Topic: Disaster Relief and Recovery
Recently, KCSR-AM in Chadron, Neb., gave the proceeds raised from the "Dawes/ Sioux County Fire Video" they created to erect a monument to the fireman who helped keep their community safe in August 2006. The video involved a seven-month campaign, with heavy mentions during morning talk shows, press releases, anniversary news coverage, fire prevention broadcasts, online promotions and in-person talks about the station’s fire coverage. Back in 2006, when temperatures reached 108 degrees with humidity in the teens, fire broke out in King’s Canyon. As evacuations began, the radio station became a lifeline for the small community that only has a weekly newspaper. "All 12 employees at our station became news people," recalled station owner Dennis Brown. "We came to work Friday morning and didn’t leave until Monday night." The employees slept at the station, providing information around the clock. They went to each part of town to find out what people needed, then made on-air announcements and coordinated getting supplies to all areas. Photos posted on the station Web site helped the forest service get the equipment they needed sent in from another state. Although three houses were lost, there were no fatalities. "We did our job," said Brown. "And I’m not afraid to brag."
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