Evacuation Exercise - Communications Breakout

At our recent Evacuation Exercise, Pete and Angie R. shared their journey from an isolated neighborhood in Los Angeles to finding our beautiful Pinewood Lake / Pole Hill community. The breakout session detailed the tools our neighborhood has available to ensure that every resident stays informed, prepared, and safe when it matters most.

When we moved to Pinewood Lake five years ago, we fell in love with this beautiful area and the incredible people who live here. Coming from Los Angeles, where we lived in our previous home for six years, we never spoke to our immediate neighbors, but we escaped during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When we joined the Pinewood Lake Wildfire Action Group (PLWAG), it inspired us to take a close look at how we communicate. Our mission has always been simple: to ensure our neighbors have the information they need to be prepared.

Because we operate with a zero-dollar budget, we maximize several free digital platforms which are noted below. Here is a breakdown of the four communication tools keeping our community connected.

Our Neighborhood Website

Our community website, found at www.PLWAG.org, has been active for over a year, this site acts as a central location for getting information out to the communitty and a digital library of links and articles for our neighborhood.

Whether you are a long-time resident or a newcomer, the website contains wildfire preparedness tips, local news, and a comprehensive community calendar of events. We update the platform several times a month with new educational articles and critical resource links. Most importantly, the homepage features a daily update of the local Fire Danger Status.

• Note for visitors: Because we run the website completely free using the Wix platform, you may notice the domain name change slightly in your browser address bar when navigating the pages. Rest assured, you are in the right, secure place.

Monthly Newsletters

While websites are fantastic reference tools, we push summaries directly to you. To achieve this, we distribute a regular monthly email newsletter using MailChimp.

The newsletter is designed to curate the past month’s highlights, making sure you never miss an important update. It will have our latest preparedness articles, updates made to the main website, local news, and a heads-up regarding upcoming community meetings. If you haven't seen these emails landing in your inbox, check your spam folder or reach out to a committee member to ensure your email address is active on our roster.

• Because we leverage the free tier of Wix Websites, when you go to www.plwag.org you will notice that it redirects you to https://pinewoodlakewag.wixsite.com/home

Our Community Slack

Where the website is static and the newsletter is monthly, Slack is where our neighborhood talks in real-time. Slack is a messaging app that lets neighbors quickly share localized information, coordinate favors, and build social bonds online.

The practical value of this real-time network has proven itself time and again. Recently, a resident stranded without transportation posted a request on Slack and was immediately offered a ride into town by another neighbor. When a neighborhood pet escaped, live updates on Slack helped track its movements and return it safely. Beyond day-to-day announcements and shared neighborhood photos, we have also programmed the platform to automatically broadcast localized weather warnings.

• Because we leverage the free tier of Slack, please keep in mind that conversation history disappears after 90 days. If you aren't on our Slack channel yet, it takes less than two minutes to get set up.

GMRS Radio Communication

The final communication pillar is the one we are most passionate about: the GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) Radio System. When extreme wildfires strike, cellular towers quickly burn or become overloaded, and electrical grids go completely dark. In a true crisis, infrastructure-independent radio is our only reliable lifeline.

We owe a massive debt of gratitude to our neighbor, Eric R., who spearheaded the initiative to install a neighborhood radio repeater. This repeater extends the range of GMRS radios over our unique, rugged terrain.

While Eric, Angie, and Pete are fully licensed Ham radio operators, we recognize that the rigorous technical studying and testing required for a Ham license isn't for everyone. GMRS offers the perfect alternative: there is absolutely no test required. A single $35 regulatory fee covers a license for your entire household for 10 years.

Proven in the Line of Fire: In the two short years our GMRS repeater has been online, it has served as our ultimate fallback communication network during the Alexander Fire, the Stone Mountain Fire, and the recent Sedona Hills fire. It has even handled localized emergencies, like coordinating assistance for a neighbor whose vehicle slipped off icy roads during the winter season.

Thanks to its ease of use, we now have over 60 neighbors and friends actively signed up. To keep everyone comfortable with their equipment, Eric and Angie host a weekly community radio check-in every Thursday at 7:00 PM. It takes just a few minutes and ensures your radio is programmed correctly and functioning well before an emergency arises.

Get Involved & Stay Safe: Community resilience relies entirely on individual participation. If you have questions about browsing the website, signing up for newsletters, joining Slack, or securing your household GMRS radio license, please don't hesitate to reach out to any PLWAG committee member. We are always here to help you get connected!