We’ve seen our share of weather-related disasters over the past several months. From the floods in Houston to the hurricanes in Florida and Puerto Rico, Mother Nature has not been kind in 2017. Many broadcasters were affected by the weather mayhem, some being knocked off the air or losing power. It certainly proves that no matter how prepared you are you just never know what’s going to happen. Dave Siegler is Cox Media Group’s VP of Technical Operations. We reached out to Dave and asked him to give us his opinion on how every station should be prepared for any kind of major emergencies.
Radio Ink: If you were putting together a “disaster” checklist today what would be on it?
Dave Siegler At Cox Media Group, we recommend the following disaster preparedness checklist:
Test your generators early
Top off all generator fuel tanks and know their “burn rate”
Activate your Business Continuity Plan
Communicate and coordinate often with your employees
Determine who your critical employees are (Operations, Engineering, Traffic, etc.)
Give employees the time to secure their homes, families, and pets
Know the hurricane “CAT” rating of each building
Radio Ink: Tell us how you prepare to keep a radio station on the air during a hurricane or other natural disaster?
Dave Siegler: We monitor the conditions in our markets, both outside and in the forecasts. We also prepare for widespread and long periods of electrical power outages. Since our employees are our most valuable asset, we identify and prepare for their needs (food, water, bathroom facilities, etc.). Additionally, we know gasoline for cars will be hard to come by for days/weeks, so want to be sure everyone is prepared for that.
Radio Ink: What should PDs and managers be preparing for ahead of time.
Dave Siegler: Backup programming is essential, so our teams are prepared for what to air if the studio goes down or is evacuated. If you have a talk station, there will be extra demands for information, live reports, and staffing. Additionally, the Traffic Department needs to stay functional during the crisis.
Radio Ink: What should be stocked at the station?
Dave Siegler: The essentials are food, water, ice, and some cars with full gas tanks.
Radio Ink: In your years of experience what have you seen that someone might forget to do that might allow a station to go off the air?
Dave Siegler: A generator running out of fuel can be a missed priority. Also, always keep in mind there could be an unanticipated need to evacuate the building (flood, surge). Always
plan for the unexpected.
Radio Ink: Should managers expect their employees to work around the clock informing the local listeners?
Dave Siegler: Every situation and company culture is different, but at Cox Media Group our employees are our most valuable asset. It’s all about the balance between employees knowing that their house and family are safe versus their dedication to serving their community by disseminating life-saving information.
