Project Overview and Goals

Although Fort Collins has several AM and FM radio stations available to its residents for entertainment and general news broadcasting, during an emergency there is no one station that carries official local emergency notification and information. People don't have a constant, uninterrupted resource for the most up-to-date and accurate information about the event.

The task of attempting to notify and/or update every area radio station, ensuring that all information is consistent and current, is difficult if not impossible, especially during the chaos of an emergency in progress.

To address this problem, the Office of Emergency Management established a permanent AM radio transmitting station. This radio station is very similar to the "Travel Information" stations that state and county governments use to broadcast regional highway construction information and advisories.

Here are some of the specific goals for our AM Radio Station Project:

• The station serves as a local source of critical information related to any emergency in progress.
• During non-emergency periods the station is used to transmit educational and emergency preparedness information.
• The system has sufficient power to reach people in their cars, homes, and at their places of employment.

Design Specifications

The emergency AM Radio station broadcasts 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and because of its battery backup system, will continue to operate even if power is lost. It will be located close to the geographic center of Fort Collins and has a coverage radius of approximately 5 miles, which will reach 98% of the City's population. The transmitter has a maximum power output of 10 watts and is broadcasting at 530 kHz on the AM dial.

Partnerships

Colorado State University

Ms. Marsha Hilmes, City of Fort Collins Utilities, Stormwater

Mr. John Weaver, Research Meteorologist, NOAA

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