What Are Emergency Communication Frequencies?
Definition and Importance in Disaster Response
When disasters knock out cell towers, internet service, and commercial power, amateur radio operators often become one of the last independent communications systems still functioning. Emergency communication frequencies are specific amateur radio frequencies — designated by national convention, local planning, or regulatory rule — that are pre-agreed upon for use during disasters, severe weather events, and public safety incidents. They differ from everyday operating frequencies in that they are monitored continuously by trained volunteers, linked to served agencies such as emergency management offices and Red Cross chapters, and documented in regional frequency plans well before any disaster strikes.
How Emergency Frequencies Differ from Standard Amateur Allocations
Standard amateur allocations cover the full set of bands and sub-bands legally available to licensed operators for everyday communication and experimentation. Emergency frequencies are a curated subset of those allocations — selected for their propagation characteristics, their ability to support net operations, and their pre-coordination with local infrastructure. During an activated net, these frequencies operate under net control discipline: operators check in, pass structured traffic, and yield to net control. Despite the attention given to national HF frequencies, most real-world ARES and RACES activity occurs on local VHF and UHF repeaters.
The Role of Ham Radio Operators in Public Service Communications
Amateur radio operators use their training, skills, and equipment to provide communications during emergencies. Hams serve their communities when storms or other disasters damage critical communication infrastructure, including cell towers and wired and wireless networks. Amateur radio can function completely independently of the internet and phone systems. Across North America, ARES and RACES volunteers support shelters, hospitals, emergency operations centers, relief agencies, and local governments using radio systems that can operate completely off-grid.
Key Organizations That Govern Emergency Frequencies
ARRL ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) Overview
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is eligible to apply for membership in ARES. ARES is organized through the ARRL Field Organization at the local, section, and national level. Local ARES groups work with local governments. Section ARES groups work with state or county governments. ARRL works with the federal government.
RACES and Its Relationship with Government Agencies
RACES is a part of the Amateur Radio Service that provides radio communications for civil-preparedness purposes only, during periods of local, regional, or national civil emergencies. These emergencies are not limited to war-related activities, but can include natural disasters such as fires, floods, and earthquakes. RACES is administered by local, county, and state emergency management agencies. RACES operates under FCC Part 97.407 and is tied directly to government emergency management agencies. During official activations, RACES operators may work inside municipal or state emergency operations centers alongside emergency-management staff.
In practice, an ARES group also enrolled as RACES can "switch hats" from ARES to RACES and RACES to ARES to meet the requirements of the situation as it develops. For example, during a "non-declared emergency," ARES can operate under ARES, but when an emergency or disaster is officially declared by government emergency management authority, the operation can become RACES with no change in personnel.
SKYWARN and National Weather Service Coordination
To obtain critical weather information, NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service. Amateur radio plays a critical role in this program: amateur radio volunteers generally operate a base station at the local National Weather Service Office during severe weather or other weather disaster emergencies. SKYWARN nets are activated on locally designated VHF and UHF repeaters and are coordinated through each NWS Forecast Office. Frequencies vary by region — always obtain yours directly from your local NWS office or ARES Emergency Coordinator.
NIMS and ICS Integration with Amateur Radio
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a management tool that is being adopted by professional emergency responders throughout the country. Amateur radio operators who deploy in support of public agencies are expected to operate within ICS structures. This means checking in with a Communications Unit Leader (COML), operating within assigned nets, and documenting all traffic. FEMA's IS-100 and IS-700 courses, along with ARRL's EC-001 course, prepare ARES operators to integrate smoothly into NIMS-compliant activations.
Primary Emergency Communication Frequencies by Band
HF Emergency Frequencies: 40m, 80m, and 160m Bands
Most large-scale emergency communications activity still relies heavily on HF radio because it allows regional and interstate communication without infrastructure. Key HF emergency frequencies used by ARES and RACES groups across the United States include:
- 80/75 Meter Band (3.5–4.0 MHz): For voice EmComm, the 75m portion (3.8–4.0 MHz) is where most state and regional ARES emergency nets operate. Common LSB voice frequencies include 3.818 MHz, 3.862 MHz, 3.873 MHz, 3.890 MHz, and 3.950 MHz, depending on region. This band is primarily a nighttime and winter band due to absorption and noise, but it is the backbone of many state emergency nets.
- 40 Meter Band (7.0–7.3 MHz): Daytime regional coverage out to several hundred miles. Common LSB emergency voice frequencies include 7.232 MHz, 7.238 MHz, and 7.275 MHz. The Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz becomes especially active during tropical storms and hurricanes, maintaining direct communications with stations in affected regions.
- 160 Meter Band (1.8–2.0 MHz): Used primarily during winter months and nighttime for regional coverage. Common alternate emergency frequencies include 1.812 MHz (CW) and 1.932 MHz (LSB).
VHF Emergency Frequencies: 2 Meter Calling and Simplex Channels
The 2 meter band (144–148 MHz) is the workhorse of local emergency communications. The most-used ham radio frequency in the US is 146.520 MHz — the 2-meter FM simplex national calling frequency. During an emergency, 146.520 MHz is the frequency to monitor first if you have no other local information. After establishing contact, move to a tactical simplex or repeater frequency. Additional 2 meter simplex channels used for emergency operations include 146.460 MHz, 146.430 MHz, and 147.420 MHz, though local ARES plans vary. Repeater offsets on 2 meters are typically –600 kHz.
UHF Emergency Frequencies: 70cm Band Allocations
UHF ham radio frequencies (like 70 cm) penetrate buildings better, making them ideal for urban environments. Among UHF ham radio frequencies, 446.000 MHz is the 70cm equivalent and is also very active. The 70cm band (420–450 MHz) is heavily used by ARES/RACES groups for tactical and coordination nets, particularly in urban and suburban environments where building penetration is critical. Repeater offsets on 70cm are typically +5 MHz.
National Simplex Calling Frequencies to Know by Heart
Every operator's go-kit radio should have these national calling and simplex frequencies pre-programmed as first-priority channels:
- 146.520 MHz — National 2m FM simplex calling frequency (VHF)
- 446.000 MHz — National 70cm FM simplex calling frequency (UHF)
- 223.500 MHz — National 1.25m FM simplex calling frequency
- 52.525 MHz — National 6m FM simplex calling frequency
- 144.200 MHz — National 2m SSB calling frequency
National calling frequencies are routinely monitored by any number of radio amateurs and are likely to result in a response when calling CQ, Mayday, or SOS.
60 Meter Band: The Dedicated Emergency HF Band
FCC Regulations for Part 97 and 60 Meter Channelized Operations
The 60 meter band has a unique place in amateur radio emergency communications because it was originally shared with U.S. federal agencies and designed with interoperability in mind. In December 2025, the Federal Communications Commission issued a Report and Order that substantially expanded Amateur Radio privileges on the 60-meter band. The new privileges took effect at 0000 EST on February 13th, 2026.
The channelized format was the result of a compromise between the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA), which administers spectrum occupied by government users — the band's primary occupants — and the FCC. The channels are available to General and higher class licensees.
The Updated 60 Meter Channels and Their Uses
Following FCC Report and Order 25-60, the 60 meter band now offers both discrete channels and a continuous segment. The Commission allocated 5351.5–5366.5 kHz to the amateur service on a secondary basis with a permitted power of 9.15 watts ERP. The Commission also authorized amateurs to continue using four existing channels outside of the 5351.5–5366.5 kHz band, centered on 5332, 5348, 5373, and 5405 kHz, on a secondary basis with a permitted power of 100 watts ERP.
For emergency operations, the USB suppressed-carrier dial frequencies are:
- Channel 1: 5330.5 kHz (dial) / 5332 kHz center — USB voice, CW, digital
- Channel 2: 5346.5 kHz (dial) / 5348 kHz center — USB voice, CW, digital
- New Segment: 5351.5–5366.5 kHz — all modes, 9.15W ERP max, 2.8 kHz bandwidth
- Channel 4: 5371.5 kHz (dial) / 5373 kHz center — USB voice, CW, digital
- Channel 5: 5403.5 kHz (dial) / 5405 kHz center — USB voice, CW, digital
It is important to note that the frequencies shown are suppressed carrier frequencies — the frequencies that appear in your transceiver's tuning display when your transceiver is in the USB mode.
Power Limits and Operating Rules on 60 Meters
Effective February 13th, 2026, for the channels centered on 5332, 5348, 5373, and 5405 kHz, the 100 watt ERP limit remains, as does the modes limit (USB voice, CW, and digital), while for the band segment between 5351.5 and 5366.5 kHz, the maximum power limit is 9.15 W ERP, maximum bandwidth is 2.8 kHz, and any mode that is otherwise allowed in Part 97 which meets these criteria is allowed. Additionally, on 60 meters, hams are restricted to only one signal per channel and automatic operation is not permitted.
Interoperability with Federal and Military Communications
The expanded privileges on 60 meters were the result of collaboration between the FCC and the NTIA — the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the agency that manages and coordinates telecommunications activities among U.S. government departments, the primary users of the band. Many experienced emergency operators consider 60 meters one of the best true disaster-communications bands available to amateurs. Its channelized format and shared-use history make it a genuine interoperability bridge for coordinating with federal agencies during large-scale disasters.
VHF and UHF Repeater Networks for Emergency Use
How Linked Repeater Systems Support Regional Emergency Comms
Linked repeater systems dramatically extend the geographic reach of VHF and UHF emergency nets. A linked repeater layer provides additional capability by extending station range and allowing members with handheld transmitters to communicate over wide geographic areas. The enhanced geographic coverage provides for county-to-county contact. State-level ARES sections often maintain linked systems that can connect dozens of repeaters across hundreds of miles. These systems become the primary communications backbone during activations when HF propagation is poor or when tactical local traffic must move quickly.
IRLP and EchoLink in Emergency Deployments
Internet-linked repeater systems using IRLP and EchoLink extend emergency communications beyond RF range when internet connectivity is available. For SKYWARN operations,
