EPIC-FSC has a communication plan, ECHO, which stands for Emergency Communications for Home Occupants.
ECHO complements the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) approach to emergency preparedness. Ref: CERT
One aspect of ECHO is radio communication between clusters of households that we call Neighborhood Networks. Each Neighborhood Network uses Family Radio Service (FRS) radios. Residents within a Neighborhood Network can talk to each other using these radios. They are easy to use and highly reliable over short distances. Each Neighborhood Network uses the same FRS channel.
In addition to being able to transmit and receive on FRS channels 1 through 15, Channel 16 is used to transmit information over the City’s amateur radio station.
In an emergency where there’s and immediate threat to life or property and there is no other form of communications, amateur radio operators will relay messages from the City’s EOC and other official sources. They will usually transmit information hourly on the hour.
Our amateur radio operators can also communicate with the LA County Sheriff’s Department and other emergency services.
About the radio controls:
The on/off knob on the top of the radio also adjusts the volume.
Side-switches choose the channel.
When you turn on the radio, it announces Power On and the Channel Number. Each time the channel up/down switches are pressed, the radio selects and announces a different channel.
The radios are rechargeable using a supplied USB cable. You can plug it into any USB power source. You will need to charge your radios periodically.
Using Your FRS Radio
It’s easy and fun to use FRS radios and they can provide vital information during an emergency. You will be assigned a personal call sign by our Team Leaders for identification when transmitting. EPIC will travel to your location to help you with your radio or we can meet at the library.
A few helpful tips in how to use the radio:
Wait a half second after pressing the push-to-talk switch or your first word won’t go through.
While you’re talking, you won’t hear anyone – you have to release-to-listen.
We share the channels with the general public, so be polite and wait until the channel is clear before talking. If you hear someone talking after you talk, your message probably didn’t go through.
We try to assign channels by neighborhood, but you might hear others on your assigned channel.
Reliable information is critical. In an emergency, official bulletins will be read hourly on Channel 16. Only vetted information from this source will be shared.
Note: Channel 15 is no longer used for KNX – it’s used for FRS 15.
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