We are looking for Los Paseos neighbors who are interested in participating in our emergency radio project.  Technical experience is not necessary; the only requirement is your desire to help our neighborhood.  Our current team is composed of an accountant and a group of engineers.  In particular, we are seeking neighbors in the outer areas of the neighborhood (Sessions, Pegasus, Cheltenham and Bayliss).  However, all areas are welcome.  We also need a few more amateur radio and GMRS licensees.

The goal of the LPNA’s Emergency Radio Project is to provide Los Paseos with 2-way communications during an emergency.  In a natural or manmade disaster, traditional communications may be disrupted.  Cell phones, landlines, and Internet will be overloaded or unavailable.  This may happen in a big earthquake or large wildfire.

The emergency communications system we are developing has two parts:

1) Walkie talkie radios to cover our neighborhood (we are using MURS radios)
2) Amateur radio operators (hams) with more powerful radios to communicate with government emergency services

During a major emergency we would set up a neighborhood command post, and neighbors with walkie talkies could report emergency incidents.  The hams at the command post would relay the information to SJ RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) or the City of San Jose EOC (Emergency Operations Center).  In addition, volunteer teams of neighbors and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) members would be deployed to assess the neighborhood.  Status and urgent situations would be radioed to the command post.

For the past few months, the LPNA Radio Team has been evaluating radios and antennas to ensure adequate radio coverage throughout Los Paseos.  In mid-April, we conducted our largest radio exercise to date.  Field antennas were set up at the park and team members with talkie talkies moved to various locations throughout Los Paseos to confirm radio reception.  We were able to cover all areas in our neighborhood from the park, including Sessions, Pegasus and Bayliss.  We had radio communications capability up to 0.8 miles from the command post.

If you are interested in volunteering, please reachout through the website’s Contact Us form. An LPNA member will get back to you ASAP.

In addition to the LPNA Emergency Radio Project, you may also be interested in attending the free basic CERT training provided by the city of San Jose.

The training covers:

disaster preparedness
small fire suppression
medical operations
light search & rescue
psychology & team organization
plus disaster simulation exercises

Be prepared for your family and neighbors.  Check out the City of SJ website