Protection of the tragic flooding that hit six central Texas counties over the Independence Day weekend, inflicting widespread harm and lack of lives, once more confirmed that relating to breaking native information, radio doesn’t take a vacation.
Stations in and across the San Antonio and Austin markets, equivalent to iHeartMedia’s “Information Radio 1200” WOAI San Antonio, instantly shifted to emergency broadcast mode and round the clock protection of the flooding, which affected Texas’ Kerr, Burnet, Travis, Williamson, Bexar and Hays counties.
“From the start of this disaster, our iHeartMedia groups did what our folks do finest: they instantly confirmed as much as serve and assist the communities wherein they stay and work,” iHeartMedia Chairman and CEO Bob Pittman and President, COO and CFO Wealthy Bressler mentioned in a joint assertion. “As folks turned to us in the midst of the disaster, searching for readability, connection and solutions, our groups labored across the clock to maintain their listeners knowledgeable and secure — reducing by way of misinformation and chaos with their trusted native voices.”
iHeart’s launch notes that the corporate’s stations have offered “assist and very important private connection” to listeners affected by the flooding, whereas station websites “have grow to be lifelines, sharing evacuation routes, boil water alerts, street closures, shelter places, and methods to assist. We’ve expanded protection throughout all of Texas and into the Louisiana markets; now stations in San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Dallas, El Paso, New Orleans and Baton Rouge will assist be sure that residents can obtain the data and assist they want.”
In Houston, Michael Berry, morning host on information/speak KTRH (740), coated “the storm’s aftermath, households affected by the devastation, and the resilient spirit of Texas,” iHeartMedia Division Govt Vice President, Programming Marc Sherman tells Inside Radio.
In response to the harm to communities and to households having misplaced houses and/or kids, iHeart is directing donations to the Kerr County Flood Aid Fund, a bunch of vetted native organizations targeted on response, reduction and restoration efforts; flood help applications for displaced households and people; and rebuilding efforts within the hardest-hit areas.
“We’re so happy with our folks on the bottom,” iHeart’s assertion says. “The true energy of broadcast radio is our groups’ unwavering dedication to serving their communities, which is rarely extra vital than in occasions like this of unthinkable tragedy and loss.”
