[ScanIndiana] Crisis channels get an upgrade

[Bob Burns K4RXR]

 From The Indianapolis Star:

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060723/NEWS01/607230441

Crisis channels get an upgrade

City to buy digital emergency system, improve sirens

By Brendan O'Shaughnessy 
<mailto:brendan.oshaughnessy at indystar.com>brendan.oshaughnessy at indystar.com

July 23, 2006

Indianapolis plans to spend up to $45 million to upgrade the city's 
emergency communications system so that first responders can exchange 
information more reliably.

The money also will be used to make improvements to the area's 
early-warning siren systems.

The current MECA, or Metropolitan Emergency Communications Agency, 
system began operation in 1990, and city officials said it's becoming 
more difficult to obtain replacement parts to keep it running. It 
acts as the communications hub for fire, police, medical and 
emergency dispatch services for the entire county except the town of 
Speedway and the cities of Beech Grove and Lawrence.

Disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 have reinforced the 
importance of communication in a crisis, said Public Safety Director 
Earl Morgan. Morgan said a lack of communication between various 
safety agencies "can't be tolerated."

"When you find that the parts to maintain the system are in short 
supply, that becomes a problem," Morgan said. "The public want to 
know that when they call 911, they will have the right connection."

MECA currently uses an 800-megahertz analog system provided by Motorola.

The new system is digital and is designed to be integrated with a new 
state government communications network and with surrounding 
counties. It also is supposed to improve coverage by providing a 
stronger signal in Downtown Indianapolis and increasing reliability 
and clarity.

The upgrade, several years in the making, includes installing 
equipment on existing towers, improving backup power systems and 
purchasing more than 6,500 new radios and 82 dispatch consoles. It 
will cost $37 million, but the city already has received a federal 
grant of $6 million to offset the cost.

Barbara Lawrence, director of the city's development bond bank, said 
she hopes to avoid a tax increase by scheduling debt payments as the 
old system's debt rolls off. While taxes won't decrease, she said a 
little more money in grants would keep taxes from rising.

The rest of the money will go to improving a siren system that has 
warned residents of tornadoes and other dangers since before the Cold War.

Jim White, director of Marion County Emergency Management, said as 
many as one-third of the sirens have failed in some tests, but the 
140 sirens still make enough noise to be heard nearly everywhere. 
Still, he said the money will increase coverage to 97 percent of the 
county with 26 new sirens and a cutting-edge diagnostic and maintenance system.

The new system also will be able to set off sirens in a portion of 
the county rather than work only countywide.
"Obviously, this is a lot of money," White said. "But how much is 
safety and your family worth?"

Copyright 2006 Indystar.com