A new $2.3 million digital mobile radio system will enhance communications among agencies during disaster response and recovery, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors announced.

The county’s Department of Public Infrastructure partnered with Neighborhood Auxiliary Communications Services to train users and distribute 500 handheld radios, county officials said.

The communications would occur between county officials, community groups and the Department of Public Infrastructure.

Mobile and handheld radios were installed on department vehicles and assigned to employees.

“To date, county officials have trained more than 200 community members on how to use the radios in the communities of Villa Grande, Hacienda, Monte Rio, Rio Nido, Cloverdale, Occidental and Guerneville,” county officials said in a statement.

Covering most of the county

The radios operate within the General Mobile Radio Service by using a network of 14 repeaters that facilitate communications covering approximately 80 percent of the county.

The Department of Public Infrastructure has 85 handheld transceivers and 144 digital mobile radios to help staffers’ ability to respond in the field and ensure work safety.

A statement from the county said that the exclusive network relies on nine repeaters installed at Pine Mountain, Moonraker, Meyer’s Grade, Bodega, Mount Barham, Siri Ridge, Mount Jackson, Sleepy Ridge, and Sonoma Mountain.

Chair of the Board of Supervisors David Rabbitt said that experience has showed how communication during natural disasters can be limited or cut off in rural communities, but the new radios could streamline communication and mitigate safety risks.

Funding for the system came from PG&E settlement funds from the 2017 Sonoma Complex fires and county roads funding.

Residents wanting more information about the radios or the Auxiliary Communications Services can contact the Department of Public Infrastructure at 707-565-2550 or by email.

Victoria Franco is a reporter based in Stockton covering San Joaquin County for Bay City News Foundation and its nonprofit news site Local News Matters. She is a Report for America corps member.

Victoria Franco is a Stockton-based reporter covering the diverse news around the Central Valley as part of the Report for America program. As a Stockton native, Franco is proud to cover stories within her community and report a variety of coverage. She is a San Jose State University alumna with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism. In her collegiate years she was Managing Editor for the Spartan Daily. From her time at the Spartan Daily she helped lead her staff to California College Media Awards and a General Excellence first place. Victoria encourages readers to email her story tips and ideas at victoria.franco@baycitynews.com.