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December 1, 2006
Little Rock --
A new structure will soon be seen towering over the Division of Health. The Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services Division of Health is installing a high frequency radio tower and antenna that is the same type used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regional offices and U.S. Embassies around the world.
Division of Health Director Paul Halverson said, “We live in a changing world in public health. In the event of a natural disaster, flu pandemic or other public health emergency, it is necessary to have immediate communication capability 24/7. If telephones and cell phones are not working and satellite phones are unavailable, we still need communication access, and this new tower and antenna will give us that ability.”
“We will be able to communicate vital information using one of the most stable and proven communication systems in the world. When all else fails, high frequency radio communication is a tried and true mode of communication,” said Halverson. “We will be a part of a network administered by the Federal Government called the SHARES Program. The National Communication System is responsible for managing and developing the emergency communication infrastructure, and SHARES is the government/private link that continuously monitors government communication frequencies.”
The Division of Health will join other states that are similarly equipped as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Public Health Radio Network (NPHRN). The Division will work with CDC to regularly test and use high frequency radio for emergency messaging . “ We welcome the Arkansas Division of Health into the CDC's National Public Health Radio Network. When participating in the NPHRN, CDC and public health partners have the capability to transmit and receive vital information in the event that traditional infrastructure dependent communication channels (telephone, internet, cellular) are damaged, overloaded, or destroyed. The NPHRN should provide the Arkansas Division of Health with an alternate/redundant communications capability. Members of the NPHRN include CDC and other federal agencies (FEMA, NASA, Homeland Security, EPA, etc.) as well as state and local health departments,” said David W. Clark, Manager, National Public Health Radio Network, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
By using HAM radio networks already in place, the antenna and tower can also be used by volunteer amateur HAM radio operators to assist state and local governments in emergencies.
The antenna and tower costs approximately $147,000, and costs for installation and equipment have been provided by CDC.
Currently, the Division operates a 24/7 Emergency Communications Center (ECC) in the Emergency Operations Centers at the Markham Street complex. ECC operators will monitor the radio tower.
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