'Lifesaver' Emergency Alert FM system training in Shasta County starts Thursday

Rural Shasta County residents like Cindy Shaw are eager to tap into a new system that will broadcast alerts about wildfires or other disasters.

But Shaw, who’s lived in Oak Run for more than 30 years, earlier this week said she hasn’t ordered an Alert FM receiver yet. That’s because the system, which uses FM radio signals to send out potentially life-saving alerts, hasn’t been activated to send out customized wildfire alerts.

Supply-chain disruptions and the process to train emergency dispatchers are among the reasons for the delay, Shasta County public information officer Tim Mapes said on Tuesday after a Record Searchlight reporter emailed him with questions about the delays.

On Thursday, emergency dispatchers will be trained on the Alert FM system on how to send out alerts for wildfire evacuations and other customized alerts, Mapes said.

That's good news for residents like Shaw and Jane Andersen, also an Oak Run resident, who told the Record Searchlight that they had been frustrated with the delays.

Shaw said she attended a meeting about the Alert FM system in February at the Sheraton Hotel in Redding.

“We were told it could be the end of April. We are at the end of May,” she told the Record Searchlight.

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The Board of Supervisors late last year approved a $935,000 contract for Alert FM to provide an alternative to what is already available for broadcast alerts to rural Shasta County residents.

The thought is the radio signal won't go down during a fire, which can cause power outages, damage cell phone towers and knock out service. There also are many people in Shasta County who live in areas that can't get cell service or where the signal is spotty.

“It’s a lifesaver when we are out of power,” Shaw said.

Shaw said the receivers can run off batteries and she can take it with her in her car.

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Both Andersen and Shaw are members of the Oak Run Firewise Council, a group that promotes wildfire safety and prevention in their community. They said the fire season has started in earnest and each day that passes without activation is critical.

"But, you know, what the end result is, it's positive, so it's good. We are very glad," Andersen said of the news that training will start Thursday. "Through communication, we had some very positive results."

"We are going to keep on top of them and hopefully they will make an announcement after tomorrow that the training is complete and we can move forward," Shaw said Wednesday.

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Matthew Straeb, executive vice president of Alert FM, said weather and earthquake alerts, both of which are automated messages, are already available in Shasta County.

Five local radio stations are connected to the Alert FM system in Shasta County.

"Based on testing, they are adding three additional FM stations to provide redundancy and fill any gaps," Mapes said.

Shasta County residents can purchase the radio receivers by going to alertfm.com/store. They can also call 1-866-869-5180. Mapes said there are 6,000 Alert FM receivers in stock at the company's distribution center in Chico. 

Supply chain issues, increase in the cost to manufacture the devices and a rise in shipping costs have pushed the retail cost for the receivers to $99, up from about $60, Straeb said.

But help for income eligible residents is expected to come from a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. $50,000 grant. The grants still have to be approved by the Shasta County Board of Supervisors, Mapes said.

"We will be working with the sheriff's office to properly establish a fair and equitable program for dissemination of these receivers if and once the (the grant is) approved," Mapes said.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.