Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Monday, October 16, 2006
1700AM Arlington Emergency Radio Station Launches
Residents with radios can tune in 24/7
NOTE TO MEDIA: Contact for high-res photos.
| The radio tower is located at George Mason Dr. & Wilson Blvd., next to the fire station. |
ARLINGTON, VA -- In an emergency, where do you turn for information? How do you get emergency information if you lose electricity? Does the local news give you enough information about your community?
Arlingtonians can now tune into 1700AM Arlington, a new emergency radio station with the capability of providing up-to-the-minute information during an incident or emergency. At an official launch event on Monday, October 16, the new station began broadcasting.
"1700AM Arlington is a terrific new tool in our emergency management toolbox," said Robert P. Griffin, Arlington's director of the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). "We'll be able to share the latest Arlington-specific information with anyone who has an AM radio. During power outages, we can still send information to residents who have battery-powered radios in their emergency preparedness kits. It's another way to provide emergency communications to the public."
All of Arlington Covered
The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has been working on this project for more than two years, securing the necessary Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licenses, finding a site for the antenna, obtaining the equipment and building the infrastructure. With a single antenna and transmitter, 1700AM Arlington produces a signal capable of being received anywhere in the County.
| Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman (far left) officially launches 1700AM Arlington. Also in the photo (from left): Jim Pebley, Libby Garvey, and Board Vice-Chairman Paul Ferguson. |
It is similar to the radio systems used by airports to share information on parking, including Washington Reagan National Airport.
Always Available
During power outages, 1700AM Arlington runs on a generator. Residents can tune in via a battery-powered radio or one that operates by power generated through hand-winding. Remember to pre-set your vehicle radio to 1700AM Arlington. The station equipment is located in two redundant secure locations in secure County facilities.
Community Input
The Arlington Citizen Corps Council and its Public Emergency Communications Committee recommended the installation of an emergency radio station and have been tremendous supporters of the project from the beginning.
Sign Up for Arlington Alert
| Arlington's Director of Emergency Robert P. Griffin shares remarks. |
Arlington's Office of Emergency Management reminds everyone who lives and works in Arlington to also sign up for Arlington Alert, a free service that sends emergency text messages to mobile devices and e-mail accounts. Be sure to sign up today at www.arlingtonalert.com.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.