ARES in Lee County is an active public service organization providing backup emergency communications to local agencies, shelters, first responders, and community events.
ARES is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and is open to all licensed Amateur Radio Operators—no ARRL or radio club membership required. Members volunteer their skills and equipment to support emergency and public service communications.
In Lee County, Florida, ARES works closely with Lee County Emergency Management, with a primary mission of maintaining communications during catastrophic system failures. During officially declared emergencies, ARES members also serve as Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) operators, supporting local and state government under emergency management authority.
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
The Community Emergency Response Team Program (CERT) prepares individuals to safely respond to emergencies and disasters that may affect their community. Through structured training, CERT members learn essential skills such as disaster preparedness, fire safety, light search and rescue, basic medical operations, and team organization.
CERT training empowers residents to assist family members, neighbors, coworkers, and others immediately following a disaster, especially when professional emergency responders may be delayed. CERT members also strengthen overall community resilience by supporting local emergency response agencies and participating in preparedness and outreach initiatives.
In this area, three active CERT programs serve local communities:
Each program focuses on local preparedness while working collaboratively to support emergency response efforts across the region.
Volunteer Opportunities Through United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades
In Lee County, United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades serves as the designated Emergency Support Function 15 (ESF-15) agency. When the county activates emergency operations due to a disaster, United Way is responsible for coordinating volunteer management and donation efforts on behalf of the community.
Individuals interested in volunteering their time before or after a disaster impacting the Lee County area are encouraged to visit the
United Way Volunteer Center webpage to view current volunteer opportunities and learn how they can best support response and recovery efforts. Centralized coordination through United Way helps ensure volunteers and donations are directed where they are most needed and can have the greatest impact.