Emergency Readiness ...

Hurricane Florence put local radio's call to action response to the test again. Both large broadcast companies and independent stations suspended or cut in on regular programming to inform the public. The crisis is still not over; areas affected are preparing for the aftermath of more flash flooding. Many staffs simultaneously have juggled public responsibilities and the need to take care of loved ones at home.

Informing Listeners ...

Hurricanes, tornadoes, widespread fires, ice storms, earthquakes, floods, snow storms and severe thunderstorms present radio with an opportunity to connect. These recent weeks have been a textbook of what radio should to do during crisis and natural disasters. With Hurricane Florence, stations appeared to have handle all aspects -- ongoing coverage, the use of state, national and local officials on-air, meteorologist's updates, shelter locations, advising before and after pictures for property insurance purposes, evacuation plans, travel options, safety tips, getting cash from ATMs in case of power outages, bottled water and gasoline status, business and school closings, and any number of other reminders.

But Now ... Post-Florence ... Temporarily No Radio

The FCC's latest data from its Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) shows 20 FMs and three AMs have been silenced in the 99-county area across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia. That number could be higher across the four-state region, but because DIRS reporting is voluntary, often not every station operating is able to file a report with the FCC as it deals with recovery efforts. Primarily North Carolina and, to some degree, South Carolina have been impacted the most.

Don't Neglect In-House Or Your Home...

While informing the public, there are still too many stations not as prepared internally as they should be. Pending an immediate crisis, emergency "preparedness meetings," should be held. Several industry veterans and I were discussing how stations prepare the public, but a lot advance internal preparation needs to be addressed, too. I thought it would be a good idea to remind broadcasters of some things.

Radio Crisis & Emergency Checklist:

• Make sure the stations' back-up generator stays in tip-top shape or get one if you don't have one; at home get a generator that can power your entire house or a mid-sized one that can handle the refrigerator, freezer, an AC unit, space heater, and various appliances. Have someone show you how to operate it properly and go over all the safety tips.
• Keep lots of flashlights with fresh batteries in an unlocked visible area inside the studio, conference room, engineering, and in the kitchen area. Do the same at home.
• Have all-important emergency numbers for the police and fire department inside the studio easily visible. Also, every air personality and staff member should have these numbers as contacts on their cell phones and written done somewhere accessible.
• Keep some battery-operated radios at the station and at home.
• Develop a relationship with emergency organizations like the Red Cross and Samaritans Purse.
• Store canned foods, snacks, bottled water, blankets, toilet paper, toothpaste, emergency medical kits, or sleeping bags in case staff decides to sleep at the station; duplicate these suggestions for your home.
• Your company should invest in a satellite phone. They don't rely on a terrestrial cell phone network, instead, they beam their data directly to and from satellites orbiting earth. They provide similar functionality as smartphones; voice, SMS and low-bandwidth Internet access is supported through most systems. In extreme situations, cellphone towers and landlines can be rendered useless.
• Make sure all hard drives are backed up daily in case your station or stations must be evacuated. Have some CDs readily available in case automation systems malfunction ... and hardware to play them on.
• Get some battery and or solar-powered cell phone chargers and keep them on hand for work and at home.
• Have a chain of command for emergencies.
• Make future arrangements with nearby hotels or shelters in case of crisis; there might be a need for station personnel and or family to stay there.
• For worse case scenarios have an evacuation strategy.
• Rotate monthly the responsibilities for someone to check on the readiness for a crisis.

No Such Thing As ... BeingToo Ready

Having a plan of action for station personnel is something you may never need, but just in case, it's smart to hold periodic drills, like the ones we had growing up at school for the possibility of fires. With stations having smaller staffs these days, it's all the more reason to pre-prepare. Find an organization with expertise in natural disaster emergencies. Schedule them to come over and talk to staff on a quarterly basis. All of us tend to put things off until they happen; this is not one of those things we should do that with.