April 24, 2023
On March 31 and April 1, tornadoes tore through the Midwest and South, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Broadcaster Keith Hill wrote to NAB, sharing how East Arkansas Broadcasters flagship station KWYN AM 1400 in Wynne, Ark., remained on the air throughout the storm to keep its listeners safe.
AM radio is a vital part of our nation’s emergency response system, offering a lifeline in dangerous times. And it plays an important role in connecting Black, Asian and Hispanic communities with stations that serve these audiences with niche and in-language programming. With its unique ability to reach a wide geographic area, AM radio also offers many Americans struggling with poor, or non-existent, cellular and broadband coverage a chance to stay connected. Learn more about AM radio’s vital role in our nation’s public safety.
With wide reach and Americans’ most-trusted news, TV and radio broadcasters provide this critical public safety information during emergencies.
Hearst Television’s KCRA 3 in Sacramento, Calif., provides a recap of their comprehensive coverage of the first atmospheric river in a series to hit Northern California, including emergency alerts, information about services and in-depth features with affected residents.
Broadcasters live in their communities, and they deliver recovery information and put together relief drives after national coverage moves on. After tornadoes hit the town of Rolling Fork, Miss., Cumulus Media Group’s 104.3 WZYP in Birmingham, Ala., set up three relief drives. Program Director Steve Smith and morning host Mojo delivered a relief truck full of supplies. When asked about the service, Smith said, “We’ve been very lucky in recent years around our area with no major disasters, so we choose to help others who are in need.”
Sports Director Blake Levine from Nexstar Media Group’s WJTV 12 News in Jackson, Miss., was also on the ground providing food, water and personal care items to victims of the storm.
During the December blizzard in Buffalo, N.Y., Scripps Local Media station 7 News shared the story of one-year-old Major Brown, who relied on a ventilator to breathe. When thousands lost power on the Friday of the blizzard, his mother Shahida Muhammad told went through a harrowing night after his ventilator failed. When the Brandel Murphy Youth Foundation, based out of Long Island, saw the story on 7 News, it sparked a desire to help. The Foundation got an emergency grant to purchase a Honda generator, extension cord, and full tank of gas to gift Muhammad.
More than 2.47 million American jobs depend on broadcasting, and the local broadcast radio and television industry - and the businesses that depend on it - generate $1.17 trillion annually for the nation's economy.
This site is brought to you by the National Association of Broadcasters. We advocate for the nation's radio and television broadcasters.
