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Depoe Bay volunteers say Great ShakeOut radio exercise proved core communications, urge upgrades and training
Summary
At a Depoe Bay emergency-preparedness committee meeting, volunteers reported the community radio exercise confirmed local radio nets and recommended wider use of FRS radios, selective GMRS upgrades and use of the iSnap rapid-needs form for reporting to county emergency management.
Speaker 3, a member of the safety committee, told the Depoe Bay Emergency Preparedness Committee that the recent Great ShakeOut exercise validated the community’s contingency communications and highlighted where upgrades are needed. "When all else fails, the radios are still there," Speaker 3 said, summarizing the exercise’s principal finding.
Why it matters: The committee framed radios as a low-tech but resilient way to share safety information during large earthquakes and possible tsunamis when normal infrastructure may be damaged. Speaker 3 described tests using a crow’s-nest comm center, mobile units in cars and handheld radios that collectively maintained a usable net across parts of Little Whale Cove and Depoe Bay.
What was said: The presenter reviewed three classes of equipment. Family Radio Service (FRS) handsets require no license, transmit about 2 watts and are easy for residents to use; the committee is distributing two FRS radios to many new residents. By contrast, true General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) handhelds transmit at up to 5 watts and require a household license. "The license cost you $35," Speaker 3 said, adding the license covers everyone in a household for 10 years and requires no test. The group also discussed mobile/base stations (present units at roughly 15–20 watts) and antenna trade-offs that affect reception.
Data and process: The group uses an event log during exercises to record readability and a radio poll to confirm who can hear net control; Speaker 3 said radio polls are run monthly and recommended that listeners provide a nearest-intersection or location so coverage can be mapped. The committee also described using the iSnap rapid needs-assessment form (a product the presenter confirmed with Lincoln County contacts) to collect neighborhood-level data and pass it from safety captains to net control and then to Michael Dane or Newport emergency management as available.
Community next steps: Committee members agreed to continue monthly radio polls (first Saturday, 09:00 on channel 15), to encourage barrel hosts to consider GMRS upgrades where appropriate, and to follow up after the meeting with hands-on equipment guidance. The presenter noted that while not everything worked perfectly, the system "does work," and that safety captains should avoid acting as first responders and instead focus on safe data collection and communications.
What’s next: Committee members said they will pursue targeted equipment guidance for hosts who want to upgrade, continue audits of caches, and expand resident outreach and training.
