During times of diasater, amateur radio operators have always served their community by providing radio communications when normal communications such as telephone, broadcast radio and government radio systems were impaired or disabled. One of the organizations of amateur radio operators assisting in this emergency communications on Oahu is RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services). RACES, a national organization, founded in 1952, operates mostly at the local and state level to assist government communication needs during disasters. In Hawaii, RACES has been active for more than 20 years. On Oahu, more than 100 amateur radio operators, from all parts of the island, have registered with RACES and are ready to assist, if needed, for emergency communications.