GLADES COUNTY — Glades County ARES® (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) is actively seeking volunteers to serve as emergency communicators for the county. This initiative is crucial for enhancing the county’s emergency response capabilities, especially in situations where traditional communication methods fail due to natural or manmade disasters.

Both licensed amateur radio operators and those interested in becoming licensed are encouraged to join. Training will be provided to ensure all volunteers are well-prepared. The rural nature of Glades County, along with its dispersed population centers and scarcity of licensed amateur radio operators, has made it challenging to establish a robust ARES team. However, with assistance from ARES in Lee County and the Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club, Glades County ARES aims to build a viable team.

Eli Bermudez, a resident of Muse, has been appointed as the Emergency Coordinator for ARES in Glades County. Eli has been working closely with ARES in Lee County to prepare for this role. In an emergency, ARES volunteers may be called upon to establish communication links as required by Emergency Management, including communications with shelters and fire stations.

If you are interested in serving the community’s communication needs during emergencies or want more information about ARES, please contact Eli Bermudez at kb4eli@gmail.com.

Jeff Kennedy is the Assistant Emergency Coordinator & PIO for Lee County ARES.

ARES® (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) is a national program of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national association for Amateur Radio™. ARES® in Lee County Florida is also known as LeeARES Inc., a voluntary organization committed to providing emergency communications and communications support for events when requested by the Lee County Office of Emergency Management. LeeARES Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is a tax-exempt entity in the United States dedicated to activities that serve the public interest or common good.