REACT... What do they do?

[trace1]

This topic is turning a little "Tavernisitc", don’t ya’ think?

 

[LouisvilleScanMan]

I wouldn't know, I don't hang out in the tavern much.

Oh and Merry Christmas.

 

[hoser147]

Bluegrass I commend you on your straight forward answers and seeing the need to get that type of people disassociated with REACT. In the area Im in there used to be REACT units. However with the BAD pr they have taken on new names and serve the area well. In my county they set up and man a comms unit in disasters and assist in special events. The next county over they provide traffic control during fires and emergencies when paged out by the County Sheriffs Dispatch Center. As to free up Police and Fire units to handle their normal duties. I believe it was started as a good thing however fell to the wayside by poor management along with failure to screen or disipline members, and that shed a bad light on the organization in alot of area's. Take Care.............Hoser

 

[LouisvilleScanMan]

That right there is what I'm talking about, that's the kind of stuff REACT was started for. Citizens helping thier communities during emergencies as well as in everyday stuff. And REACT teams do need to be more strict with thier members.

 

[trace1]

REACT... Where are they?

According to the REACT web-site:

REACT International United States Teams

Alabama (1)
Cullman County REACT

Alaska (1)
Greater Anchorage REACT, Inc

Arizona (2)
REACT of Northern Arizona
Superstition REACT, Inc.

Arkansas (0)

California (22)
Orange County REACT
High Desert REACT
Triple C REACT
Metro REACT
Crest REACT/Crest Comm.
Mountain REACT
DHS Quake S.A.F.E. REACT
Frazier Mountain REACT
Los Angeles County REACT (LACR)
La Habra REACT
Kings County REACT
Antelope Valley REACT
REACT of Greater Long Beach
Comupac REACT, Inc
Blackberry REACT, Inc.
San Gabriel Valley Area REACT
Porterville REACT Team
Poway Valley REACT
REACT of The Golden Gate Area
Southwestern REACT of San Diego
Bay Area Emergency Radio
Oceanside Seacoast REACT

Colorado (1)
El Paso County REACT

Connecticut (0)

Delaware (1)
Kent County REACT

District of Columbia (1)
Federal City REACT, Inc.

Florida (5)
REACT of Lake County
Space Coast REACT, Inc.
Orlando Metro REACT
Flagler County Assist REACT
Tampa Bay REACT, Inc.

Georgia (1)
Middle GA REACT

Hawaii (1)
Honolulu REACT Team

Idaho (2)
Valley Wide REACT
Big River REACT

Illinois (9)
Chillicothe Twin City REACT
Apollo VII REACT
Kankakee Valley REACT
Tri-City REACT
West Suburbs REACT, Inc.
Peoria-Pekin Metro REACT, Whiteside Co. Emergency REACT Inc.
Unity REACT Inc
Great River REACT, Inc.
Chicago Metro REACT

Indiana (9)
Spencer County REACT
Vanderburgh County REACT, Inc.
Johnson County REACT, Inc.
Tri-County REACT
Lake County REACT Team
Circle City REACT
Cass County REACT
Wabash Valley REACT, Inc.
Pulaski County REACT

Iowa (3)
Muscatine County REACT
Louisa County REACT
Cedar-Loo REACT, Inc.

Kansas (2)
Air Capital REACT
Phillips County REACT

Kentucky (3)
Marion County REACT, Inc.
Martine Co. REACT Rescue Squad
Louisville METRO-REACT

Louisiana (1)
REACT Emergency Services

Maine (1)
Penobscot REACT
Maryland (7)
Montgomery County REACT
Frostburg REACT Team
Hagerstown REACT
St. Mary’s County REACT
Annapolis-Arundel REACT
National Capital REACT, Inc.
Prince George’s County REACT

Massachusetts (1)
Commonwealth REACT

Michigan (6)
Lenawee Community REACT
Maple City REACT
Bay County REACT, Inc.
Jackson County Wolverine REACT
Muskegon Co. REACT
Saginaw REACT, Inc.

Minnesota (4)
So. Mn. Albert Lea REACT, Inc.
Red River Valley REACT
St. Cloud REACT, Inc.
Ramsey Co. REACT

Mississippi (1)
REACT Nicholson

Missouri (2)
Tri-County REACT
Mark Twain REACT, Inc.

Montana (0)

Nebraska (6)
Hamilton County REACT
Blue River REACT
Pawnee REACT
Dodge County REACT
Grand Island REACT
Heartland REACT, Inc.

Nevada (1)
Las Vegas United REACT, Inc.

New Hampshire (2)
Ossipee Valley REACT Team
Nashua REACT

New Jersey (4)
McGuire Alert Team, Inc.
Hamilton-Mercer REACT
Bergen-Passaic REACT
Garden State REACT, Inc.

New Mexico (0)

New York (8)
Eldred Interstate REACT
Dutchess/Putnam Co. REACT, Inc.
Reli REACT, Inc.
Westchester County REACT
Metropolitan REACT Emerg Comm
E.R.C. Monroe County REACT
Emergency Medical REACT of NYC, Inc.
Nassau County REACT, Inc.

North Carolina (9)
Burke County REACT, Inc.
Durham County REACT 2457
Onslow County REACT
McDowell County REACT TEAM
Rutherford County REACT
Johnston County REACT, Inc.
REACT of Cleveland County
Tri-County REACT, Inc.
Forsyth County REACT

North Dakota (1)
Northern Tier REACT, Inc.

Ohio (16)
Summit County REACT, Inc.
Quad County REACT
Belmont County REACT
Chagrin Valley REACT
Ross Co. Radio Pat. Svr. REACT
Coshocton Co. REACT, Inc.
Dresden REACT, Inc.
Allen County REACT, Inc.
Greater Lima REACT
Multi-County REACT Response Team
Medina County REACT
Great Lakes REACT, Inc.
Muskingum Co. REACT
Flag City REACT
Tri County REACT
Wayne County REACT

Oklahoma (3)
Comanche County REACT
University of Oklahoma REACT
Oklahoma Co. Emerg. REACT Team

Oregon (1)
Salem Area REACT, Inc.

Pennsylvania (13)
Abington REACT
Lema REACT
United Valley REACT, Inc.
Valley Forge Area REACT
Bloomberg Area REACT
U.S. Search and Rescue REACT
Shenango Valley REACT
Greater Philadelphia Search
Harrisburg Area REACT, Inc.
REACT of Schuylkill & N. Cen. PA
Punxsutawney Radio Emerg. Ser., Inc.
Reading REACT Team, Inc.
York County REACT

Rhode Island (1)
Northern Rhode Island

South Carolina (2)
Charleston REACT Emerg. Team
Colleton County REACT

South Dakota (1)
Lake County REACT

Tennessee (0)

Texas (9)
CBA REACT Helping Hands
Brazoria County REACT, Inc.
Travis County REACT
Bell County REACT
Brownwood CB Emergency Unit
Hill County REACT, Inc.
Dallas County REACT, Inc.
McLennan County REACT
San Angelo REACT, Inc.

Utah (0)

Vermont (0)

Virginia (5)
Richmond Metro. REACT, Inc.
Prince William REACT, Inc.
Herndon REACT, Inc.
Clinch Valley REACT
Winchester REACT Unit

Washington (3)
Rainier REACT Radio Watch
Evergreen REACT
Lake Washington REACT

West Virginia (2)
Upshur County REACT Inc
Fayette County REACT

Wisconsin (8)
Fond du Lac County REACT
Milwaukee County REACT
Tri City REACT, Inc.
Door County REACT, Inc.
C.M.S. Counties REACT
REACT Services Diversified, Inc.
Portage Area REACT, Inc.
Waukesha Area REACT, Inc.

Wyoming (0)

 

[jparks29]

You don't need flashing lights, super reflective graphics, semi-government looking vehicles, etc etc in order to help people on the side of the road..... Hell, look at the AAA road service people... They're usually in a pickup truck or small SUV, with a mini amber lightbar, and a magnetic 'AAA member services' sign.......

The only thing I could ever see someone doing on their personal vehicle is adding some concealed AMBER strobe tubes, and wearing a reflective vest when actually helping someone out.... Maybe, just maybe an arrowstick, although that's treading rough water, because if you need to redirect traffic, PD should be on scene anyway..

Putting all sorts of flashing lights on your vehicle, giving yourself a 'rank', putting all sorts of 'emergency services' decals and whatnot on your vehicle, all 'justified' by claiming that you're waiting for someone within 2 miles of you to ask for help on CB Ch. 9 is just insanity...

I've helped a lot of people on the side of the road, even helped push a few vehicles down the road..... all I ever needed was my 4-way flashers...

 

[cellblock776]

Louisiana (1)
REACT Emergency Services

There are currently no active REACT Teams in Louisiana.

The Team listed above, REACT Emergency Services, has had it's Charter pulled after a RI Special Board Meeting in August due to Colonel Paul being in Parish Prison following his shootout with the police in May.

SouthEast Louisiana REACT, of which I was a member, did not renew it's charter this year. This was a ham radio club which set up UHF voice repeaters and VHF APRS digipeaters. A charter with REACT International meant access to a liability insurance coverage needed for installing repeaters at many tower sites. Nobody in this group wore uniforms or used CB as part of club activities.

SELA REACT made several complaints to REACT International regarding Colonel Paul and attempted to block his being granted a Charter. Some SELA REACT members drove to Texas to attend a Board Meeting in person to appeal to the Board to distance itself from Teams such as the Colonel's. The bad PR generated by the Colonel, and Teams like his, caused more than one tower site owner to back out of an agreement with SELA REACT.

REACT could be a valuable asset for Emergency Communications alongside, or in place of, organizations such as the ARRL ARES® program. It is up to REACT International to reign in their more extreme Teams, promote those who are good roll models and clean up their PR problem.

 

[rabidjade]

From what I have read with the "Colonel" issue, REACT is looking for anyone and everyone to fill the roster. My opinion went sour on REACT after I lodged a local complaint with the Iowa State REACT organization. I caught one of their members sporting blue lights advertising "since volunteers fire fighters can use them, why shouldn't I? I'm a volunteer too." I made a professional complaint siting the guy's "unit" number and everything. In so many words, the reply said "Don't worry about it, he's not hurting your or anyone else by using lights that are deemed illegal in IA." Through my research, I have found one good REACT group out of ten I run across. Just look at the "Tri-County REACT" group out of MO. They make it their point to abuse lighting and try to involve themselves in official affairs.

 

[kb2vxa]

"The Team listed above, REACT Emergency Services, has had it's Charter pulled after a RI Special Board Meeting in August due to Colonel Paul being in Parish Prison following his shootout with the police in May."

Well that's a bit of good news, thanks for the update. I hope they confiscated that truck in the picture I posted and dumped it in the crusher. I hope even more that you can R&R (retreat and regroup) the mess left in the aftermath.

"It is up to REACT International to reign in their more extreme Teams, promote those who are good roll models and clean up their PR problem."

It would help if they follow the Amateur Radio lead and back off the front lines where they're neither needed nor wanted. With the improved emergency communications infrastructure we're not needed there any longer in most instances and now focus on handling health and welfare traffic. It's still the same old story for the general public, when normal lines of communications are cut it's hams to the rescue, people will always have the need to know about friends and relatives and have them reunited. What I'm saying here is it's better to relax and stay out of the way of emergency services, don't try to do what they can do but do what they can't do. They need your support, not your interference.

"Just look at the "Tri-County REACT" group out of MO. They make it their point to abuse lighting and try to involve themselves in official affairs."

That's exactly what I'm talking about, the International needs to take a closer look at local chapters and weed the garden not relying on the officers to maintain order. Call it parental supervision, you wouldn't let your kids run wild or rely on the babysitter... would you? Drop in unexpectedly and make sure she's not getting drunk with her boyfriend.

 

[okccsi]

"Thanks to some cost savings arranged by Director Manlove, our office has been upgraded from dial-up access too DSL access with a router to permit all office computers full time access to the Internet..."

Don Manning

 

[LouisvilleScanMan]

I'm glan to hear Paul Broussard is where he belongs. If he is willing and ready to shoot it out with the PD then he doesn't belong in any department, team, group, club, organization or NEIGHBORHOOD.

Now if we can start getting rid of some of the other nuts...

 

[Tfitzmaurice89]

LOL after looking through the REACT page of tricounty MO, it pretty much makes them look like whackers that the police dont want to do ***** work, so they make the REACT Whackers do the dumb jobs... Oh well they got to look good with their lightbars to make sure a lane is blocked off in a parking lot or make sure a crosswalk has been guarded. LOL... Whackers make me laugh!

 

[KB9NLL]

With the invention of affordable cell phone service, roadside help is pretty much covered now days. Except of course no phone and on a non traveled road.

In 1996 just before I was licensed I hung out with amateurs helping out during the Weyauwega (Waupaca co., WI) train derailment. From memory for those who don't know it was a derailement where propane cars leaked/ were on fire a small town was evacuated all for like two weeks (two weekends for sure). The first weekend I sat in a guys car at a police roadblock. With the understanding that if something happened I would get out and go to the gas station and call my dad to get me (was under 18 at the time) I was there to observe, learn, etc. and was not there for official reasons. The second weekend it was all pretty much overwith so my dad brought me to the ARES "command station" and hung out there talking to amateur radio operators.

My point that I am getting at is while talking to them they told me how react people tried getting in to weyawega and the amateurs had to tell the sheriff deputys that unless they had a amateur radio license not to let anyone (as far as radio communications) into weyawega. It seems to me that it didn't even matter as far as letting anyone in anyways cause the amateur that I was with sat at the roadblock anyways. But I was only there 2 days and don't know all the details of if, or how, or why, etc., they would go in.

 

[rabidjade]

Tri-county has a bunch of my board members including myself banned from their web site. Over the course of time and their publicized tactics, they have sanitized their web site. When they had everything up, their logs made the whole bunch look like cop wannabes performing law enforcement duties and calling each other for backup instead of dialing 911. They have members who started using red/blue but from what I heard, they are backing down to either color but not both.

 

[KB9NLL]

In Wisconsin blue lights are law enforcement use only and if you are not law enforcement they will remove the light and give you a fine etc. And that goes for any blue light flashing or not (at least not while on or parked near the road). Including blue acessory/stylish lights that don't flash or blink (source-a police officer). Of course enforcement is another thing. Not shure about red.

EDIT: Just checked out that website police posers. Glanced at wisconsin light laws I always see the Wisconsin DNR trucks with green lightbars I will check the site out more later. Looks interesting.

 

[gewecke]

It's really unfortunate that certain events had to occur to tarnish the react organization. At one time some years back they really did provide
a useful service to public safety,but the bad pr is in part due to poor
administration and lack of training as well as poor screening of
members.
I have sent emails in the past ,to react international (when I was still active) to address some issues concerning illegal use of authority,radio
etiquette and the like but never received any concern.
We used to do parade escorts; escorting cancer research walkers,
checking Id's at a annual beer garden event,and some stage security
for local concert events as well.
We always maintained a professional appearance as a polite attitude
towards the public,but due to staffing problems and lack of interest
as well as work schedules the events were no longer staffed.
Senior citizens were reluctant to take additional training to stay current resulting in the team dwindling to a few members.
Praise was always common from law enforcement until our team was no longer able to do the job needed.
...but it was fun while it lasted.
n9zas.

 

[N_Jay]

I think REACT obtained credibility back in the CB days from a grant from GM.

Basically it was a "brand" for the CB "Emergency Teams" fairly common back in the day of Channel 9 being the only way to get help.

With cellular phones and better public safety communications, it is obsolete

 

[Steveradio]

I joined REACT back in 96' and yes a lot of members go over board but you still have some good teams around that help the community at local events like Marathons, walks, parades and parking services.

When first joined the use of CB Radio was still active and monitoring CB CH.9 was a big push in the organization. Now with the Family Radio Service(FRS) & GMRS radios REACT is still pushing the monitoring of CB CH.9 but has also started monitoring FRS CH.1 No Tone for users to call in for assistance. Although with the use of cell phones and other data technology most people use those means of communications more now and chances of getting a response back are not that great anymore.

Member attendance is low in most teams and event services or request do not come in like they use to but the name REACT is slowly going away in some communities. Teams struggle to keep membership up and a decent budget but times are changing.

Steve

 

[Tfitzmaurice89]

I did more research on the topic at hand and found that a REACT team was about 20 miles away. They are a "good" team per se and they strictly say on their website that they donot respond to any emergencys or deal with police/fire/ems in any way. They do have a reapeater, so i am interested on monitoring that to see if i can hear any traffic.

Oh yea... i also remember doing a parade duty with the fire department and remember people with "Ameture Radio" traffic vests on directing the parade to where to go... could this be REACT?

 

[cellblock776]

Oh yea... i also remember doing a parade duty with the fire department and remember people with "Ameture Radio" traffic vests on directing the parade to where to go... could this be REACT?

It's "Amateur Radio". More than likely just members of a local ham radio club. Many of us perform public service such as manning check points during parades and bike/walk a thons.
By the way, the January issue of Popular Communications has some Positive stories of REACT teams in it's regular REACT in Action series. Pick up a copy on your newstand.