The Board of Supervisors Tuesday authorized the Riverside County Emergency Management Department to apply for a $60,000 state grant that would enable the agency to purchase high-frequency communications gear intended to improve coordination with federal and state agencies during crises.
In a 4-0 vote without comment, and with Supervisor Manuel Perez absent, the board cleared the way for the EMD to compete with other agencies statewide for the California Office of Emergency Services High Frequency Communications Program funding.
“EMD would use the funds to purchase interoperable HF communications equipment that would allow EMD to communicate with CalOES and federal agencies without the need for an amateur (radio) license,” according to an agency statement posted to the board’s agenda. “The funds will expand communication capabilities at our emergency operations centers.”
There are county EOCs in the Riverside metropolitan area, as well as the Coachella Valley.
If the county receives the grant award, the money would need to be expended on procurements between April 2022 and October 2023. Federal funding is also available, officials said.
The county operates a digitally encrypted communications system for law enforcement operations, encompassing not only the sheriff’s department, but almost all municipal police agencies throughout the county, but that network does not extend to state and federal entities.