WHAT IS THE SRV-ERN?

The Santa Rosa Valley - Emergency Radio Network (SRV-ERN) is designed to provide Valley residents and businesses with a communications capability in the event that an emergency results in the loss of normal communications resources. It is also intended to be available for neighborhood communications in support of the Neighborhood Watch and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs. The SRV-ERN uses a combination of licensed and un-licensed radio services to link everyone who wishes to participate into an integrated network.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The local neighborhood portion of the SRV-ERN allows all residents and businesses to purchase low cost Family Radio Service (FRS) equipment, that does not require a license to operate, and be in communications with others in their Neighborhood. Participants in Neighborhood Watch who join the SRV-ERN can use this capability 24 hours a day to keep in touch with other memebers of their team. CERT members can immediately be in touch with each other to coordinate their efforts in the case of an emergency. Everyone who particiaptes in the SRV-ERN can receive first hand reports of special situations occuring in the Valley. (Note: The un-licensed Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS)is also available if enough interest is shown.)

The second level of the SRV-ERN provides communications between Neighborhoods in the Valley. This is accomplished using radio services which require an FCC license. Both Amateur Radio Service (ARS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) stations participate at this level.

ARS stations that are part of the Amateur Radio Emergancy Service (ARES) and the Ventura County Auxilliary Communications Service (ACS) have the capability to communicate with the Ventura County Office of Emergency Servies (OES) and local emergency responders if normal communications channels become inoperative. Some of these stations are also capable of communicating directly with California State OES, if required. It is anticipated that in the event of a major disaster both land-line and cellular telephone service will be unavailable and this SRV-ERN capability will become critically important.

As part of the Network, there is also a Valley radio station, licensed with the Federal Government, capable of communicating with Federal Agencies and the Department of Defense, when required.