Radio’s invaluable service in an emergency is about to shift into high gear yet again. With Texas still recovering from Hurricane Harvey, Florida is bracing for Hurricane Irma. iHeartMedia got in touch with Radio Ink to tell us how they’re preparing. In Tallahassee, the market’s five radio stations 100.7 WFLA, 94.9 TNT, X101.5, 107.1 Kiss FM, and 105.3 The Beat, are regularly tracking updates and are prepared with a full staff to broadcast wall-to-wall coverage of the storm, including up-to-date storm and traffic information, as well as resources for emergency situations and community relief.
On the Web and in social media, iHeart stations are showcasing a StormWatch page and providing storm tips to the community, such as how to report price gouging, keeping your cell phone charged in a storm and more. If the storm comes closer, the company is prepared to simulcast 100.7 WFLA, “Tallahassee’s News Talk station,” across all stations with staff from each station helping with the broadcast, station operations, and phones.
And cool heads are prevailing as all stations are making employee safety a priority, and have also completed their standard operating procedures for hurricane preparation by checking on generators, fuel, transmitters, and by backing up systems and servers. Disaster assets have been moved to a staging area in Jacksonville, and supplemental engineering staff will arrive in Orlando Thursday to assist local markets throughout the storm.
Great work, everyone. Stay safe!
I recently was a shelter manager during hurricane Irma. I had a reporter I believe his last name was Rick. He did report at a school in Sarasota. He guided me to this site to hear interview. Can someone help guide me to listen to interview?