Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Barrels Radios topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee to issue simple radio protocol for emergency barrels after hosts report limited range
Summary
The committee will prepare a short protocol for the two-way radios included in community emergency barrels and coordinate a field test with city communications staff after hosts reported limited range and short battery life.
The Depoe Bay Emergency Preparedness Committee agreed to finalize a short protocol for the two-way radios included with distributed emergency barrels and to coordinate a practical test with city communications staff.Members said the barrels contain a compact two-way radio intended to help hosts communicate during the first 48 hours of an incident, but that the devices have limited range and modest battery life.
Deb (committee member) said hosts asked for clear instructions and a simple test: who will be the hub, how the hosts should use the radios, and what training will look like. A committee member explained that a stronger handheld radio could act as a hub for local hosts’ units during a test.
The committee asked Deb to finish a one-page protocol for barrel radio hosts and to coordinate testing with a city communications contact (Michael Dane or Brady, depending on availability). Committee members said the protocol should explain expected radio range, battery considerations and a simple test script.
The committee also discussed whether radio operations should be part of separate communications training sessions rather than being bundled with barrel distribution. No formal vote was held; the group agreed a separate communications exercise and a short training session for hosts would be useful before wider barrel deployment.
Next steps: Deb will complete the draft protocol and send it to staff; staff will arrange a test of the radios and report back to the committee.
