Emergency Urgency

February 12, 2010
Emergency Urgency
It’s a safe bet that Mother Nature
caused a whole lot of broadcasters,
in both large and small markets, to
pull out their station’s emergency
plans this past week. Historymaking snowstorms, a power plant
explosion in Connecticut, and
even an earthquake in Chicago
should serve as a reminder to all
broadcasters that when disaster
strikes you must be ready. For some
reminders we checked out FEMA’s
Ready.gov website to gather a few
good tips on how to be better prepared when disaster strikes.
Be Informed: Know what kinds of emergencies might affect your offices
and studios. Find out which natural disasters are most common in the
areas where you operate. You may be aware of some of your community’s
risks; others may surprise you. Are you near a facility that could be the
source of, or a prime target for, a biological, chemical, explosive, nuclear
or radiological event? Are you in an earthquake zone? Are you prepared
for extreme heat and cold waves, influenza or other pandemic disease,
floods, fires, and electrical blackouts? Consider what will be needed in
almost any disaster scenario.
Have An Employee Communication Plan: Consider setting up a
telephone calling tree, a password protected page on your website, an
email or text alert, or at least a call-in voice recording, to communicate
with your staffers in an emergency. Like you would at home, it’s a good
idea to designate an out-of-town contact number where employees can
Issue 132
leave an “I’m OK” message in the event of a catastrophic disaster.
Consider giving all employees pre-printed wallet cards with details on
how to get information during an emergency situation. And don’t forget
to check with any employees who have disabilities to prepare for any
special needs they might have during an emergency.
Continuity Planning: How quickly can your station get back to
business-as-usual after a terrorist attack or tornado, fire or flood,
depends on the emergency planning you do today. Those stations
with the best plans in place will be the ones most likely to survive and
recover most quickly from a disaster. Carefully assess which staff,
equipment, materials and procedures are absolutely essential to keep
things running. Establish a procedure for succession of management in
the event a current manager is unable to be reached, or is incapacitated
due to the emergency. Wherever practical to do so, staffers should
be trained to back up others at various tasks, so that no single critical
function can be performed by only one individual.
Create A Contact List: Have a list of all city, county, state and
federal officials who you will need to interact with in the event of an
emergency. Know the agency contact’s name, phone number (office
and cell), email and check often to be sure your list is up-to-date. Store
it both at the station and off-site in the event your facility is damaged
and inaccessible. Sales should develop a similar list with all contact
info for clients and advertisers so that you can remain in touch with
them to provide updates on the station’s situation and also service any
needs they may have to communicate information to their customers
via your station.
Coordinate With Other Businesses: Are your studios or offices
in shared space with other businesses? It’s a good idea to meet with
(continued on page 3)
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February 12, 2010
NTS MediaOnline Weekly
PERSON-T0-PERSON
Chicago TV News anchor Ron Magers has rejoined Roe Conn on
Citadel News/Talker WLS/Chicago where he’ll offer daily commentary
during the show’s 3pm hour. Magers was axed from the station earlier this
year as part of budget cuts at the station … Former WLW/Cincinnati
Sports/Talker Andy Furman joins crosstown WQRT to host a daily
5-7pm show … Chris Rude returns to his Rude Awakening program on
WCNN (The Fan)/Atlanta following a health-related hiatus … News/
Talk/Sports imaging studio Road Kill Creative signs with ISP Sports
to create custom themes for ISP’s college play-by-play broadcasts …
Greg Glenday is named Clear Channel President/National Advertiser
Development for the company’s National Advertisers Platform
Group.
NETWORK /SYNDICATION NOTES
The independently syndicated Leslie Marshall Show adds KPTK/
Seattle, along with two new California affiliates, KIST/Santa Barbara
and KYNS/San Luis Obispo … KTAR/Phoenix adds the Wall Street
Journal Report to the Bonneville FM News/Talker’s lineup. WSJ Radio
reporter Mike Salvatorelli will join KTAR’s Ned Foster and Connie
Weber on Arizona’s Morning News with business news updates from
5-9am daily. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal Radio Network
will offer a 10-part special series offering “Tax Tips.” The 60-second
features will be available free to affiliates beginning Feb. 17th ... The Thom
Hartmann Show moves into PM drive on Access.1 Communicationsowned WWRL/New York. The Dial-Global syndicated progressive
Talk show will also expand its simulcast on Dish Network’s Free
Speech TV to two hours beginning in March … Talk Shows USAsyndicated Free Talk Live adds KIVA/Albuquerque, KBLL/Helena,
KBAI/Bellingham, WA and WNYY/Ithaca … With Hollywood’s
Oscar ceremonies just around the corner, Envision Radio Networks
debuts a new interactive radio promotion based on the movie trivia board
game Pass The Popcorn.
Page 2
EMERGING TALK MEDIA
Psychic radio host Linda Salvin, most recently heard weekends at
former L.A. FM talker KLSX and KABC/Los Angeles, has built
her own online radio station to bring her metaphysical and spiritual
talk to a world wide audience at www.lindasalvin.com … Forbes,
Inc. CEO Steve Forbes tells MarketWatch that he doesn’t think
paid online content will replace ad revenues for most media outlets.
Read more HERE … Journal Broadcast Group News/Talker
WTMJ/Milwaukee picks mobile marketer Hipcricket to provide
snow day school closing text alerts to listeners who subscribe
to the service … Wireless Grids inks with Clear Channel/
Syracuse for a product trial of WGC’s software that “transforms
computer networking and wireless infrastructures’ (all devices)
ability to interact seamlessly with little configuration” … GET
BREAKING NEWS alerts by following us on TWITTER,
or “friend” us on FACEBOOK. Find one-click links to both at
www.NTSMediaOnline.com.
FUTURE SUPER BOWL STAR?
GIG ALERTS
Peak Broadcasting/Boise seeks a passionate and professional Sports/
Talk host “ready to be live, local and loving what they do everyday. Email
your best creative shot to Dir./Talk Programming Jason Wilmot at
jawilmot@peakbroadcasting.com (EOE) … Got a gig open? Looking
for a new challenge? Just email the details and contact info to
al@ntsmediaonline.com and we’ll post it here, free of charge, as a
service to industry professionals.
Fox Sports Radio hosts Matt “Money” Smith (l) and Petros
Papadakis (r) flank Stanford University All-American running back
Toby Gerhart during a recent visit to FSR’s nationally syndicated
Petros & Money Show.
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February 12 , 2010
NTS MediaOnline Weekly
Page 3
(continued from page 1)
other tenants and businesses to learn how you might assist one another
in the event of an emergency. Invite first responders, emergency
managers, community organizations and utility providers to meet with
representatives from all the businesses in your building for insights on
what you can do as a group to help them to help more effectively in the
event of an emergency.
Have A Basic Emergency Kit On Site: And be sure it’s stocked
well enough to handle however many employees are likely to be on site
during an emergency situation. Talk with your staff to get input on what
emergency supplies the station can feasibly supply and keep on hand. A
very basic emergency kit for use at the office or at home will include the
following items:
• Water: If feasible store one gallon of water per person, per day, for
drinking and sanitation.
• Food: Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food items.
Try to not make them all sugary snacks and chips. Have some healthier
options including foods that are high in protein and low in fat. And don’t
forget a can opener if necessary.
• Radio: Sure, it sounds silly to store a radio at a radio station, but many
stations today maintain studios and offices in different facilities, so be
sure your non-studio offices have access to a battery powered radio with
plenty of back-up batteries.
• Flashlight: Have a number of them on hand, at least one for every
room and studio, with plenty of back-up batteries on hand. Battery
powered camping lanterns are also great for lighting entire rooms that are
not covered by your station’s back-up generator.
• Whistle: Use it to call for help in the event of a building collapse, or if
access to exits is blocked.
• Moist Towelettes: For hand washing and other sanitary needs in the
event water service is cut off.
• Dust Masks: A must in situations where a disaster has caused dusty
conditions (remember the dust all over lower Manhattan when the World
Trade Center fell?).
• Plastic Sheeting and Duct Tape: To “seal a room” in the event of a
toxic air situation. Also good for covering storm damaged windows and
doors.
• Garbage Bags and Ziplock Bags: For personal sanitation and trash
disposal.
Review Your Plan Annually: Last, but not least, an annual review
of your emergency preparedness plans is a must. Just as your business
changes over time, so do your preparedness needs. When you hire new
staffers, or when there are changes in how your company functions, be
sure to update your written plan and inform all involved.
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(Get other emergency preparedness tips at www.ready.gov)
CONTACT NTS MEDIAONLINE
Al Peterson
858-486-7559
al@ntsmediaonline.com
Brooke Trissel
512-218-8228
brooke@ntsmediaonline.com
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