REACT (Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams) is a

CB radio Citizens band radio (CB radio) is a land mobile radio system, a system allowing short-distance one-to-many bidirectional voice communication among individuals, using two-way radios operating near 27 MHz (or the 11-m wavelength) in the high freq ...

Emergency Channel 9 monitoring organizations across the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

and worldwide, established in 1962. The primary role of REACT volunteers was to stand and watch on CB Emergency Channel 9 to help motorists. Later, duties grew to include radio communications after disasters (e.g.,

tornadoes A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with the surface of Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. It is often referred to as a twister, whirlwind or cyclone, although the ...

and

floods A flood is an overflow of water (list of non-water floods, or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are of significant con ...

), and before disasters (storm spotting). REACT safety communications for parades, runs/walks, and other community events also became prominent. REACT Teams have added

amateur An amateur () is generally considered a person who pursues an avocation independent from their source of income. Amateurs and their pursuits are also described as popular, informal, autodidacticism, self-taught, user-generated, do it yourself, DI ...

, FRS,

GMRS The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a land-mobile FM UHF radio service designed for short-range two-way voice communication and authorized under part 95 of the US FCC code. It requires a license in the United States, but some GMRS comp ...

, Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS),

Trunked radio systems A Trunked Radio System (TRS) is a two-way radio system that uses a control channel to automatically assign frequency channels to groups of user radios. In a traditional half-duplex land mobile radio system a group of users (a ''talkgroup'') with ...

, and business band radio ( LMR) to their public service capabilities.

Services provided

Each REACT Team functions within a limited locale. Many REACT Teams utilize their radio communications to provide services such as parking control, search and rescue support, assistance with large public events, safety breaks along highways, and support of local emergency management offices and law enforcement. Some Teams participate in the Skywarn program of storm spotters. All of these roles require the radio communications that REACT Teams offer.

Objectives

*(a) To develop the use of personal radio services as an additional source of communications for emergencies, disasters, and as an emergency aid to individuals;REACT International, Inc., Bylaws *(b) To establish 24-hour volunteer monitoring of emergency calls, particularly over officially designated emergency frequencies, from personal radio service operators, and report such calls to appropriate emergency authorities; *(c) To promote transportation safety by developing programs that provide information and communications assistance to motorists; *(d) To coordinate efforts with, and provide communications support to, other groups, (e.g., Red Cross, Emergency Management, local, state, and federal authorities,) during emergencies and disasters; *(e) To develop, administer, and promote public information projects demonstrating and publicizing the potential benefits and the proper use of the personal radio service to individuals, organizations, industry, and government; *(f) To participate in citizen crime prevention programs were established by law enforcement agencies.

History

1962: A sick infant, a disabled car on a Chicago freeway, and a January blizzard prompted Henry B. (Pete) Kreer to envision using CB radio to get help in such emergencies. Hallicrafters Radio sponsored the founding of REACT in April, with Kreer serving as its executive director. 1967: REACT approached the FCC for a designated CB Emergency Channel. 1969: REACT gained General Motors Research Labs as its new sponsor. 1970: CB-9 was designated the 'Emergency and Travelers' Assistance Channel' by the FCC. The Ohio REACT Network was created. It worked with the Ohio State Highway Patrol to demonstrate how CB-9 could enhance highway safety. It later became the first REACT Council. REACT signed its first MOU ( Memorandum of Understanding) with the American Red Cross. 1973: REACT's Pete Kreer and Jerry Reese were interviewed on the NBC 'Today' show about the potential of CB radio in highway safety. 1975: REACT became an Illinois not-for-profit corporation. 1976: REACT held its first convention in Deerfield, IL. REACT participated in the White House Conference on CB Radio. 1977: REACT launched its highway 'Safety Break' program in cooperation with the American Trucking Associations. REACT developed the NEAR (National Emergency Aid Radio) safety program for the U.S. government. 1978: REACT signed an MOU with Special Olympics. 1982: REACT was honored with the first U.S. President's Volunteer Action Award. 1984: REACT assisted in introducing FRS (Family Radio Service). 1985: REACT office moved from Chicago, IL to Wichita, KS. 1986: 'REACT Month' was observed for the first time. 1988: REACT developed its 'Team Topics' newsletter for Teams. REACT introduced its CB-9 road sign to advise travelers of monitoring. 1991: REACT published the first in a series of 'Team Training Modules' to advance its monitors' skills. 1993: REACT signed MOUs with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and National Weather Service. 1994: REACT, at HamCom in Arlington, TX, hosted remote operation of ARRL flagship station W1AW. 1995: REACT HQ established its first website. Rose City, Windsor, and Ontario REACTs launched the first REACT Team website. Several REACT Teams responded to the bombing of the Alfred P Murrah Building (Oklahoma City). 1998: REACT moved its headquarters from Wichita, KS to Suitland, MD. REACT Teams in Florida that responded to wildfires received recognition from the governor. 2001: Several REACT Teams assisted Salvation Army for a week after the World Trade Center attack in New York City. REACT signed an MOU with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). 2002: REACT assisted with the Olympic Torch Run. REACT presented its first "Radio Hero Award" to an Indiana State Trooper. 2004: REACT again hosted ARRL station W1AW, at HamCom in Arlington, TX. 2005: REACT and Popular Communications magazine began a bi-monthly news column to report Team activity. 2008: REACT presented the second Radio Hero Award to a 9-year-old WA boy. 2010: REACT moved its headquarters from Suitland, MD to Dinwiddie, VA. REACT joined GERC - Global Emergency Radio Coalition - as a Charter Member. REACT presented its third Radio Hero Award to a U.S. airman. 2011: REACT released its 50th Anniversary Logo. REACT Teams responded to

Hurricane Irene Hurricane Irene was a large and destructive tropical cyclone which affected much of the Caribbean and East Coast of the United States during late August 2011. The ninth tropical cyclone naming, named storm, first hurricane, and first major ...

and Tropical Storm Lee. 2012: REACT office returned to Chicago; administration moved to Glendale, CA. 2022: REACT celebrated its 60th anniversary. 2023: REACT launched an update to its heritage triangle logo for optional use by Teams.

References

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External links

REACT International, Inc. Official Website

Tay Valley 6085 REACT UK
Amateur radio emergency communications organizations Emergency communication