FEMA and Audacy will unveil the latest upgraded Primary Entry Point facility in New Orleans on Tuesday, part of an ongoing effort to harden the Emergency Alert system infrastructure.
The “all-hazards upgrade” was done at WWL(AM/FM). It is the 15th radio station to work with FEMA in this series of upgrades.
“The modernization to the emergency studio increases WWL’s resiliency to continue broadcasting under all conditions, including natural disasters and acts of terrorism,” FEMA and Audacy wrote in a joint press release.
“This facility is one of 77 across the country that serve as a National Public Warning System Primary Entry Point station, participating with FEMA to provide emergency alert and warning information to the public before, during and after incidents and disasters.”
The all-hazards upgrades include increased sheltering capabilities, expanded broadcast capacity and sustainable power generation for all types of hazardous events. You can see photos of similar facilities at other stations at the links at the bottom of the story.
A Tuesday news conference at the WWL site will include Erik Hooks, deputy administrator of FEMA; Antwane Johnson, director, Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, FEMA; Manny Centeno, IPAWS program manager; Cynthia Lee Sheng, Jefferson Parish president; and Kevin Cassidy, senior vice president and market manager, Audacy-WWL and John Kennedy, senior vice president, technical operations at Audacy.
Related:
FEMA Celebrates PEP Upgrade at Historic WBZ
KIRO Unveils Upgraded Emergency Studio