MURS Radios
When Cell Phones Don’t Work: Connecting OSJ Road to the Emergency Communications Network
What happens if a major earthquake, wildfire, or other disaster takes down power, cell service, and internet?
Santa Cruz County emergency services, ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service), Firewise communities, and other preparedness groups are already building and practicing a backup radio network for exactly that situation. OSJ Road Firewise is joining that effort.
On August 31, I attended a MURS radio training offered by the San Lorenzo Valley Emergency Network (SLVEN) to learn how our community can participate.
How It Works
MURS radios provide simple, short-range communication among neighbors without relying on cell towers or internet. A licensed ham radio operator can then connect the local community to the wider emergency communications network.
Neighbors using MURS → local ham operator → ARES → County Emergency Operations Center
At the training, we practiced using the radios, sending clear messages, and dealing with our mountainous terrain. The goal isn’t for everyone to become a radio expert—it’s for neighbors to know how to communicate locally, while trained ham operators handle the connection beyond the community.
As the instructors put it:
“With practice we can make the extraordinary seem ordinary.”
October 4 Communications Test: What We Learned
On October 4, Santa Cruz County ARES held its fifth Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness Communications Test.
After attending the MURS training and purchasing two radios, I was eager to see whether I could connect OSJ Road Firewise to the countywide network. I had already successfully tested my radios between my home and the Seventh-day Adventist Camp on Old San Jose Road.
But after contacting John Gerhardt, the Santa Cruz County ARES District Emergency Coordinator, I learned that we’re missing an important piece: a licensed ham radio operator in our community.
During these countywide exercises, ham operators receive messages from the County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) through amateur radio repeaters. They then relay those messages to neighbors using MURS radios or other local communication methods, collect acknowledgments, and report back to the EOC.
MURS radios are great for communicating locally, but they cannot connect directly to the countywide amateur radio network.
So, while we’ve taken the first steps, OSJ Road Firewise isn’t yet connected to the countywide emergency communications network.
Now we need to organize our local communications, get more neighbors familiar with MURS radios, and find someone who can serve as our ham radio connection.
Could You Be Our Ham Radio Connection?
Here’s a great opportunity!
Santa Cruz County ARES is offering a FREE Ham Radio Technician License class beginning October 15. No previous radio or electronics experience is necessary, and the class starts from scratch.
It would be wonderful if someone from our OSJ Road Firewise community were willing to take the class and eventually help connect our neighbors to the county emergency communications network.
Even better, youth ages 16 and under who pass the Technician exam can receive a free handheld ham radio.!
Who Do We Already Have?
Are you a licensed ham radio operator? A current or former CERT member? Do you already have MURS radios?
We’d love to hear from you!
We’re trying to identify the people, skills, and equipment already within our OSJ Road Firewise community so we can begin organizing our local emergency communications and connect with the larger countywide network.
We’re also interested in connecting with nearby Firewise groups that may be working toward the same goal.
Please contact us at osjrfirewise@gmail.com.
Free Webinar: How Alerts, Apps and Radios Can Help You Survive an Emergency Evacuation
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 | 4:30–5:30 PM | Online
Our Firewise neighbors over the hill in Santa Clara County are offering a free webinar about staying informed and connected during a wildfire evacuation.
Will you get the warning when it matters most?
Wildfire preparedness advocates Peter Hertan and Rob Stump will share practical advice about emergency alerts, smartphone apps, and radios, including how to prepare for situations when traditional communication systems fail.
Peter is an experienced emergency communications educator and Firewise community leader who has spent more than a decade teaching homeowners about ham and GMRS radios.
Rob has extensive experience organizing Firewise communities, supporting wildfire evacuation drills, and advancing community preparedness efforts in the Los Gatos area.
Together, they’ll share practical ways to improve your ability to receive warnings, stay informed, and make decisions during an emergency.
Virtual register here or if this is giving you issues go to sccfiresafe.org/firewise
A Few More Radio Resources
Interested in learning more about MURS radios and emergency communications?
The San Lorenzo Valley Emergency Network is offering an Advanced MURS Radio: “What’s Next?” class on Sunday, November 8, from 1–3 PM at Mountain Community Resources in Felton.
Advance registration is required, and the class is limited to 20 participants.
** Register for the November 8 Advanced MURS Training**
You can also learn more about local emergency communications training through the San Lorenzo Valley Emergency Network.
