Ottawa County Sheriff's Office
Emergency Management
NOAA Weather Radio Transmitter
In late 1996 an unreliable NOAA Weather Radio signal was identified in Ottawa County. The National Weather Service (NWS) checked and tuned their system, but the signal was still unreliable west of 96th Avenue. In 1997 we developed a plan to install a repeater station at the Fillmore Complex and received a FEMA Mitigation Grant for the money. The original concept was approved in the summer of 1998, but due to a delay in construction the tower was not installed until spring of 1999. At that time the NWS put the project on hold pending update of their system. The new requirements by the NWS doubled the cost of the project. At that point alternate means of funding were explored by the Ottawa County Central Dispatch Authority (OCCDA). Funding included grants from local units of governments, school districts and many private industries. The funding was received; the system was installed and is now operational.
NOAA Weather radio provides continuous broadcasts (24 hours a day) of the latest weather information from the NWS. Weather messages are repeated every 4-6 minutes and are routinely updated every 1 to 6 hours or more frequently in rapidly changing local weather of if a nearby hazardous environmental condition exists.
In order to receive this information, individuals need to purchase a Weather radio. There are several brands available. It Is recommended that any equipment purchased be powered by electricity with a battery backup. It should have seven channels, be alarm activated, utilize the SAME technology and be capable of receiving test messages..
The radio frequency for the Ottawa County transmitter is 162.45 MHz (Usually Channel 2 or B on a 7-channel NOAA weather radio).
Visit the National Weather Service or NOAA Weather radios for more information.
