For Southern California, which has been plagued in recently years with wildfires, earthquakes, flooding and other disasters, having a satellite-based emergency response system is crucial for keeping its emergency services agencies connected and its emergency response efforts coordinated.

To help facilitate open communications during these times, California’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) uses a system known as SKYMARS, or Sky Mutual Aid Radio System, to keep its various emergency response agencies connected. The system is based on Mobile Satellite Ventures‘ dispatch radio capability.

“Throughout the years, we have utilized several systems to tie together various levels of government,” said John Hudson, Southern Region Communications Coordinator for OES. “It became more apparent…that the SKYMARS system would be beneficial as it provided us with a two-way radio circuit that we could communicate immediately–and not just with one user but with all users in our network.”

The SKYMARS system has been deployed in each of California’s six Emergency Operations Centers throughout the state. The system also has 10 transportable units that can be deployed to a disaster site as needed. OES operates five dispatch radio talk groups on the network, four internal to the agency, including two for tactical operations and one dedicated to fire operations, and a fifth being the SKYMARS talkgroup.

“The SKYMARS talkgroup is available to any public safety agency in the state,” Hudson said, adding that OES serves as the gatekeeper to anyone wanting to get onto the network. Hudson said about 30 agencies have signed up to be a part of the system, and the number is growing.

The system has proven valuable for OES, particularly in battling wildfires in Southern California.

“All of our fire coordinators have these units in their vehicles so when they are in an area where other communications services fail, they can utilize SKYMARS to communicate with Sacramento headquarters,” Hudson said.

The system also has proven valuable when California sent emergency aid to help other states deal with their own disasters. For example, the state deployed the SKYMARS system to Florida to help in the recovery efforts following Hurricanes Andrew and Hugo.

“We were able to use the SKYMARS system to coordinate resources between the deployed filed teams and California,” Hudson said.

It also has been deployed in Idaho and Montana to help those states in their battles against fires.