Summers County updating emergency radio towers

HINTON, WV (WVNS) — Radios are crucial when it comes to communicating during emergency situations.

Summers County is finally bringing their emergency radio towers up to snuff in preparation for a total overhaul in order to make their communication the best it can be.

Summers County’s current emergency radio tower system is anywhere from 25 to 35 years old if you look at each individual part.

Loyd Lowry, Director of the Office of Emergency Management and 911, said they are in dire need of these repairs.

He said for something so crucial to the wellbeing of so many people, it is unacceptable.

“Currently we’re dealing with a lot of dead spots, we deal with a decreased response, especially in the law enforcement side. Our city frequency is not as capable throughout the entire county as it should be,” said Lowry. “And my biggest concern as the director is that somebody is gonna get out in an area where there’s poor radio reception and really need to have a response to them and they’re not gonna be able to get out.”

Summers County has three towers: one at Tug Creek near Hinton, one at Keeney Knob near Alderson, and the third at Freezeland Mountain near Bragg.

Right now, the Keeney Knob tower is the closest to having its repairs complete.

These repairs include new wiring and antennae.

Lowry said they are working on making them more reliable.

“What we’re intending to do is to increase the reliability and the usage of this system until we can get plans in place and move forward with a newer digital UHF system in the county,” said Lowry.

The towers are operating on a VHF, or very high frequency, analog system now.

Unfortunately, most of the surrounding counties have much newer systems that are not compatible with Summers County.

That is why Lowry wants to install a brand-new UHF, or ultra high frequency, digital system.

This would make communication better throughout the county and with other agencies in surrounding counties.

Lowry said these plans will hopefully be quick to complete.

“I expect that probably within two years we’ll have the new digital UHF system up and operational,” said Lowry.

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