[Ares-races] Insurance Coverage for Amateur Communicators

[Dave Atwell]

Recently in New York State the issue of amateur radio operators being =
covered by insurance during calls for assistance to local governments =
had come to light. It seem that New York is a "Home Rule " state. what =
that means is it is up to the local government body to provide some type =
of coverage when amateur radio operators are called upon to provide =
asisstance.=20

Most local governments feel that this is an expence they can ill afford. =
Some county governments, even though they count amateur radio in their =
local emergency plans refuse to call out amateurs that are registered =
with them for assistance in emergencies. Many RACES and ARES groups who =
hold members in co-registration will not be called upon as the insurance =
coverage is not there. Some local governments do call out amateurs for =
assistance. This occured in an icestorm in northern New York in 1998. =
The amateurs were allowed to sign on as volunteer employees of the =
county they were assisting. In that way they were covered under workers =
compensation if somone became injuried in the performance of their =
duties as assigned. This seemed to work well.

As situations exsist differently in different parts of our country I =
think that a nationwide type of affordable coverage could be of =
assistance. I have over the last several years talked of this type of =
coverage for amatuer operators who are ARES and or RACES members. These =
registered hams could be covered nationwide no matter where they went to =
assist in time of need.=20

I have approched the ARRL about this idea and have not heard much from =
them to this point. I think that as with radio equipment insurance that =
they spear headed to get affordable coverage for all hams. Maybe they =
could be convinced that the time has come to take a look at speaking to =
an insurance carrier that would at least give an idea of some type of =
workers compensation type of coverage for amateurs that WE could afford. =


I think that if we went nationwide the cost would be spread out so =
eveyone of us could afford to have the coverage . In that way we could =
provide our assistance and not worry about insurance as well as provide =
this information to our local governments.=20

I know other parts of the country do not suffer from the same ills as =
some of us in the Northeast have faced.=20

What do you think? Is this at least worth a look on a national level?=20

I think it is.=20

Your thoughts and considerations would be appreciated and your support =
is requested. Manybe if enough amateurs approch the ARRL they would =
consider this a worthwhile idea and take a closer look at it.

I have checked with others in ARES and RACES and I know of NO claims =
made against a served agency by amateurs.



Dave N2FEP
E/C Saratoga County New York State



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