Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda Complete Joint Emergency Satellite Communications Network

Emergency management officials from the cities of Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda announced on Tuesday that all municipal safety facilities across the Lamorinda region are now fully connected through a hardened high-bandwidth satellite communications network. Overseen by the Moraga-Orinda Fire District and Lafayette emergency preparedness coordinators, the project ensures that local dispatch centers, firehouses, and municipal police departments retain continuous voice and data connectivity even during catastrophic utility grid failures, earthquakes, or severe wildfires.

The regional network features five commercial Starlink and low-Earth-orbit satellite receiver terminals installed on structurally reinforced roofs at Moraga-Orinda Fire District stations, Lafayette City Hall, and Orinda public works facilities. Each ground station is connected to an independent solar-charged battery backup system capable of operating autonomously for up to seven days without commercial grid power. System tests conducted Tuesday demonstrated seamless failover within 400 milliseconds of simulated cellular tower disconnection.

Municipal leaders across Lamorinda emphasized that the narrow canyon geography of Highway 24 and the surrounding hills has historically created hazardous cellular dead zones during major regional power disruptions. By linking municipal operations directly to satellite relays, emergency dispatchers can track mutual aid fire apparatus in real time, broadcast automated evacuation alerts to residents, and coordinate evacuation routing with Caltrans and Contra Costa County emergency managers.

Lamorinda residents, community emergency response team (CERT) volunteers, and neighborhood leaders can learn more about emergency communication protocols and evacuation zone maps online at mofd.org or lo-cert.org. Inquiries regarding household disaster preparedness kits and neighborhood satellite radio hubs may be directed to the Moraga-Orinda Fire District administrative office Monday through Friday at (925) 258-4599. Joint tri-city emergency response drills are scheduled for late November.