Disasters don’t wait for convenient moments. Hurricanes, severe weather, infrastructure failures, and community emergencies can disrupt the very communications that first responders and citizens depend upon. When those systems become overloaded or fail, someone must be ready to bridge the gap.
That is why the Brevard County ARES® Team (BCAT) exists.
BCAT is a volunteer-driven, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening our community through emergency communications, public service, education, and preparedness. We believe that resilient communities are built long before disaster strikes—through training, partnerships, innovation, and people who are willing to serve others without hesitation.
Our volunteers are neighbors, veterans, educators, engineers, healthcare professionals, retirees, students, and community leaders united by one purpose: to ensure that critical communication remains available when they are needed most.
Every hour our members invest in training, every public event we support, every new amateur radio operator we mentor, and every emergency exercise we participate in helps create a safer, more prepared Brevard County.
Service is not something we do occasionally, it is who we are.
Whether providing communications support during community events, assisting emergency management partners, teaching FCC amateur radio licensing classes, mentoring new volunteers, or deploying communications resources during emergencies, our members share an unwavering commitment to protecting and serving our community.
Our greatest asset isn’t our technology.
It’s the people who volunteer their time, knowledge, and experience to ensure that no one is left disconnected when communications matter most.
Preparedness is not built overnight.
It requires continuous education, realistic training, modern equipment, and strong partnerships. Through the BCAT Academy, members receive comprehensive instruction in emergency communications, FEMA Incident Command System (ICS) principles, radio operations, digital messaging, deployment procedures, leadership development, and technical skills that prepare them to serve professionally and effectively.
We continually expand our communications capabilities by investing in reliable infrastructure, including:
These capabilities provide dependable communication when conventional systems are unavailable or compromised.
One of BCAT’s greatest priorities is developing the next generation of emergency communicators.
We believe that every new volunteer represents another family, neighborhood, and community that becomes better prepared. Through mentorship, education, and hands-on experience, we transform interested individuals into confident, capable communicators who are ready to serve when called upon.
By investing in people today, we are strengthening community resilience for decades to come.
As a nonprofit organization, BCAT depends upon the generosity of donors, sponsors, grants, and community partners to continue expanding our capabilities.
Your support helps provide:
Every contribution directly strengthens our ability to serve the citizens of Brevard County before, during, and after emergencies. When you support BCAT, you are not simply funding equipment. You are investing in trained volunteers. You are investing in community preparedness. You are investing in resilient communications that can save lives when every message matters.
Our vision reaches beyond today’s needs.
We are building one of Florida’s premier volunteer emergency communications organizations—recognized for operational excellence, technical innovation, professional training, and trusted partnerships with public safety agencies and community organizations.
We envision a future where every community has access to reliable emergency communications, every volunteer is equipped to serve with confidence, and every partnership strengthens our collective ability to respond to disasters.
This vision is only possible because of people who believe in preparedness, volunteerism, and community service.
Together, we can build a stronger, safer, and more resilient Brevard County.
To recruit, train, equip, and empower volunteer amateur radio operators to provide professional emergency and auxiliary communications that support public safety agencies, emergency management, healthcare partners, nonprofit organizations, and the communities we proudly serve.
To be the leading volunteer emergency communications organization in Florida—recognized for excellence in training, technology, service, and community partnerships while inspiring future generations of emergency communicators.
Prepare. Respond. Communicate.
These words define our commitment to our community. We remain connected through teamwork and technology, prepared through continuous training and planning, and always ready to serve whenever and wherever we are needed.
Together, we are building a more resilient volunteer tomorrow, one partnership, and one connection at a time.
© 2026 Amateur Radio Emergency Services of Brevard, Inc. (BCAT) • N4TDX • A Florida 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization. All Rights Reserved.
ARES®, Amateur Radio Emergency Service, and associated logos are registered marks of the American Radio Relay League, Incorporated, and are used by permission.