Pickens own weather warning replaces lost signal

http://www.abc3340.com/Global/story.asp?S=14088182

Posted: Feb 23, 2011 6:45 PM CST
Updated: Feb 23, 2011 6:48 PM CST

Until now, some people in Pickens County have kept ears to a NOAA weather radio during severe weather.   "We've never been able to get any weather reports or alert," says Sherry Cusanelli.

      What she didn't know is the NOAA broadcast of the National Weather Service warning doesn't reach many areas of the state, including most of Pickens County where she lives.  "Oh, that's the reason why.  So we should have saved our money!"  Cusanelli exclaimed.

     Not many people are aware of the lost NOAA signal issue which is why county officials have been searching for an alternative.  In about a month, they'll launch the Alert FM system.   Using small handheld or larger wall mounted receivers...people will be able to receive the NWS alerts.

     Basically, Alert FM receives the weather alerts from NOAA then bounces it across radio towers throughout the county.  "Then sent back to those particular receivers,"says Ken Gibson Director of Emergency Management for Pickens county.  "If something happens to that [one] particular station, it can go to another station's tower and you can still get those particular warnings."

    The system can also be used to send out other types of information such as road conditions, hazards or even an evacuation.

    "We've had some big super cells to come over our county that didn't put any tornadoes down on the ground."  Fortunately, the county has been spared.

     The Alert FM receivers will go on sale in about a month at Central Hardware in Aliceville.  The small will average about 40 dollars...the bigger one 250 dollars.