Updated: St. Clair Township offers subsidized FM alert system to residents, covering both sides of the border. Fire Chief to discuss system on TVCOGECO tonight (Wed., Oct. 26) at 7 pm

A radio system the Township of St. Clair is offering local residents should help with the effective notification of incidents, including weather and industrial mishaps, that might otherwise slip through as they have in the past, according to municipal officials.

Mayor Steve Arnold, who also serves as Lambton County's warden, said he's hopeful that the Alert FM system, which is the first to incorporate information from both sides of the border, will be better than systems the municipality has tried in the past.

"We haven't had as good luck as we hoped with other notification systems," Arnold acknowledged.

The Alert FM device will be available to residents in both the U.S. and Canada.

Residents of St. Clair Township will have $30 of the $40 price of the units paid for, said Tom Boone, of the deputy fire chiefs at the St. Clair Township Fire department.

Boone said the township has already issued about 250 of the units. Some 250 are still available but the township has ordered another 500 for future demand.

Residents pay $10 for what amounts to a deposit, should they move out of St. Clair Township

.A press release on the manufacturer's website has directed those wishing to purchase the devices to do so at Corunna Home Hardware, the municipal offices or at the fire hall.

St. Clair Township Fire Chief Roy Dewhirst will discuss the new system tonight (Wednesday, Oct. 26) on "Wright to the Point" on TVCOGECO at 7 pm.