As Tropical Storm Harvey continued to pound Texas on Sunday – flooding interstates and effectively shutting Houston down – local radio broadcasters kept residents informed with essential info, even while sustaining damage to facilities, station vehicles and employee homes. At least nine stations have been knocked off the air in the region, according to the FCC. And with the torrential rain expected to continue through Friday, broadcasters are battening down the hatches for more rough days ahead, according to InsideRadio.
iHeartMedia's NewsRadio KTRH 740 AM became the city's go-to station. Eddie Martiny, president of iHeartMedia’s Houston Region, said local staff has been broadcasting in long form nonstop since 8am Friday, providing listeners with up-to-date info and emergency resources.
An internal memo to employees from Martiny offers a glimpse of the valiant efforts of South Texas broadcasters under harrowing conditions.
I have never seen rain like I have witnessed over the last 3 days………and I remind you, I am from New Orleans. Over 30 inches so far and expecting at least another 30 inches in the next 3 days.
The city of Houston is shut down with all major interstates flooded. I am so proud of our local staff, who have been broadcasting in long form since Fri at 8am. We have jocks from all 6 stations chipping in. Sellers, managers and support staff made their way to the office to answer phones and lend support. They now have no way out due to the flooding. At this point I am aware that we have a few employees that have lost vehicles and have water in their homes……that is sure to multiply.
We also lost a station vehicle last night due to the fast rising water, thank goodness our reporter is fine. We currently have 5 stations on air, KPRC transmitter took on water and is unfortunately down. I am amazed and appreciative of the constant support we’ve received from iHeart around the country.
Tony Coles, Kevin LeGrett, Jeff Littlejohn, Tom Cox, Chris Berry, Gene Romano and Scott Logeman have been in constant contact asking what they can do to help. Not to mention the hundreds of employees from around the country who continue to check in.
Tough situation…….Amazing support from iHeart !Some employees lost vehicles, others have water in their homes, Martiny said, acknowledging “the constant support we’ve received from iHeart around the country.”
By Sunday night, CBS Radio’s hot AC “Mix 96.5” KHMX, country “100.3 The Bull” KILT-FM, Spanish hits “Mega 101” KLOL and “SportsRadio 610” KILT were simulcasting storm coverage. “Being 100% live-and-local is of great help in times like these,” VP of programming Bruce Logan told Inside Radio on Friday. “We have set up ‘Camp CBS’ in our listener lounge with food and water as well as provided sleeping arrangements for the teams from each station and we are prepared to live here until the threat passes.”
According to InsideRadio, iHM Friday evacuated all on-air staffers from its Corpus Christi cluster and all six of the stations began relaying sister “Newsradio 740” KTRH out of the company’s Houston offices. But by 6pm Friday, rock “C101” KNCN (101.3), classic rock KKTX-FM (96.1) and KUNO (1400) had been knocked off the air. And to conserve generator fuel, classic hits “Oldies 93.9” KMXR went off-air Friday night to allow country “K99” KRYS-FM (99.1) and Tejano KSAB (99.9) to continue broadcasting through the weekend.
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| Top photo March 2017, bottom Sunday Morning |
Across Houston’s FM dial on Sunday, music stations mostly stuck with their regular format while providing updates and directing listeners to their website for more info.
The FCC reports 9 radio stations in Texas are off-air. They are: KJOJ-FM, KKTX, KUNO, KPRC, KKWV, KAYK, KZFM, KKBA and KEYS.
There are no TV stations reported as being out of service.
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