ALERT – A Londonderry Emergency Response Team – is fundraising to launch a community radio station.
The low-power FM station would serve as a new platform for the non-profit to raise awareness for its mission and work in the community, and to broadcast announcements and information during emergency events.
“The key to having a station is having an audience,” said ALERT Communications Director Remi “Bill” Fortin, who hopes to engage the community to the station by also airing music, sports and entertaining programs produced by members of the community.
Additionally, Fortin spoke about the potential to broadcast informational programs detailing safety tips from the Fire and Police Departments and his hope for a partnership with the School District’s station, LEO 103 Radio, which reaches the north end of town, up to about Litchfield Road.
“We want to get people interested and keep them interested. We’re hoping this is something the high school kids can put content into,” Fortin said. “We want people in Londonderry to feel they’re part of this, and hopefully we can also drive more interest in volunteering with ALERT, because it takes a lot of volunteers to open a shelter and to do a search and rescue.”
ALERT is made up of volunteers who help with search and rescue operations, disaster response, emergency shelter operations, educating the public on emergency preparedness and prevention, and traffic control at large public events and during emergencies.
The mission of ALERT’s new station, FM 95.1, is to provide the community with emergency notifications, shelter status, and safety information. The radio station is to be housed at South Fire Station.
“We’re hoping to reach up to the intersection of Route 111 and Route 128, and some of Windham. Our shelter is a regional shelter that we open not only for Londonderry, but also for all the surrounding towns,” Fortin said.
In founding the station, ALERT will have to purchase several pieces of expensive equipment, including a transmitter, antenna, emergency messaging system, cable, computer and software.
To help get the station up and running, donors may send a check, made payable to ALERT, to Remi “Bill” Fortin at 7 Shasta Drive, Londonderry, NH 03050.
ALERT will recognize corporate sponsors on the air and may direct listeners to the company’s website or Facebook page.
“We need to raise about $8,000, but I have been able to secure $1,075 so far. I’m excited about that,” Fortin said. “Our goal is to put our new broadcasting station on the air as soon as possible.”