By Marie Kennedy The Mountain Times
Winter weather in this area can be harsh, knocking down trees and taking out power lines. Wildfires and planned power outages can also cut off our power supply. So how do you reach out for help when that happens – when the cell towers go quiet and you no longer have a working landline? There haven’t been many options, until recently. And the answer is surprisingly simple: radios.
This writer is in the same boat as many others up here. Even with a generator to keep the basics running, I’d have no way to reach out in an emergency – or even just to check on folks and see how they’re doing.
A grassroots group is working to build a network of radios and repeaters that allow residents to communicate over GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) radios. The Hoodland Emergency Communication Network (HECN), formed by the Hoodland CPO, is designed to keep neighbors connected during emergencies — without relying on the internet, phone lines, or power.
At a meeting on June 2 in Welches, Marti Bowne explained the process and gave a brief introduction to using the radios. Several residents came to learn more – some brand-new, others already familiar and equipped. At 8 p.m., we scattered outside to better hear our radios, then ran a routine check-in – an exercise that now takes place every Monday night, usually from home.
With three community repeaters already operating in Brightwood, Welches, and Government Camp — and over 70 members (32 of them equipped with radios) – this network is gaining ground fast.
At the heart of the effort is Marti Bowne, a longtime Hoodland CPO board member. “When the power goes out up here, the phones go down, the internet goes down – what are you going to do?” she asked at a recent presentation. “These radios offer a lifeline. And they’re simple, affordable, and accessible.”
GMRS radios operate on UHF frequencies and are designed for short-distance, two-way communication. They’re stronger than walkie-talkies, more practical than CB or ham radios for most users, and can be purchased for under $100. With repeaters, their range and power increases significantly. An FCC license costs $35 for 10 years – and covers your whole family. With a basic handheld unit and a little training, even beginners can participate in emergency nets.
HECN has been hosting classes and workshops in Welches to help new users understand how the radios work. “You don’t even need to own a radio to come to a class,” Bowne said. “Just show up, listen, and learn. No dumb questions – we’re all learning about this together.”
HECN is supported by Hoodland Fire, the Hoodland Community Planning Organization, and various other groups across the county. Donations, including equipment from Portland General Electric, have helped expand the network’s coverage.
And they’re not stopping anytime soon. “We’ve got three repeaters now,” Bowne said. “And more are on the way.”
In a rural area where winter storms, wind, and wildfires are part of life, HECN is proving that sometimes, old-school communication is the strongest connection we have.
For more information, contact hecn.hoodlandcpo@gmail.com or visit: www.MtHoodWildFirePartnership.org/HECN