Low Power AM Emergency Advisory Radio System
Hundreds of communities across the United States now operate their own emergency radio stations specifically to tell citizens what to do during flash floods, AMBER alerts, hazardous materials emergencies, terrorist threats tornados, and other critical emergencies. This allows emergency managers to provide citizens up-to-the-minute reports, alerts and instructions with a level of timeliness and detail that can greatly improve community safety when disaster strikes.
During non-emergency times, the stations can inform listeners about street repairs, upcoming events, and even visitor information.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licenses emergency and public information radio stations to broadcast non-commercial, voice messages on the AM radio band. FCC rules provide a 10-year, renewable license in the community's name and a 9.3-mile protection zone inside which no other community can operate on the same frequency.
The effective range for one station is a 3-to-5 mile radius. Synchronized transmitters can be added to expand the coverage area. Reception of the low-power (10 watt) AM radio signal is better on a vehicle radio, as opposed to an AM receiver in a building.
The geographic shape of our community seems to indicate that a two-transmitter system would be necessary to provide adequate coverage to our residents. Possible transmitter sites are the College Station Police Department building and the Greens Prairie Road water tower. A preliminary base budget estimate follows.
- Base Radio System- transmitter; antenna/ground plate system; digital message
programmer; local and telephone control interfaces, NOAA EAS/NWS receiver,
indoor dual rack cabinet, connectors, cables and wiring; power supplies;
lightening arrestors$11,995
2. Secondary site station$10,995
3. Battery Backup (96 hours, both transmitters)$ 1,990
4. Cel/SYNCH Synchronizing System$ 2,900
5. Frequency Search and FCC License Assistance$ 395
- Installation Assistance-(testing, tuning, installation, FCC required
documentation, staff training, includes all travel, labor and expenses)$ 1,800
Estimated Total Budget (less shipping)$30, 075
This base budget does not reflect certain other related expenses. Flashing beacon signs could be used to alert citizens who are in transit that emergency information is currently being broadcast. These signs can operate for days, if necessary, on solar power and can be activated automatically via our radio paging system.
The digital message programmer, besides being able to automatically broadcast Emergency Alert System and National Weather Service alerts, can broadcast a twenty-message playlist built from 250 pre-recorded messages. A maximum of seven minutes of recording time per message is standard, but an additional seven minutes is optional. The initial set up of the broadcast messages (copy development and recording production) will require a substantial time investment.