RACES, which stands for Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service, is a program that is run by local and state governments in the United States. It is a public service provided by amateur radio operators who are trained and certified to assist with emergency communications during times of crisis or disaster. RACES is activated by state and local emergency management agencies in response to a specific emergency or disaster situation, and RACES volunteers provide communications support to those agencies as needed. This can include transmitting vital information, such as damage assessments and evacuation orders, and helping to coordinate the response efforts of various agencies. RACES is an important part of the overall emergency management system in the United States.