Radio Serves As A Lifeline
Our stations provided a link to the outside world. Some listeners were prepared with battery-operated radios, while others used their car radios or listened on their phones through our streaming apps. Not only did on-air personalities provide important information regarding listeners’ safety and the resources available to them, they gave listeners a human connection by helping them feel some sense of security: by being there to answer calls and providing a voice to those struggling throughout the storm. That is what radio is all about.
In Fort Myers, Program Director Jeff Zito also manned the controls around-the-clock during the storm at WRXK, taking calls from listeners and keeping the station on air while his dog camped out in the studio alongside him. Our engineering team worked diligently to keep our Florida broadcast signals and systems working properly in order to get the word out to thousands of listeners across the state, as well as ensuring that our corporate office in Naples was up and running in an effort to provide additional support to our stations.” In conclusion, Beasley said, “During the hard days of Hurricane Irma I’m very proud that our employees — like so many Floridians — actually defined human excellence, and real humanity at its best. I am honored to be a member of their team.”