Hurricane Irma Update: Beasley Media, iHeartMedia, Genesis, ABC News Radio Finalize Plans

Prep For Irma

Some good news overnight, as HURRICANE IRMA was downgraded to an "extremely dangerous" category 4 storm. Winds are reported reaching a sustained maximum of 155 mph, according to the U.S. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER. That's still a huge storm, and BEASLEY VP/Corporate Communications HEIDI RAPHAEL shared with ALL ACCESS the company's Hurricane Action Plan for its stations in FLORIDA. 

BEASLEY MEDIA/TAMPA: "All of our stations in TAMPA are doing regular updates on air with our weather partner, ABC Action News. The jocks are giving updates on weather, shelters, sand bag stations, etc. We’re directing everyone to the station websites /Storm (ex. 995QYK.com/Storm) for all updates.  

"On the Storm pages, we’re populating feeds from ABC Action News and posting information and announcements from our local governments and the state. The pages are featured in our rotators and we have a breaking news bar across the top of the sites. When we social any updates we direct people back to this page where all of the information is being updated."  

BEASLEY MEDIA/FT. MYERS: "Our Hurricane Action Plan is in effect. This will include teaming up with WBBH –NBC and WZVN-ABC affiliates, providing our listeners with the very latest Hurricane information.

• 72 hours prior to landfall, every other hour, we will encourage our listeners to tune in to your stations for the latest information on HURRICANE IRMA. 
• 48 hours prior to landfall, every hour. 
• 24 hours, twice an hour. 
• Tracking and projecting landfall times and places every hour. 
• 10 Hours before Landfall to ground zero, we will providing updates every 20 minutes covering landfall info, public shelter info, preparedness info as it relates to safety and advisories from the NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE and Emergency Management. 

BEASLEY MEDIA/BOCA RATON: "Our plan is to air CBS 12-TV from WEST PALM." 

iHeartMedia/Florida Ready To Roll

iHEARTMEDIA/MIAMI is as ready as they can be for the potential of a major hurricane. WIOD’s entire news team is in place, with AM and FM personalities in the building to help South Floridians weather the storm. Extra engineersare  on hand and en route and support from iHEART markets throughout the country.  

• WIOD is already in extended hurricane coverage, carrying all live press conferences. Added six hours live and local programming last night and are live and local TFN.  
• FM breaking news carts updated hourly by WIOD in English and Spanish + added weather
• Partnership with NBC 6 and TELEMUNDO 51-plus meteorologists.  
• Cluster-wide breaking news alerts as needed.   
• WIOD digital billboard running.  

Live and local roster of shows originating from MIAMI for tomorrow.   

WIOD SATURDAY
• 6a-noon – JIMMY CEFALO & MANNY MUNOZ
• Noon to 6p – ELVIS DURAN, ENRIQUE SANTOS and FROGGY
• 6p to mid – PAPA KEITH and DOC RENO

Meanwhile, in ORLANDO, WXXL PD BRIAN MACK reports that all iHEART stations will be staffed with live bodies, as News/Talk station WFLA will be live with wall-to-wall local coverage through the thick of the storm.

Genesis In Action

GENESIS News-Talk WWBA-A (AM 820 NEWS)/TAMPA and News-Talk WIXC-A (AM 1060 NEWS)/MELBOURNE are covering the storm via a simulcast of the audio from TAMPA BAY regional cable news channel BAY NEWS 9.

“This is a very dangerous situation," Dir./Content STEVE KYLER stated. "Our obligation is to keep residents and visitors updated with the latest news and information as this weather related issue unfolds. GENESIS has two very powerful radio stations covering both coasts that enable us to bring most Floridians outlets that will keep them informed of the circumstances. We also provide local and state programming with talent that is located here in the state.”

“We will provide reports in areas across the state that will keep consumers, in and out of the state, updated as to what is happening with HURRICANE IRMA and its aftermath,” News/Talk FLORIDA Editor ALLISON LESLIE said.

ABC News Radio Coverage

As part of ABC NEWS' extensive live coverage of HURRICANE IRMA, the strongest hurricane in the ATLANTIC OCEAN in more than a decade, ABC NEWS RADIO will provide multiple one-minute updates each hour beginning 6a ET on SATURDAY, with correspondents JIM RYAN and ALEX STONE reporting from FLORIDA. On SUNDAY, live coverage will be anchored by correspondent AARON KATERSKY from 6a-noon and 7-8p ET, joined by RYAN and STONE, and correspondent KAREN TRAVERS.

« see more Net News