WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As radio and television stations up and down the east coast prepare to deliver wall-to-wall coverage of Hurricane Sandy, the FCC and FEMA have told the public to tune into broadcast television and radio for the latest information on the storm.
In response, NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith issued the following statement:
"I salute the remarkable work of our radio and TV station colleagues now putting themselves in harm's way to keep millions of people safe and informed on the devastation of this deadly storm. As FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate noted* this weekend, in times of emergency there is no more reliable source of information than that coming from local broadcasters. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those in the path of Hurricane Sandy."
*From CBS News this morning:
Fugate urged the up to 50 million people living in areas potentially impacted by the storm to stay informed by tuning into local broadcasting, and radio in particular.
"Probably one of the things you don't really think about anymore is having a battery powered radio or a hand-cranked radio to get news from your local broadcasters…Cellphones may be congested. Radio is oftentimes the way to get those important messages about what's going on in the local community."
You can review Fugate's comments at the 2:25 mark of this interview.About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America's broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.
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