Hoodland Emergency
Communication Network

We Are Growing…

It all began with a humble idea.

April 2025, the realization that we in the corridor without handheld radios will not be able to communicate when the cell phones loose signal.

We decided to find a simple, straightforward approach to create a resilient communication network for emergencies and disasters.

With support from other organizations we gathered information and planned on having 20 radios set up by June 2025.

Suddenly we have 100+ members including 73 or more with radios.

Radio use is easy to learn, and will be there when you need to hear another voice and get help or information.

Today, we have a member list of 100 people, which includes 73 or more licensed radio operators.

GMRS Licensed Radios as of February 2026

Contact us to learn more at hecn.hoodlandcpo@gmail.com

Who We Are and What’s the Plan?

Supported by Hoodland Fire, the Hoodland Community Planning Organization (CPO), and the Mt Hood Corridor Wildfire Partnership, the Hoodland Emergency Communication Network (HECN) is a group of residents committed to building communications resiliency in the Mt. Hood Corridor.

Using GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) radios the group has established communications from Lolo Pass to Sleepy Hollow. From Brightwood to Government Camp. To expand the range of the network we have installed repeaters donated from various sources including Portland General Electric. The repeaters boost both range and clarity.

HECN has taught a dozen GMRS workshops in Welches. We may start workshops again in the Fall, 2025. You do not need a radio to attend a workshop.

If you have a radio, you will need an FCC license $35 for 10 years to speak over the airwaves. Your license will cover all people related to you such a kids, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

It is preferable that you purchase a 5-Watt Radio that is “repeater capable.

We’ve completed the work started on June 28th framing a standard operating procedure for various types of emergency situations where there is no cell connectivity.

We will have hard copy packets ready in late October which will include all the SOP documents.

The documents are on the G-Drive:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1K99hF1fSyjd4oe1nbVQnBkTjZuDqgWvR?usp=drive_link

HECN.hoodlandcpo@gmail.com

Net Control Calls on Repeaters 15 & 16

PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE

Monday Evenings at 6 PM

Please let us know which date you would be available in March to serve as Net Control or Backup. We appreciate volunteers.

March 16th Marti WSHT404

March 23rd Marti WSHT404

March 30th Pat WSHP337

Pat WHSP337 and Marti WSHT404 will serve as alternating Net Control. However, we seek interested volunteers for various dates.

The overall system our radio network will operate in

Emergency Operations Center

Acronyms and Links

Our Community Network Map

102 Members, 73 GMRS Radios

4 Repeaters and Growing

HECN Current Repeater Channel Location Names/Numbers

  • 15R Brightwood (planned raised antenna)

  • 16R Welches

  • 18R Kiwanis Camp (TBA soon)

  • 19R Government Camp

  • 21R 93770 US-26 Highway