Avalon NJ News Release

Autumn/Winter 2004

FEMA to the Rescue in New Jersey

With its FEMA grant, the Borough of Avalon recently purchased an ALERT AM Emergency Advisory Radio System and 7 Flashing ALERT Signs to announce the signal to the public. See the story below in Avalon's own words. Maybe your community, too, could garner this type of funding. (See also our "Emergency Funding Resources" webpage.)

"The Borough of Avalon accepted a check from FEMA through the NJSP [New Jersey State Police] for the Avalon Emergency Advisory Radio Station. This project started 7/2002 and completed 4/2004, with a cost of $21,800. Eighteen thousand dollars of that $21,800 was reimbursed by an 'emergency management performance grant' from FEMA.

"The station transmits on a frequency of 1630 AM. There is a standard 24-hour information loop with information about local weather, public safety and events. The station automatically switches to NOAA when SAME [Specific Area Message Encoding] alert tones are received for thunderstorm warnings, flood warnings, hurricane warnings, Amber Alerts, and the National Emergency Alert System. In a state of emergency we [Avalon] will have the capability to go to 'live' broadcasts for local-evacuation-route or shelter-in-place instructions, the status of utilities infrastructure or recovery efforts.

"In the event of an extended power outage, the system has a 4-day battery backup. It transmits from the roof of the Avalon Fire Department and has an optimal range of 5 miles but in some places is audible for 10-15 miles."

Kevin C. Scarpa, MS, EMT-P, Chief of EMS
Borough of Avalon, 3100 Dune Drive, Avalon, NJ 08202-1706
Phone 609-368-5288, Fax 609-967-3054
EMail cert@avalonboro.org, Web www.avalonboro.org

Emergency advisory radio at Avalon New Jersey

Sgt. Tom Scardino (left) of the NJSP-OEM presents a Grant for $18,000 to Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi and emergency management coordinator Harry deButts. The Grant was used to fund their ALERT AM Emergency Advisory AM Radio Station.

December 2004 Update
	The Borough of Avalon has installed the first of several Flashing Alert Sign Systems. The signs are designed to alert motorists to urgent public safety messages on the Borough's Emergency Advisory Radio Station 1630-AM. The signs are permanently visible to notify motorists of the station's frequency but can be actuated to flash, alerting that an urgent or emergency message is being broadcast. The signs are completely self-contained, solar powered and activated by a radio signal. On battery power they can flash for up to 14 days if needed. The signs were purchased by the Borough as part of a grant-matching purchase and were installed by members of the Public Works staff. Additional signs will be installed around the Borough in the next few weeks and might occasionally be tested for operational performance. The first sign was installed at 71st and Dune Drive. Pending County approval, additional signs will be installed on Ocean Drive at 30th and 71st Streets.
		Avalon deployed ISS Flashing ALERT Signs in creative ways . . . including in a triangular frame that allows the signs to be viewed from three directions. Left, is a tri-sign under construction, on the shop floor. See more about ISS Flashing ALERT Sign Systems.

Several new signs were also added in 2006. Below are two representative examples.