🚨 Emergency Communications
When disaster strikes, amateur radio operators provide critical communications. LARC and BCARES are Boulder County’s ham radio emergency response team.
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What is BCARES?
BCARES — Boulder County Amateur Radio Emergency Service — is a volunteer organization of licensed amateur radio operators who provide emergency and public service communications for Boulder County, Colorado. BCARES has been a part of the Longmont Amateur Radio Club since its founding in 1978, following the Big Thompson Canyon Flood of 1976 which demonstrated the life-saving value of amateur radio in disasters.
BCARES operates under the ARRL’s Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) framework and coordinates directly with Boulder County Emergency Management (OEM) and local served agencies including hospitals, the Red Cross, and municipal emergency services.
🏔️ Colorado High-Risk Environment: Boulder County faces significant risk from wildfires, flash flooding, blizzards, and earthquake risk from the Wattenberg fault.
When commercial infrastructure fails, BCARES operators can provide critical voice, data, and coordination communications.
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What BCARES Does
🚨 Disaster Response
Voice and digital communications for evacuations, search and rescue coordination, shelter-in-place operations, and multi-agency incident command support.
🏥 Served Agencies
Communications support for Boulder County OEM, American Red Cross chapters, hospitals, CERT teams, and municipal public safety agencies.
🏃 Public Events
Safety communications at running races, cycling events, and other large community gatherings — getting practice while serving the public.
📻 Training Exercises
Regular ARES exercises and simulated emergency tests (SET) to keep operators ready. BCARES participates in the annual ARRL SET every fall.
🌐 Winlink / Digital EmComm
Email via radio when internet is down using the Winlink global radio email system. BCARES operators maintain station capabilities for digital emergency messaging.
🏔️ ARES Coordination
BCARES coordinates with neighboring ARES groups in Larimer, Weld, Jefferson, and Adams Counties for large-scale incidents and mutual aid operations.
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How to Join BCARES
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Hold a Valid FCC Amateur Radio License
Any license class (Technician, General, or Extra) qualifies you to join. Not yet licensed? Visit our Education page to get started.
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Register with ARRL ARES
Create a free account at arrl.org/ares and register for the Colorado Section / Boulder County group.
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Complete IS-100 and IS-700 (Free FEMA Courses)
FEMA’s free online Independent Study courses in ICS (Incident Command System) and NIMS are required for most served-agency operations. Takes about 3–4 hours total at training.fema.gov.
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Contact BCARES / Attend a Meeting
Reach out via the contact form below, or attend a LARC meeting where BCARES leadership can introduce you to the group and upcoming training opportunities.
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Equip for Go-Kit Operations
A basic BCARES deployment kit includes a dual-band HT, spare batteries, and a copy of local frequencies. BCARES can advise on recommended gear for new members.
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Training & Resources
🎓 ARRL EmComm Courses
EC-001 (Introduction to Emergency Communications) through EC-016 (Emergency Communications Management). Free and paid options available.
🌐 FEMA IS Courses
IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800 — the standard ICS/NIMS courses expected for served-agency operations. All free at FEMA’s Independent Study program.
📧 Winlink
Email over radio — no internet required. Download the Winlink Express client, configure for your radio, and practice sending traffic over the air.
🏔️ Boulder County OEM
Boulder County Office of Emergency Management — the primary served agency for BCARES. Coordinates county-wide emergency preparedness and response.
🌐 Colorado ARES
Statewide ARES coordination, section-level emergency preparedness, and Colorado-specific training resources.
📻 BCARES Net
The BCARES net meets regularly on the W0ENO repeater system for check-ins, announcements, and training exercises. See frequency chart below.
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BCARES Operating Frequencies
📡 Primary Boulder County / LARC Frequencies
| 147.270 MHz (+600 / 100.0 Hz PL) | W0ENO Primary Repeater — Justice Center, Longmont |
| 448.800 MHz (−5 MHz / 88.5 Hz PL) | W0ENO 70cm Repeater — Lee Hill |
| 146.520 MHz (Simplex) | National 2m Simplex Calling Frequency |
| 446.000 MHz (Simplex) | National 70cm Simplex Calling Frequency |
| 3.952 MHz (LSB) | Colorado ARES 80m HF Net (evenings) |
Always verify current frequencies with BCARES leadership — tactical frequencies may change for specific events or incidents.
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Contact BCARES / Express Interest
Interested in joining BCARES or have questions about emergency communications operations in Boulder County? Contact us below or attend a LARC meeting (3rd Thursday, 7:00 PM) where BCARES leadership is usually present.
BCARES History: BCARES was founded as part of LARC in 1978, one year after the catastrophic 1976 Big Thompson Canyon Flood — which killed 144 people and demonstrated the critical role of amateur radio in disasters. LARC has been serving Boulder County’s emergency communications needs ever since.
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