| Publisher: Information Station Specialists |
| "Warn me faster!" | |||
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INTERVIEW: Below, Richard Carlisle, inventor of the "Tornado Alert" device, discusses the public's need for a simple, affordable storm detector and how the idea originated. |
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| TornadoAlert Severe Storm Detector Activating during December 2021 Tornado Outbreak in Missouri | |||
| Photo by Doug Raines | |||
| The Source: | |||
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How and when did the idea for the Tornado
Alert device come about? |
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| Richard Carlisle: | |||
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In 1969,
Popular Mechanics published an article on the
Weller Method of detecting tornadoes with a regular
black-and-white TV. It captured my interest. Bill Taylor of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] developed and tested an alternate method of detecting electromagnetic signals from tornadoes and the Georgia Tech Research Institute evaluated Taylor's design on a NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) contract. |
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| The TornadoAlert Severe Storm Detector is an inexpensive but not-so-simple device that has the potential to directly deliver storm warnings even without power, cell / internet service or NOAA service. Learn more about this device on the Tornado Alert / Severe Storm Detector webpage. | |||
| Living in
Birmingham, Alabama, tornadoes were annual
life-and-death events. Working at the Rust Research
Center ̶ the computer center at UAB
(University of Alabama Birmingham) ̶ shortly
after the tornado super outbreak of 1974 provided an
opportunity to work with Bob Ferry, chief meteorologist
in charge of the Birmingham Weather Field Office of the
NWS (National Weather Service). The TV was short-ranged
and didn't discriminate non-severe from severe weather.
Taylor's design wasn't feasible as a home product.
This interview is continued here. |
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| “Thank you for the exciting stories featured in your newsletter. I see a growing role for Information Radio Stations on the AM dial brought about in part by the closure of [broadcast] stations and the opening of frequency slots. In St Louis, for example, four stations have gone dark. Construction permits for the frequencies were open for bidding in FCC auction 109 at $50,000 each; but no one placed bids. Two of the frequencies are of particular importance – 1430 kHz (50 KW day) and 1190 kHz (10 KW day, 260w night). Those channels are blank now and perhaps open for Information Stations.” | |||
| Carl Blare - Saint Louis, MO | |||
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| HPR.0990 Antenna | Athena 1 Launch from Kodiak Island, AK | ||||||||
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High Performance Antenna
Launches New Era in Information Radio Broadcasting |
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| KODIAK ISLAND, AK: The Pacific Spaceport Complex in Alaska will be keeping visitors safe and informed during launch activities through the use of a RadioSAFE information radio service provided for the facility by Information Station Specialists. Based around the HPR.0990 high efficiency antenna system, the RadioSAFE system is capable of more range than conventional systems of its class, allowing the Spaceport to push the signal across their expansive launch pad area and beyond. A special waiver of signal intensity is required from the FCC for the increased coverage. | |||||||||
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| The question the
911 operator once asked is now what the public is asking
automated voice assistants: “What is the current
information on emergencies in my area?” Since its debut
as an information access tool in 2020, an increasing
number of safety agencies are tasking Amazon’s Alexa to
provide citizens another way to be in touch when the
situation warrants. Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky, was first in; and now four additional communities – Cupertino and Fairfield in California; Beech Mountain, North Carolina, and Wharton, New Jersey - have joined in. Emergency managers in the five communities are providing the service so citizens in homes – as well as those in equipped vehicles – can access the local emergency advisory broadcast content being disseminated via radio and web stream. The technology provides a solution for segments of the local population that want to access safety information inside their homes or at locations outside the reach of their community’s information radio signal. And because an increasing number of vehicles now have the “Alexa Auto” icon on their dashboards, the effect is to increase the information delivery area to one limited only by the size of the local wireless footprint. In an emergency, residents who have evacuated can be apprised when to return to their neighborhoods; affected relatives who live outside the community can find out what is happening. Ford, GM, BMW and Toyota have announced dashboard integration on certain new models. An after-market version “Echo Auto” is available for older cars. Amazon’s Adrienne Walker states that the hands-free technology is perfectly suited to a vehicle environment. Learn more about leveraging the internet to reach your audience. |
PO Box 51, Zeeland, Michigan, USA, 49464-0051, Phone 616.772.2300, Fax 616.772.2966, Email
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