Community groups see how new equipment will help keep them connected in emergencies

Members of community emergency support groups from across the county attended a Lancashire Resilience Forum event in Silverdale to see how specialist telecommunications equipment could help them stay connected during times of emergencies.

Hosted by members of the Forum’s ‘telecoms support’ subgroup those present received demonstrations about the equipment that can be used to ensure community groups can stay connected with emergency responders in times of need.

Chris Shuttleworth, Vice Chair of the LRF Telecoms group, said: “The LRF via the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has funded portable specialist radio equipment that can be deployed to community hubs during emergencies such as flooding or power outages that will provide a direct means of contact between themselves and emergency responders.

“The demonstration and deployment of equipment in Silverdale was a live opportunity for people to connect to both the ‘Radio Mobile Repeater’ and the ‘Mobile Internet access’ points via a Satellite uplink which will enable communications where normal systems are unavailable.

“The interest and enthusiasm of the many community groups in attendance was great to see and highlighted the powerful outcomes of community engagement with this Lancashire LRF which helps ensure all communities are better equipped to prevent, respond to, and recover from emergencies.’’