Harris radios deployed for earthquake test

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Nov. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. company Harris Corp. says its radio technologies will be used as part of the Great Southern California ShakeOut emergency response exercise.

The Great Southern California ShakeOut is an exercise simulating the effects of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake along the San Andreas Fault. The exercise, scheduled for Thursday, is an effort to test the readiness capabilities of the emergency response community.

Harris, a communications and information technology developer, says its high-frequency, multi-band, line-of-sight radio technologies will be deployed with the California law enforcement community during the exercise. Harris officials say their radio system is expected to demonstrate the ability to maintain first-responder communication during an emergency situation.

"This demonstration highlights how our advanced radio products address the unique challenges and critical requirements of public safety agencies," George Helm, Harris RF Communications government and public safety vice president and general manager, said in a statement.

"When lives are on the line, first responders must be able to talk to each other. Our product portfolio provides those critical communication links anytime, anywhere, by eliminating interoperability issues that have previously plagued first responders."