Louisiana has experienced more than its share of natural and other disasters. Now state officials are highlighting a new FM radio-based emergency notification system built around technology from Global Security Systems.
According to an announcement by the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the state has completed implementation of Alert FM and GSSNet systems with the goal of improving delivery of voice and text emergency notifications to the public.
“GOHSEP will use the Alert FM system to send out its emergency alerts, as will emergency managers from all 64 parishes and 42 colleges and universities across the state,” it stated in an announcement.
The public can download a free Alert FM app for Apple and Android devices; and Alert FM receivers are available for purchase. Alert FM uses data on subcarriers of FM radio stations to distribute information; in Louisiana, about 90 stations are involved. State officials and GSS emphasize the overlapping footprint and signal redundancy of such a system.
Also, a GSSNet CAP-EAS system will be used by the state to broadcast emergency information like Amber Alerts and weather warnings. And the state will use GSS’s Alert Studio to activate EAS; messages are created in Alert Studio and distributed via a GSSNet satellite system to EAS encoders at Local Primary FM stations, for subsequent airing or distribution.
The state provided equipment to its parishes that allows emergency managers to send information to the public. Each parish received receivers for the use of emergency management staff and first responders.
