Highland Lakes Amateur Radio Emergency Service
A volunteer organization of licensed amateur radio operators serving Blanco, Burnet, Llano, and Mason counties in the Texas Hill Country.
Our Mission
HLARES exists to provide reliable emergency communications support to served agencies — county emergency management offices, the Red Cross, and other public safety organizations — when normal communications infrastructure fails or is overwhelmed.
We train regularly, maintain equipment, and coordinate with county Emergency Operations Centers so that when disaster strikes, our operators are ready to deploy.
Service Area
We serve four counties in the Texas Hill Country.
What We Do
Emergency Activation
Deploy operators to county EOCs and shelter sites during declared emergencies, providing voice, digital, and packet communications when commercial systems are down.
Weekly Training Nets
Run structured nets every Sunday on 147.020 MHz and Brandmeister DMR to keep operators current on procedures, equipment, and ICS protocols.
Exercises & Drills
Participate in ARRL Simulated Emergency Tests, county-level tabletop exercises, and multi-agency drills to validate our readiness and identify gaps.
Public Service Events
Provide communications support for community events, parades, and public gatherings throughout the four-county area.
Licensing & Training
Host licensing classes and VE exam sessions to grow the pool of licensed operators in the Highland Lakes region.
ICS Integration
Operate within the Incident Command System alongside county emergency management, ensuring our communications fit seamlessly into the broader response structure.
Affiliation
HLARES is an ARRL-affiliated Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) group operating under the guidelines of the American Radio Relay League. We coordinate with the Texas Section ARES organization and maintain Memoranda of Understanding with county emergency management agencies in our service area.
Get Involved
HLARES is always looking for licensed amateur radio operators who want to serve their community. Whether you are a newly licensed Technician or an experienced Extra class operator, there is a place for you on our team.