WASHINGTON, DC:  US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can motorists entering the USA exactly what they need to know, for example:

* Is the crossing open?
* How long is the wait?
* Which lane should I be in?
* What documents do I need?

Because the CBP is installing a special information radio station, referred to as a Travelers Information Station/Highway Advisory Radio (TIS/HAR) system, at key land border ports of entry, providing information to approaching motorists with the intention of expediting their passage across the border.

The federally licensed 10-watt AM radio stations are currently installed in El Paso, Laredo, TX; San Luis, AZ; and Calexico (East), CA. Additional sites are planned on the southwest border and locations on the US/Canadian border are also being considered.

The stations provide the capability of broadcasting time-sensitive messages developed at the local ports of entry, in addition to messages developed at the national level by CBP Headquarters.

Project manager Daniel Piscopo states that the broadcast messages will include “how to use high-tech travel cards, information about CBP's Trusted Traveler Programs, basic border crossing rules and regulations, emergency travel information and
updates, and border wait times.”

Results of a pilot survey conducted by CBP at El Paso, Texas, indicate that there is considerable awareness and favorability regarding use of the radio stations, and agreement that they would be especially valuable as a tool to gauge wait times.

CBP will be able to communicate directly to travelers about how to expedite their border crossing, for example, by broadcasting information about CBP programs such as the Ready Lane — an expedited travel lane for people with radio frequency identification technology enabled cards -- and Trusted Traveler lanes for pre-approved, low-risk travelers.

Radio broadcasts can be heard for several miles around the port, giving CBP the ability to provide necessary information to travelers as they approach the border. Perhaps someday it will be common practice for motorists to reach for their radios as they reach the US. 

MONTECITO, CA: Two significant wildfires in three weeks near Santa Barbara, California, have tested the area’s Information Radio Stations’ ability to direct the public quickly out of harm’s way.

On October 17th, a vegetation fire caused by downed power lines required the evacuation of Painted Cave, CA – a community that lost more than 400 homes and public buildings in a devastating fire in 1990. The nearby San Marcos Pass Information Station on AM 1040, operated by Mike Williams, broadcast critical fire and evacuation information continuously for residents as they lined up on Highway 154 to exit. In the end, all lives and structures were saved and the fire was contained to 44 acres.

Three weeks later, a similar fire in Montecito, California's, backcountry triggered emergency evacuation information to be broadcast on Montecito Fire Protection District’s Information Station on AM 1610. The San Marcos Pass station carried the evacuation information, as well. Fortunately, this fire was contained by late afternoon and residents returned to intact homes.

States Williams, “The use of low power radio in emergency situations proves invaluable. The ability to provide quick information to the public is essential during fast moving events such as wildfires.”

In addition to Montecito’s radio station, the greater Santa Barbara region hosts a cluster of stations operated by UC Santa Barbara, Wildland Residents Association, and Santa Barbara County Emergency Management Agency.

LEXINGTON, KY:  Lexington/Fayette County Urban County Government provides services to a population of approximately 300,000 persons (not including transient student and medical patient populations) over an area of 286 square miles. There are more than 1,100 lane miles of highways in the county, including portions of Interstate 75 and Interstate 64, US highways 25, 27, 60, 68, 421 and state highway 4 (New Circle Road) which runs a loop around the county approximately 6 miles from the center of the downtown area. Additionally, Man O’ War Boulevard extends a half-loop through the southern edge of the county.

Lexington/Fayette County is home to three major colleges and universities, several large regional shopping centers, six hospital complexes, including two Veterans Administration facilities and local, federal and state prisons. Lexington is also home to two horse racing facilities, a regional airport and dozens of small, 15px and large manufacturing and professional service businesses.

It is important to note that I-75 and I-64 merge in Fayette County. These interstate highways provide a major north-south and east-west passenger car and semi-trailer truck route through the United States. On an average day, more than 90,000 vehicles travel these interstate highways.

It is also of importance that while not necessarily in Fayette County, several military installations of importance exist within 10 miles of the county border. The most significant installation is the Bluegrass Army Depot, the location of the largest stockpile of chemical weapons still remaining in the United States. Lexington/Fayette County is a designated host community which means that it will serve as a medical service provider and evacuation site should there be an accident at the depot involving the chemical weapons. Other facilities provide logistics, repair, re-supply and transportation responsibilities. All facilities provide support for worldwide peacekeeping, intelligence and training missions.

The current TIS system is used to provide life safety information to the public in case of emergency and other information within the current administrative definitions. Given the nature of the traffic flows, the population, fast-changing weather conditions and the nature of military installations in nearby counties, it is vital that the Lexington-Fayette County Division of Emergency Management have the means and capabilities of communicating to the motoring public.

These messages are intended not only to communicate emergency response information that is in direct response to an accident, incident or natural disaster but also to communicate awareness and preparedness messages to the motoring public that travels through the county.

It is critical that the Division of Emergency Management be able to broadcast important life safety and preparedness messages to the resident and transient populations when the highly trained and skilled professionals in the division determine it to be appropriate. Broadcasting messages that could save lives and prevent future loss of life and property damage should not be limited to the narrow definition currently found in the TIS regulations.

The Lexington-Fayette County TIS system has been used to provide information to motorists in the case of severe weather. The best and most timely source of this information, as well as all-hazard emergency information is the NOAA Weather Radio network, provided by the federal government’s Department of Commerce.

Patricia Dugger
Emergency Management Director

NAPERVILLE, IL:  During my employment in Naperville I became aware of the Travelers Information Radio Service (TIS) and, after researching this system, decided that it fit perfectly into our emergency preparedness plans. Naperville (located in the tornado alley of Illinois) has an extensive emergency management program, including 25 outdoor warning sirens, alert radios in all schools and city buildings, emergency override on both cable TV systems and a pager system to alert hearing-impaired residents (the City pays cost of pager). Backing up this system is a volunteer program whose members are trained in emergency response and weather watching. The City has an Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) that is fully equipped with weather monitoring equipment, emergency radio systems and amateur radio equipment. The TIS system added a new tool to keep area motorists informed daily of any emergency as well as day-to-day information relative to the City of Naperville.

Naperville experienced a citywide flood incident in 1996 that taxed the emergency response plan. Over 10,000 homes experienced some level of flooding, residents were moved to emergency shelters, streets were underwater, including an overpass, cable TV was out and there were power outages. We were not able to provide any information to our residents until the cable TV came back on line with the exception of using the TIS to provide road and traffic information. In reviewing our response to this disaster, it was noted that we needed a system to keep the motorists informed and the Travelers Information Station was the answer.

The TIS station proved to be a most valuable tool. We programmed into the station system emergency weather announcements for tornado warnings thus enabling drivers to seek shelter as a storm approached. We had several heavy and crippling snow storms during the winters and the station provided information to residents on what roads were closed and when areas would be plowed. On a day-to-day basis, the station has been used to provide information on emergency
road closures and any imminent safety information the City felt necessary to quickly deliver to people who were driving.

As a Regional President for the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) I have shared our various programs for alerting and keeping local motorists informed on a day to day basis and in times of emergency. The Travelers Information Station was always first on my list.

UPDATE:  The City later authorized a complete rebuild of their Information Station system, upgrading to RF-based Wireless Audio Link as the means of audio distribution to the synchronized (2) stations; program control via ISS’s IP76 (file/network based) message repetition system; adding the InfoRadio Format to increase professional sound and providing the programming to residents via StreamCAST to PC’s and portable devices. Naperville is retaining NOAA Weather Radio emergency interrupts as well as their phone-based audio system as a redundancy.

Bill Reynolds
Naperville Fire Department