Skip Maine state header navigation
A Publication Featuring The Information Services Technology of Maine State Government
| Volume V, Issue 8 | August 2002 |
|
|
By Gene Maxim
Weather Alert radios are an underused source of emergency warnings in Maine. Maine’s hilly terrain has restricted the area of coverage for the existing four transmitters which are in Falmouth, Dresden, Ellsworth and Mars Hill. This somewhat spotty reception has discouraged some outdoor enthusiasts from considering purchasing or carrying Weather Alert radios. This situation will soon change.
Normally funding for new transmitter sites is awarded on the basis of the largest number served. This gave states with small scattered populations, like Maine, very little chance to compete for the limited funds available for establishing a new transmitter. This is one of the primary reasons for the small number of sites in Maine.
U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe recognized the alert capability and importance the NOAA Weather Radio system has as part of an expedient public warning system. Realizing the disadvantage that rural states suffered in establishing new sites, Senators Collins and Snowe decided to take some corrective action. Extensive work on the part of both Maine Senators resulted in a one time five million dollar grant program administered through the USDA Rural Utilities Services (RUS) that would fund new NOAA Weather Radio transmitters in areas with less than 50,000 inhabitants. These funds cannot be used for repair or upgrade of existing units and are available on a first come first served basis till exhausted.
Extensive technical assistance, site location assistance, and advice provided by Hendricus Lulofs of the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Caribou office have enabled me to apply for, and receive, two grants from RUS totaling $217,300.00 to fund the establishment of new transmitter sites in the towns of Frenchville, Milo, Meddybemps, and Springfield. Piscataquis County Director, Bob Wilson, was an important part of the establishment of the new site in Milo, and has participated in the ground work for an additional transmitter in Greenville. Currently MEMA is the only state emergency management agency to apply for more than one transmitter site.
The Frenchville transmitter will be at the Northern Aroostook Regional Airport, the Milo transmitter will be at the Piscataquis County Emergency Operations Center, and the Washington County unit at Meddybemps, and Penobscot County unit at Springfield will be located at Maine Public Broadcasting sites. Thank you, Maine Public Broadcasting!
The above grants required a 25% match from non federal sources over the expected 20-year life of the transmitter system. The Maine Emergency Management Agency obtained $275,225.00 in matching funds, including in-kind contributions, from project collaborators.
NWS Caribou staff is working directly with the contractor to assure that installations will meet NWS needs. The Frenchville and Milo sites started broadcasting test messages on June 12. NWS Headquarters and NWS Caribou staffs are working with the FCC and the Canadian version of the FCC to resolve any broadcast encroachment problems. After testing is completed ownership of the new equipment will be transferred from MEMA to the National Weather Service. The NWS will be responsible for future upkeep, maintenance, and telephone and electrical service costs for each site.
Due to additional work by Senators Collins and Snowe, the National Weather Service will be using funds from its national operating budget to establish new NOAA Weather Radio transmitters in Greenville and Carrabassett Valley. The 500W transmitter at Ellsworth will be replaced with a 1000W unit, the 100W Dresden unit will be upgraded to 300W, and the aging 500W Falmouth transmitter will be replaced with a new 500W unit. Also, an additional 1000W transmitter will be established at the Naval Telecommunications Station at Cutler. This will be the first NOAA Weather Radio site on the East Coast to transmit marine only weather forecasts.
On a national level the automated voice that is used for Weather Radio reporting is being upgraded to a more human sounding voice. Nationally, it is also likely that the NOAA Weather Radio system will play a part in future Homeland Defense initiatives.
For more information about the NOAA Weather Radio system, site coverage maps, and Weather Radio manufacturers see http://www.weather.gov/nwr.
Questions? Contact Natural Hazards Planner, Gene Maxim at the Maine Emergency Management Agency, by calling (207) 626-4503 or e-mailing eugene.a.maxim@state.me.us.
