Bears are a consortium formed by the radio clubs and operators in Brevard County to provide emergency communications assistance to county and municipal agencies as well as the National Weather Service, Florida Division of Emergency Management, American Red Cross, Salvation Army and other public and private service agencies.

Bears are a fully formed non-profit Florida corporation and has  a 501(c)(3) finding by the Internal Revenue Service.  All participating members are volunteer communications enthusiasts and receive no remuneration for their services.

In November 1996, Bears signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Brevard County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to fulfill all RACES functions whenever the OEM Director so decrees.  This MOU provides the authority and certifies the bilateral commitment of support and resources.

Members of the eleven participating amateur radio operators clubs have been provided proper identification through  the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES), or
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES), or the
Radio Emergency Associated Communications Team (REACT).