This group has participated in Cycle Oregon, provided damage assessment for the Red Cross after flooding along the Siletz River and as communications personnel for Newport Police Department along the parade route for Loyalty Days.  Although local communications are basic in an emergency within Lincoln County or the governor's emergency operations center, in Salem, they also have the capability for worldwide communications.

The R.A.T.S. are an emergency communications unit that provides Lincoln County with a variety of professional unpaid skills, including administrative, technical, and operational support for governmental communications systems. This operation with equipment on special radio frequencies, is in support of any governmental and critical facility, that might be in any way be connected with an eventual emergency.  These governmental agencies and facilities include 911 centers, hospitals, fire stations, utilities, Red Cross, etc.  Their basic mission is the emergency support of emergency services, disaster response, and recovery with telecommunications equipment and personnel.

The R.A.T.S. are also affiliated with Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (R.A.C.E.S.), a branch of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (F.E.M.A.) communications system.

The R.A.T.S./R.A.C.E.S. members work as staff under the direction and supervision of the Lincoln County Emergency Services.  Each member, because of his or her duty station during an emergency, has had a background check, and has been selected by three other members.  Contrary to other parts of the state, having a radio license does not automatically make you a member of this radio group.