Maine set to expand weather radio service

WASHINGTON – The Maine Emergency Management Agency will receive $103,500 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service to expand access to weather radio service in Maine. The installation of new transmitters in Meddybemps and Springfield will extend coverage of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weather radio system to surrounding rural communities with poor or no access.

“The National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States. Television weathercasters and private meteorology companies rely on this information, broadcast by the NOAA weather radio system, to prepare their forecasts,” said U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins in a joint statement announcing the grant.

The grant provides $43,200 to purchase and install a 300-watt dual transmitter and antenna in Meddybemps, and $60,300 to install a 1,000-watt dual transmitter and antenna in Springfield. Both projects will be supplemented by matching funds, including in-kind contributions, of $120,000 in the form of tower and building space for the Meddybemps site, and $60,000 in the form of tower and building space for the Springfield site, both from the Maine Public Broadcasting Corp.