Issaquah Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers recently installed a General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) repeater on the roof of Blakely Hall to improve emergency communications and strengthen the building’s role as a Resilience Hub during a disaster.

Using an existing antenna, the repeater will help connect Blakely Hall with other resources throughout the city via GMRS or ham radio communications if a disaster disrupts other means of communication.

“The plan is for each Resilience Hub to compile information about the area around them and send it to the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC),” explained Issaquah Highlands resident and CERT volunteer Bob Otis. “The repeater provides broader service, so we can reach Timber Ridge or South Cove from Issaquah Highlands.”

The repeater receives a weak radio signal and re-broadcasts it at higher power over a greater distance, extending the reach of radio communications and making connections possible when traditional communication systems may be unavailable. The repeater is connected to a backup battery inside Blakely Hall, ensuring it can continue to support the community even during a power outage.