The Morgan County Emergency Communications Network (MCECN), along with support from the Morgan County Commission, will provide the first 100 attendees to the in-person event with a free handheld emergency radio. Those who have already received a radio at our last event in November are not eligible.
MCECN is installing a GMRS repeater on Cacapon Mountain that will provide broad coverage of the county. This will enable residents to gain awareness of what is happening in a disaster and call for help over radio in an emergency, if needed.
In the event of a grid-down emergency, radio operators who regularly monitor the air waves will be prepared to relay radio messages to emergency services.
You can outfit your entire family with GMRS radios and use MCECN’s repeater for robust family communications when cell phone and internet services are disrupted.
Those who registered to attend the in-person Preparation Project kick-off meeting must have a GMRS license from the FCC prior to receiving a radio. There is no test required to get a GMRS license. You will need to bring a copy of the license with you to the event to receive the radio.
Each radio has been programmed with channels that can be used for emergencies and will also include National Weather Service frequencies.
WHAT IS GMRS?
GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) is a licensed radio service that operates in channels within the UHF band (around 462 MHz and 467 MHz). GMRS radios can be hand-held, mobile or fixed stations.
A GMRS license does not require a test. It will allow your entire family to operate radios on the GMRS band to communicate with each other and others who have radios throughout Morgan County.
The license costs only $35 and covers a period of ten years. This translates to $3.50 per year for your entire family to be able to communicate in an emergency. Read the details in the Code of Federal Regulations here.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A GMRS LICENSE WITH THE FCC
Applying for a GMRS license can be completed online. It is a two step process.
First, obtain an FCC Registration Number (FRN) if you don’t already have one.
- Here are step-by-step instructions from the FCC. Be sure to make a note of your username and password.
You will receive your FRN immediately upon completing the online form. Write it down. Then you can move to the next steps below.
Once you have your FRN, complete the license application.
- Go to the FCC Universal Licensing System
- Select File Online
- Enter your username and log in
- Select Apply for new license
- Select ZA – General Mobile Radio Service
- Answer No to the first set of questions and select Continue
- Complete the rest of the information asked for
- Pay the license fee.
That’s it! Now just wait for your license and call sign to arrive by email.