All articles tagged with #emergency communications
As Winter Storm Fern looms, T-Mobile activated free Starlink satellite text messaging for customers in potentially impacted areas with compatible phones, enabling basic texting and Wireless Emergency Alerts when cell towers fail; existing T-Satellite customers keep service, and the provider suggests the feature is text-only to avoid network strain.
The Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office is requesting residents in Strasburg and within a five-mile radius of Indian Run Lane and Coal Mine Road to evacuate due to fire risks, with Signal Knob Middle School serving as a temporary shelter. Pets are allowed on the property but not indoors, and residents are advised to only travel if necessary due to downed powerlines and trees. Page County Emergency Communications Center is also issuing evacuations for specific areas and directing residents to Luray High School.
Lawmakers are pushing for legislation that would require automakers to keep AM radios as a standard feature in vehicles, after companies like Ford and Tesla announced some of their new models will no longer include AM receivers. Supporters of the bill argue that AM radio is crucial during a disaster for news, talk shows, sports, and emergency communications, and that it cannot be replaced by podcasts or web streams. The National Association of Broadcasters also supports the bill, saying that AM radio is unique in its presence in local communities and focus on news and information.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by Rep. Bob Latta and Rep. Greg Pence, has sent a letter to major automakers, including Ford, Tesla, and BMW, urging them to maintain AM radio receivers in their vehicles over safety concerns. The lawmakers argue that AM radio plays a crucial role in emergency communications infrastructure and is a free and potentially life-saving source of information during natural disasters. Automakers are cutting AM radio from new models, particularly electric vehicles, due to added expense and weight, and concerns over electromagnetic interference. The National Association of Broadcasters supports the lawmakers' efforts to keep AM radio in cars.