The county recently launched emergency information radio stations reaching the Santa Ynez Valley, Lompoc Valley and Santa Maria Valley. 

The stations broadcast at AM 530 in English and Spanish, 24/7, from sites with backup generators so they work during power outages, according to the county. 

Staff can update the messages remotely and share time-sensitive information, said Kelly Hubbard, director of the Office of Emergency Management. 

The stations will be used to broadcast disaster-related updates like evacuation orders, shelter-in-place orders, evacuation shelter locations, and recovery assistance centers. Between incidents, they will broadcast preparedness information for storms, wildfires and earthquakes, the county said. 

Hubbard said they’re working to revitalize the Radio Ready program as another emergency information source.  

“An additional county-operated station in the Cuyama Valley will be launched later this year, and more stations, commercial and agency-based, are in process of being added in the southern part of the county.” 

The Montecito Fire Department operates AM 1610 from Fire Station 91 on San Ysidro Road. Broadcasts reach from Milpas Street in Santa Barbara to Sheffield Drive/Ortega Hill. 

Using AM radio may seem outdated, but it works and works reliably, fire officials said. 

It is broadcasting information 24/7, and currently the messages are about the neighborhood chipping program, wildfire preparedness and the radio station itself, spokeswoman Christina Atchison said. 

“During events such as storms or Red Flag Warnings, I broadcast information about the conditions and any preparedness actions we would like the community to take,” she said.

“Those time-specific messages are dated; for example, it would say, ‘This is a message from the Montecito Fire Department, updated Tuesday, February 25 at 12 p.m.’”

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Go to ReadySBC.org for evacuation maps, shelter locations, road closures during emergencies.