New Repeater is Up!

Last night, June 7th, marked an important milestone for our community’s resilience. We successfully hosted our very first all-island radio net utilizing the brand-new repeater stationed high atop the Mathews water tower. For the first time, we had clear signals across the entire island, proving that we are closer than ever to a fully unified emergency communication network.

This achievement wasn’t made overnight, and it certainly wouldn't have been possible without key state backing and some serious heavy lifting:

• The Funding: The repeater itself was made possible through a state grant secured by the Quality of Life Committee. Their dedication to community welfare ensured we had the financial backing to acquire this equipment.

• The Muscle: Having the gear is one thing, but getting it up the tower is another. Our deepest thanks go out to
  Chief Reynolds, who was absolutely instrumental in the installation. The Chief quite literally went above and beyond—climbing to the very top of the Mathews water tower to personally install the repeater antenna.

This success is a massive step forward in uniting our whole island under a dependable, crisis-ready communication system. We are steadily moving ahead with our GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) system, and with every weekly net, our neighborhood teams are gaining greater proficiency and confidence.

A massive shout-out goes to Brian Ramey, who has been leading our emergency communication effort (learn more at andersonislandecg.org) and was our net command for the evening. Brian masterfully guided us through the net, systematically checking in with all of our dedicated zone leads and neighborhood coordinators. Hearing every single signal check come through across the entire geography of our island was an incredibly rewarding moment for everyone who has put time into this project.

In the event of a major crisis or power outage, we won't be left in the dark. We now know that our radio system works, our coordinators are being trained, and our signal is strong.

Thank you again to Brian, Chief Reynolds, the Quality of Life Committee, and every neighbor who tuned in last night. Keep your radios charged, and we’ll catch you on the next net!