Coverage of the tragic flooding that hit six central Texas counties over the Independence Day weekend, causing widespread damage and loss of lives, again showed that when it comes to breaking local news, radio doesn’t take a holiday.
Stations in and around the San Antonio and Austin markets, such as iHeartMedia’s “News Radio 1200” WOAI San Antonio, immediately shifted to emergency broadcast mode and round-the-clock coverage of the flooding, which affected Texas’ Kerr, Burnet, Travis, Williamson, Bexar and Hays counties.
“From the beginning of this crisis, our iHeartMedia teams did what our people do best: they immediately showed up to serve and support the communities in which they live and work,” iHeartMedia Chairman and CEO Bob Pittman and President, COO and CFO Rich Bressler said in a joint statement. “As people turned to us in the middle of the crisis, looking for clarity, connection and answers, our teams worked around the clock to keep their listeners informed and safe — cutting through misinformation and chaos with their trusted local voices.”
iHeart’s release notes that the company’s stations have provided “support and vital personal connection” to listeners affected by the flooding, while station sites “have become lifelines, sharing evacuation routes, boil water alerts, road closures, shelter locations, and ways to help. We’ve expanded coverage across all of Texas and into the Louisiana markets; now stations in San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Dallas, El Paso, New Orleans and Baton Rouge will help ensure that residents can receive the information and support they need.”
In Houston, Michael Berry, morning host on news/talk KTRH (740), covered “the storm’s aftermath, families affected by the devastation, and the resilient spirit of Texas,” iHeartMedia Division Executive Vice President, Programming Marc Sherman tells Inside Radio.
In response to the damage to communities and to families having lost homes and/or children, iHeart is directing donations to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, a group of vetted local organizations focused on response, relief and recovery efforts; flood assistance programs for displaced families and individuals; and rebuilding efforts in the hardest-hit areas.
“We are so proud of our people on the ground,” iHeart’s statement says. “The true power of broadcast radio is our teams’ unwavering commitment to serving their communities, which is never more important than in times like this of unthinkable tragedy and loss.”
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