From our Who’s Buying What page: January’s wildfires in southern California have underscored the need for reliable sources of emergency information.
Much attention has been given to erroneous evacuation alerts generated on cellular devices in Los Angeles County, for example.
The Michigan-based Information Station Specialists, a long-time supplier of Travelers Information Station systems, is calling attention to how several municipalities in the region have equipped themselves with AM radio stations to serve their communities.
Calabasas Radio 1630 AM
Calabasas, Calif., in the western part of L.A. county, operates a TIS on 1630 AM, licensed as WQIX897. ISS supplied the station’s upgraded setup.
FCC rules for the TIS service allow the broadcast of safety information to protect life and property at the discretion of local emergency managers, in addition to conventional TIS content, such as traffic and travel information.
[Related: “TIS Is a Stalwart of Our Radio Landscape”]
Bill Baker of ISS said that Calabasas’ original TIS audio control system was designed in-house utilizing an RF-based link from the city’s control office to their hilltop antenna site. It has now been using the company’s IP-based control system since July.
“They can navigate to the audio management system and make message changes anytime they want from anywhere that has network access,” Baker said.
He added that Calabasas’ compact geographic footprint made the firm’s Information Station option suitable for covering the city.
Portions of the city received evacuation orders as a result of the Kenneth Fire, which spread from the western San Fernando Valley.
The TIS station broadcast announcements advising residents how to orderly evacuate and where to find emergency supplies, according to Mike Dyer, Calabasas’ emergency manager.
Before the Kenneth Fire, the TIS station aired announcements educating residents about fire prevention, including how to protect their homes and what to pack in a “go bag” for potential evacuations.
Santa Barbara County
Under Dyer’s leadership, six of Information Station Specialists’ larger coverage RadioSAFE stations were installed in Santa Barbara County in 2021 and 2022.
The county operates Radio Ready 530 AM from the six locations, under the license WRML859.
Baker said that 35 communities and public safety agencies across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties are licensed to operate stations equipped by Information Station Specialists.
He added that more Information Station systems are making an IP-based connection using StarLink, including three that were installed in Riverside County, Calif., in December.
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