With what's forecast to be a very active hurricane season less than a month away, the City of West Palm Beach has a new tool to help keep the public safe.
Mayor Keith James unveiled the city's new "Site on Wheels," a mobile radio site that will improve the city's public safety radio communications network and prevent future communications failures.
"In 2022 I learned the city's police department did not have adequate radio reception and transmission services in the western portion of our city."
After an investigation, the mayor says the city applied for a federal grant of $969,000 and they received it.
In addition to supporting communications during natural disasters, like a hurricane, the SOW will provide continuous public safety services to ensure the public is informed of any type of emergency and during special events.
Police Chief Frank Adderley was with Mayor James and Congresswoman Lois Frankel to make the announcement on Monday at City Hall.
"During these storms when we lose electricity and we lose our communications, this is the device that we can bring back to the east side of the city, to the south side of the city. It's mobile. It'll take us to the areas where we'll need it the most."