more href=about/organization>read
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    We combine ARES, RACES, and ACS into a single organization in each city and at the county level.
    Our city organizations handle volunteer registration and local needs.
    Our county organization handles training, mutual aid, and county-wide response.
  </div><nav class="•tiles •hideS •pad"><div class=•tile><a href=about/organization/ares-races-acs><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle><div>ARES vs. RACES vs. ACS</div></div><div class=•sr>, </div><div class=•tileDesc><div>What’s the difference?</div></div></div><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#chevron-right></use></svg></div></a></div><div class="•tile •halfWidth"><a href=operations/contact/staff><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle><div>County ARES/RACES Leadership</div></div></div><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#chevron-right></use></svg></div></a><a aria-label="Print Version" href=operations/contact/SCCo_Contacts_v20250826.pdf target=_blank><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#pdf></use></svg></div></a></div><div class="•tile •halfWidth"><a href=operations/contact/local><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle><div>City ARES/RACES Leadership</div></div></div><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#chevron-right></use></svg></div></a><a aria-label="Print Version" href=operations/contact/SCCo_Contacts_v20250826.pdf target=_blank><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#pdf></use></svg></div></a></div></nav><h2 id=getting-started class=•headPad>Getting Started</h2><div class="•moreBox •hideM •hideL •hideX •pad"><a class=•more href=about/get-started>read
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      We’d love to have you join us and get started in the world of emergency communications.
      Here are some initial steps.
    </div><p class="•hideS •pad">
      Welcome to emergency communications!
      Here’s how to get started.
    <nav class="•tiles •hideS •pad"><div class="•tile •halfWidth"><a href=about/get-started/license><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle><div class=•bestFit><div class=•bestFitShow data-bfindex=0>Get Your Amateur Radio License</div><div aria-hidden=true data-bfindex=0>Get Your Amateur Radio License</div><div aria-hidden=true data-bfindex=1>Get Your Ham License</div></div></div></div><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#chevron-right></use></svg></div></a></div><div class="•tile •halfWidth"><a href=about/get-started/local><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle><div class=•bestFit><div class=•bestFitShow data-bfindex=0>Join Your Local ARES/RACES Organization</div><div aria-hidden=true data-bfindex=0>Join Your Local ARES/RACES Organization</div><div aria-hidden=true data-bfindex=1>Join Your Local Organization</div><div aria-hidden=true data-bfindex=2>Join Your Local Group</div></div></div></div><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#chevron-right></use></svg></div></a></div><div class="•tile •halfWidth"><a href=about/get-started/events><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle><div class=•bestFit><div class=•bestFitShow data-bfindex=0>Sign Up for Classes and Events</div><div aria-hidden=true data-bfindex=0>Sign Up for Classes and Events</div><div aria-hidden=true data-bfindex=1>Classes and Events</div></div></div></div><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#chevron-right></use></svg></div></a></div><div class="•tile •halfWidth"><a href=about/get-started/lists><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle><div>Join Email Discussion Groups</div></div></div><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#chevron-right></use></svg></div></a></div><div class="•tile •halfWidth"><a href=about/get-started/onair><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle><div>Get on the Air</div></div></div><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#chevron-right></use></svg></div></a></div><div class="•tile •halfWidth"><a href=about/get-started/c4><div class=•tileText><div class=•tileTitle><div>Get Your First Credential</div></div></div><div class=•icon><svg><use href=/-68DEF225-/icons.svg#chevron-right></use></svg></div></a></div></nav></div><div class="•column •headPadS •headPadM"><h2 id=alertscc>AlertSCC</h2><div class="•moreBox •pad"><a class=•more href=about/alertscc>read
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    Santa Clara County’s <strong>AlertSCC</strong> system provides emergency notifications to residents.
    We also use it for emergency notifications to RACES operators.
    RACES operators should sign up for both sets of notifications (two different signup methods).
  </div><h2 id=email-discussion-groups class=•headPad>Email Discussion Groups</h2><div class="•moreBox •pad"><a class=•more href=about/email-lists>read
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    SCCo ARES/RACES has email discussion groups on various topics that operators can join.
    All operators should join the <code>announce</code> group, and any others that interest them.
  </div><h2 id=disaster-service-worker class=•headPad>Disaster Service Worker</h2><div class="•moreBox •pad"><a class=•more href=about/dsw>read
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    DSW registration provides Worker’s Compensation insurance and limited liability protection for some RACES activities.
    All operators should be registered as a DSW in their home city.
    Most will register as a DSW for the county as well.
  </div><h2 id=alerts-archive class=•headPad>Alerts Archive</h2><div class="•moreBox •pad"><a class=•more href=about/alerts>read
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    Read the alert bulletins from past events such as COVID-19, wildfires, and power shutoffs.
  </div></div></div></main><footer><div>Last modified 2025-08-31</div><div id=•offlineAvail>This page is available when offline.</div><div>Send feedback to <span class=•obf>wfdpexzlzI}no:o"u%?&amp;ux{+F)-#</span></div></footer></body></html>