How many of us make radio part of our media diet? Local radio is alive and well and always has been. When was the last time you tuned in? Do you have a radio included in your emergency resource cache?
Lincoln County is home to several locally owned and operated stations. Fitting into the community mosaic like other organizations our stations have diverse formats, technical attributes and personalities.
The Lynn’s own KSHL and the Wave. Dave Miller owns Yaquina Bay Communications. The late Cheryl Harle’s station – 100.7 – was recently purchased by a new owner fulfilling a lifelong dream to own a small station. KYAQ is our first local “public broadcaster“.
Our stations have historically been and continue to be our community’s important emergency communication resource. AM and FM frequencies are easily found with a battery-operated transistor radio, by using the receiver in your four wheeler or streamed live on the internet.
Our digital age swiftly brought us the smart phone. Chances are yours is not far from arms reach. It’s possible that you and I have become so fond of our pocket computers that we’ve become less inclined to include local radio as a part of date night. It’s also possible then that your emergency go bag is missing this important resource. If you are lacking a battery powered or hand cranked radio. Get one. Please.
The lexicon of disaster preparedness and response often includes “Whole Community Approach”. By definition we get this word salad, “A Whole Community approach attempts to engage the full capacity of the private and nonprofit sectors, including businesses, faith-based and disability organizations, and the general public, in conjunction with the participation of local, tribal, state, territorial, and Federal governmental partners.” = #inthistogether
Our successes and shortcomings in both response and recovery to emergencies are whole community. The Echo Mountain Wildfire event has demonstrated just how multidimensional emergencies and “life” are. In one way or another the fires touch us all. Events everywhere – touch us all. Butterfly effect.
Enter a new term: “Whole Media Approach”. To ensure redundancy in our ability to communicate during an emergency let us embrace word of mouth, radio, text, internet, tv, print, HAM radio, Morse code, etc. We could even consider bringing back the carrier pigeon, couldn’t we? In its place, perhaps, we might try embracing the oral traditions. Talking to our families, our friends, neighbors. Are we vulnerable – do they feel vulnerable? Are we prepared as we should be?
A good preparation mindset should activate one’s human powered creativity resulting in a plan, a backup plan (to that plan), We augment our plans with every technology possible to support our ability to communicate with one another. Most vehicles have radios. The next time your driving why not review them. Lincoln County Emergency Management has a list of local frequencies both AM and FM.
An emergency preparation review should include at least a portable radio and if possible… more than one. Review your check list and make sure it includes a radio.
Here are a few to get the juices flowing:
- Eton: American Red Cross Emergency Weather AM/FM/NOAA Radio with LED Flashlight
- PowerBear Portable Radio | AM/FM, 2AA Battery Operated with Long Range Reception for Indoor, Outdoor & Emergency Use
- Panasonic RF-562D AM FM SW Shortwave Transistor Radio – Retro Design
Unlock the secret FM tuner in your Android phone? Worth a try. Your phone has been holding out on you. Believe it or not, your model might have a built-in FM radio receiver. And you don’t need to do any jailbreaking or violate any terms of service to use it. You just need the right app. (Link: CNET)
