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Brigantine Beach, NJ, Preps for
Hurricanes and More . . . |
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Island
beach resort Brigantine Beach, New Jersey, opts for a
new Emergency Advisory AM Radio Station to assist with
hurricane preparations, evacuations and other
quick-changing road and weather conditions. It will
double as a community bulletin board during
non-emergency times.
Captain
Jeff Doran of the Police Department offers an
assessment.
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1. Why
did you decide to get a low-power radio system?
"The City of Brigantine Beach is an
island beach resort located just north of Atlantic City, N.J.
There is only one way on and one way off of our island. We have
a population of approximately 15,000 year-round residents that
swells to well over 30,000 during the summer tourist months. The
City needed some method to get quick-changing road and weather
information to our visitors. Also, the ability to broadcast
'community bulletin board' type information during
"nice" weather was very attractive. Our vulnerability
to coastal storms and hurricanes makes it necessary to provide
quick access to evacuation and preparation information."
2. Why did you choose ISS' ALERT AM
System?
"We did our research on the Internet,
and the city was impressed with the amount of product
information that was available from the comfort of our offices,
directly from the ISS web site. The willingness of ISS to send
sales representatives to our city hall for in-person
consultation was a big plus."
3. How was funding for the system
arranged?
"The City purchased the system
through capital improvement funding."
4. How will the system be used and
managed, for example, what types of messages, how is the public
made aware of the station, etc.
"Generally, and in non-emergency
situations, the system is used to broadcast community bulletin
board and local tourism information. During emergencies, road
conditions and weather alerts are broadcast. Tidal-flood
warnings are also issued using the system. The system is
advertised in the local newspapers. The use of one sign on the
road leading into town alerts the public to the existence of the
system. The City hopes to install several signs throughout the
island and co-locate them with Coastal Storm Evacuation
Signs."
5. What advice do you have for
emergency managers in other communities who might be considering
such a system?
"Choose a location that is central to
your coverage area. Make sure there are no nearby obstructions
to the antenna. The range of the 10-watt system is not much more
than 2 miles, in our case; and, of course, [depending on your
topography] your mileage may vary."
6. What was your experience working
with ISS? Anything unexpected or out of the ordinary?
"The service and attention we have
received from ISS and its associates has been excellent."
 States Captain Jeff Doran of the Brigantine Beach Police Department, "Our
ALERT AM system was the subject of rave reviews throughout the event. Don
Williams is the talk show host on the local station in Pleasantville. He
lives in Brigantine and listens to the ALERT AM station himself. On his
show he was telling people to tune in [to ALERT AM on 1640] for hurricane
information."
Don Williams: "I feel the Brigantine Beach emergency advisory radio
station was a great service to the community, keeping us up to date on the
latest storm developments and what they meant to Brigantine. All the
information was there. I believe it had a calming effect. No rumors. Just
facts, repeated so you could tune in every now and then and know just what
the conditions were and what was expected. A big salute to Captain Doran
and company. Great job!" |
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