Case Study: Los
Alamos, New
Mexico |
July 2011 |
|
National Lab
Threatened by Flames;
Evacuees Updated Real
Time by ALERT AM |
Residents and workers
fleeing the flames near
Los Alamos National
Laboratory listen to
AM 1610 to receive
special directions and
fire updates. With only
two roads leading in and
out of the area,
motorists have few
evacuation options. The
special radio service
was initiated in 2007 by
Los Alamos County’s
Office of Emergency
Management, with the
knowledge that some day
it would be called on to
protect lives and
property. |
Photos courtesy
of emergency
coordinator
Philmont Taylor |
 |
It's clear why
Los Alamos was
selected as the
site of the
Manhattan
Project during
WWII: there are
only two roads
in and out, one
from the East
and one from the
West. |
 |
|
Says Emergency Manager
Phil Taylor, "Our
community's experience
with the Cerro Grande
fire of 2000 and the
recent Las Conchas fire
prompts frequent calls
to 911 asking if they
need to evacuate for
even the slightest hint
of smoke in the air."
Dual ALERT AM Stations
in Los Alamos and White
Rock not only provide
motorists details about
wildfires but also
traffic accidents
causing road blockages,
road construction and
emergency drills at the
Los Alamos National
Laboratory. Two
transmitting facilities
cover the population in
the area, each covering
25-75 square miles.
"Shortly after the OEM
was activated, I put out
an announcement
containing situation
analyses and for folks
with respiratory
sensitivities to
consider voluntary
evacuation. The second
day, I used 1610 a LOT
along with our reverse
911 to do the actual
evacuation of the town
site. I had to do it in
four stages, and later
on, a final 'you MUST
get out NOW..." message.
...I must've changed
messages at least three
times each day, with
just station ID and
situational awareness
messages running on the
active playlist (no
weather). I'm now
broadcasting at least
one fire-related
message, road closure
info and weather loop.
"About the only
improvement I can think
of right now [that we
could make] would be ...
to stream 1610, since
most folks have
computers, and even if
they're evacuated out of
the coverage range, they
could still listen."
Philmont Taylor
Office of Emergency
Management Website
Los Alamos, New Mexico |
Background |
Dual ALERT AM stations
were set up by EOC
personnel in 2007.
Taylor described the
rationale:
"Our
fundamental emergency
public information
requirements probably
don’t differ
substantially from those
of any other
jurisdictions.
Primarily, we’re
interested in a
methodology that will
allow us to
expeditiously
communicate emergent
information to as many
people as possible
within our
jurisdictional
boundaries. We have the
following
constraints/challenges:-
Small, isolated,
mountain community – two
roads leading in/out –
deep canyons and high
mesas.
-
Limited commercial
radio/TV coverage.
-
Large daytime transient
population/commuters who
work at a National
Laboratory.
"Possible emergency
scenarios include . . .-
Severe weather events
with corresponding
school/Laboratory
closures.
-
Traffic accidents that
interrupt normal
commutes.
-
Evacuation/shelter-in-place
instructions.
-
Any emergency public
warning/information that
needs to be disseminated
RIGHT NOW.
"We used these creative
methods to make citizens
aware of the station:-
Press release (he got
the local press to do an
article right after the
station went 'live').
-
Bill-stuffer in utility
bills.
-
Laboratory incorporation
of the press release in
their internal
newsletter.
-
Mention of the station
by EOC personnel at
every speaking
opportunity.
-
The schools send info
home with the kids.
-
Refrigerator magnets,
pens and pencils to hand
out at fairs, booths.
-
Descriptive blurb with
EOC email signatures."
|
See
portable radio stations
with exceptional
functionality in
use to convey fire information
by dozens of state and
local governments, the
National Park Service,
USDA Forest Service and
various fire protection
districts in the Western
USA. See
Alert Stations across
America. See also
National Parks that Have
Used Info Radio. |
Related Links |
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