Lightning Strikes Transmitter Causing Severe Damage

Here’s a radio station that could use a helping hand from friends in the industry. During a thunderstorm earlier this month, lightning struck the transmitter building of Harbert Hills Academy’s radio station, WDNX, in Savannah, TN, resulting in a fire that engulfed the building and destroyed the transmitter and other equipment.

Promotions Manager Sheri Durbin tells Radio Ink the station has cobbled together some equipment so it can broadcast at low power until new equipment can be purchased.

She said, “The most immediate need is to restore power to the safety signal lights on the radio tower and then to put in place a temporary lower-power transmitter as we wait several weeks for a new transmitter to be manufactured to needed specifications. The radio tower itself was not damaged by the fire but the transmission line and antenna are still being evaluated. Damaged materials and equipment must be cleared away, a new building constructed, and new equipment purchased and installed. These efforts will be costly, with early estimates ranging around $250,000.”

WDNX has served as a ministry of Harbert Hills Academy since 1970, broadcasting 24-hour Christian programming across most of West Tennessee, Northeast Mississippi, and Northwest Alabama, a service area that includes large and small populaces and a large stretch of I-40, a highly-traveled East-West expressway. In addition to its outreach through programming, WDNX serves as a vocational training site for Harbert Hills Academy students. The loss of the station is a significant blow.

WDNX posted the following message on its website: “Tragedies bring opportunities to trust the Lord. Harbert Hills Academy staff and students are trusting in God’s promises to meet their needs (Psalms 81:10) and work all things together for good (Romans 8:28).”

Fundraising efforts began the night of the fire. Business owners and the local community of Savannah, with a population of 7,019, have always been supportive of the radio station. So far $31,000 has been raised. Obviously, the station is going to need a lot more help.

WDNX President Steve Dickman told the following stories: “Today two sisters, Rachel (11) and Isabella (10) stopped by my office to see if I was busy. I invited them in, and they said that they wanted to help with getting the radio station back on the air. They handed me their entire savings of $767.00. This was money they had been saving for a play house. I thanked them and assured them that this would be a huge blessing. Then they said that they just wanted people to be able to hear about Jesus. Earlier in the day, a man who had recently moved to the area stopped in and indicated that he and his wife had decided to contribute $5,000 to the rebuild project.

If you’d like to help the station, you can contribute on their website HERE.