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| Plainwell Tower Site Showcases Well-Spent Homeland Security Funds |
On May 19, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio transmitter went live at the MPSCS' Plainwell tower site. Transmitting emergency weather information within a 40-mile radius from the National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWSFO) in Grand Rapids, NOAA Weather Radio coverage in South and Southwest Lower Michigan has increased dramatically.
With funding provided through a grant from the 5th District Homeland Security Board, this $49,000 project began one and one-half years ago. Jim Zoss, Director of the Battle Creek Office of Emergency Services and Homeland Security, coordinated the project and is very pleased with the outcome.
"This is a great service to the citizens of Southwestern Michigan. Everyone worked so hard on this project to make it a success," Zoss said at the project's completion event.
Placed at 420 feet, the 300-watt antenna has the same or better coverage than a 1000-watt antenna placed at a lower altitude. Carl Pigors, NWR RMS NOAA Weather Radio Regional Maintenance Specialist, said, "Antenna coverage is all about altitude. At about 30-40 miles from the site, the curve of the earth starts to have an effect, regardless of the watts, so the higher we can place the antenna, the better the coverage."
Most MPSCS towers are between 400 and 500 feet tall. "We chose to place this antenna upon a State tower for two reasons. One, they do have the height that we'd like. And two, the shelters are very safe and secure. They're well-maintained and monitored by the MPSCS," Pigors declared.
The NWS has three NOAA antennas co-located on MPSCS towers to date, and five more are in progress. Those eight, conjoined with an additional transmitter at a non-state tower, completes the NWS' enhancement of Michigan's NOAA Weather Radio coverage.
Buzz Leach, Co-Location Manager for the MPSCS and primary organizer of the project on the State level, said, "This is a great example of a public safety service making use of a State tower. The NWS will issue forecasts and warnings to Southwestern Michigan faster, and more accurately, because of this transmitter."
NOAA Weather Radios can transmit a variety of watches, warnings, and advisories from each site. In Michigan, the radios are equipped to transmit information about natural disasters and weather occurrences, technological incidents (e.g. chemical releases, oil spills, train derailments, etc.), and terrorist attacks.
On the local, State, and Federal levels, hard work and swift thinking made this project a timely success. Area residents are now safer and more secure as the transmitter goes to work.
NWS Weather Radio Coverage Map of the Plainwell Tower Site Radio
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