05.04.01 - Emergency AM Radio Station
CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY MANUAL CHAPTER: 05 Public Affairs Policy No. 05.04.01 SECTION: 04 Public Affairs Directives Page: 1 of 2 SUBJECT: 01 Emergency AM
Radio Station PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the utilization of the City’s Emergency AM Radio Station before, during and after a disaster. These guidelines
include providing citywide emergency notification and information for residents, visitors, and travelers within the city limits of Boynton Beach. Also included are guidelines for non-emergency
use of the system. SCOPE: The primary use of this system is for citizen emergency notification of critical events surrounding natural and manmade disasters such as hurricanes, floods
and tornadoes. Widespread citizen emergency notification is an integral part of the City of Boynton Beach’s disaster management plan. This radio system will disseminate standardized
emergency information to every household in the City Of Boynton Beach and travelers passing through the city. NON-EMERGENCY USAGE: The radio station will broadcast continuously throughout
the year. During periods of non-emergency status, the radio station will broadcast real-time National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration weather information. By law, the station must
broadcast its call sign WPTK 330 @1670 AM every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day. The City of Boynton Beach must be identified during the call sign announcement as the organization responsible
for producing the broadcast. Authorization: All non-emergency notices must be cleared through the Public Affairs Director. The Public Affairs Director will edit, approve, and arrange
for all recording of the text messages to be broadcast. Content: The following guidelines must be followed for non-emergency broadcasts: a. Content for broadcast may include locations
of and directions to services such as lodging, commerce, communications, food, auto repair, rest stops, pharmacies and hospitals. Do not mention names of 1
2 businesses in the broadcasts. The only exception is airline names that may be mentioned in arrival/departure messages by airports. b. Content may also include safety and general information
related to travel: traffic information, road conditions, weather reports and forecasts, construction, parking, road closures or hazards and directions. c. Information and interpretation
about local area features such as parks, natural beauty, wildlife, geology, traditions, character, famous people, historic facts and economic development are also acceptable. d. Content
may include schedules of events. Broadcasts may include voice information only. Music is not allowed. Sound effects are acceptable. EMERGENCY USAGE: Emergency notifications will originate
from the City’s Emergency Management Staff. Authorization: Those approved to originate emergency notifications are the City Manager, City Manager Designee, Fire Chief, Police Chief,
Risk Manager, and Emergency Operations Center Manager. Content: The following are examples of emergency usage: Emergency evacuations Shelter notification and status Road closings Flood
notices Imminent severe weather notices Boil water notices Post storm information such as food and water distribution sites Local hazardous conditions. DEVELOPED BY: Carisse Weise, Safety
Committee Chairperson EFFECTIVE DATE: August 26, 2002 Kurt Bressner Kurt Bressner City Manager