[ScanIndiana] Crisis channels get an upgrade

[indiana_scanner_freak at suscom.net]

Interesting, The article says Speedway, Lawrence, and  Beech Grove do not 
use MECA... Is this true? They have a ton of talkgroups on the system. What 
do they use?



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Burns K4RXR" <k4rxr_ at rlburns.net>
To: "Indiana Scanning" <scanindiana at mailman.qth.net>; 
<SAFET at yahoogroups.com>; <IndianaScanning at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2006 6:12 AM
Subject: [ScanIndiana] Crisis channels get an upgrade


> 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
>
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