An ECS member is any Amateur Radio operator enrolled in a specific government, in accordance with California State Codes governing the registration and use of Disaster Service Workers, to provide that local government emergency communications via the Amateur Radio Service.  An ECS unit is a part of that government's emergency management agency or any department it so delegates, such as the Sheriff, Fire, etc.  In San Bernardino County, Emergency Communications Service (ECS) was expanded from the original RACES program, incorporating civilians who were not only amateur radio operators, in emergency communications response.  Units may be called something other than RACES by a jurisdiction, but the foregoing definition is RACES in California and elsewhere.  A disaster does NOT have to be declared to use an ECS unit.  An Amateur may be a member of both the ARES and RACES; this is, in fact, encouraged.  The distinction is that RACES is a function of a state or local government; ARES is an activity of the American Radio Relay League.

What is the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service?

What is the Amateur Radio Service?