For the support of County government during emergencies.

What is the Oswego County Emergency Communicators/RACES? 

The OCEC/RACES is a manpower resource that provides professional skills to the Office of Emergency Management and the government of Oswego County.  These skills include administrative and logistical communications to the emergency service agencies within the County and to other jurisdictions including the State Emergency Office when needed.

The OCEC/RACES is administered under the guidance of the Oswego County Emergency Management Director.

In May 1951, then New York State Radio Officer, Vincent T. Kenny, W2BGO, spearheaded the establishment of the Northeast United States Civil Defense Amateur Radio Alliance (USCDARA).  In 1955 this group promoted adoption of a Standard Operating Procedure, channelization of the RACES frequency allocations, uniform message forms, etc.

The Federal Communications Commission established the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) effective August, 15, 1952 to meet the needs of the Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA), state and local governments.  If ever again there is a need to suspend Amateur Radio operation because of a national crisis, RACES will remain on the air serving the needs of the government.

Since those early days, the oversight of RACES has been given to the local office of Civil Preparedness to meet the needs of the local government during emergency situations.