WWW.ARESDB.COM FAQ
OK, what's this site for? What can it do?
The site can be used to register for any of several amateur radio emergency communications programs - ARES, RACES, SKYWARN, etc. It can also be used to search registered members for matching capabilities and email or text those members for general communications or alerting purposes.
Why would I want to use this site instead of something else?
Good question! However, this site is free (although accepting donations), and has proven itself over the last 20+ years. If it meets your needs, great! If not, let me know and we'll see if it can be made to meet your needs. If not, then maybe another solution would indeed be better for you.
Why does this site look like it was designed 20 years ago? Where's the CSS/HTML5/etc?
Well, it WAS designed over 20 years ago and was designed before those standards hit the scene, and was designed to be fast loading, mobile-friendly, and to run on an inexpensive cloud platform. In other words, it still does its job, and does it well.
What's the story behind this site? Why does it exist?
The site was originally designed to handle the influx of ham radio volunteers in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Hams from all over the US were selflessly willing to upend their lives and travel to NYC to assist - but obviously that was a less than ideal situation. This site was designed to help register those hams and help the folks matching the needs to the resources to help find those appropriate resources. After the 9/11 response ended, the site morphed into a more general database at the request of several of the responding groups, who still use it today.