The Lowndes County ARES unit is a civilian emergency communications organization comprised of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensed amateur radio volunteers. They provide a command and information network through direct radio communications between the Lowndes County Emergency Operations Center located in Columbus, Mississippi, the Mississippi Emergency Operations Center located in Jackson, Mississippi, and other ARES networks in the event of an enemy attack or a disaster or incident which endangers life or property.

The activation of a ARES communications network greatly enhances the capabilities of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). In addition to the above, qualified amateur radio operators, through the ARES unit, play a vital role in emergency management operations by providing augmentation and back-up communications for response agencies and other volunteer organizations. Many ARES volunteers are also trained and experienced SkyWarn storm spotters, and are able to assist the Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service in the evaluation of a storm cell to determine the need for activation of established warning systems.

Effective February 2003, you must be 18 years of age or older to be a member of the Lowndes County Amateur Radio Club ARES organization.

The Lowndes County Emergency Management Agency provides the organizational framework for the ARES unit and exercises official command and control during any directed activation of the ARES network. For more information on the Lowndes County Amateur Radio Emergency Service unit, contact the Lowndes County Emergency Management Agency at (662) 329-5110 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting  (662) 329-5110      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

NEWS 

Members of the Lowndes County Amateur Radio Club participated in the Red Cross and the Mississippi Emergency Management's table top exercises in February 2005. The Lowndes County ARES net was activated during  Hurricane Katrina.  The net deactivated after the storm had passed.  Local phone and radio services between the local agencies were not interrupted.