Panama City Radio: Michael Forced Two Hosts To Facebook

Tiffany Dunning and Sean Streeter

First Hurricane Michael damaged the radio station where they worked and then the owner shut the station down permanently — but that hasn’t stopped two Florida radio hosts from continuing their mission of informing their listeners during the disaster, reports the AP's Michael Schneider.

Instead, Tiffany Dunning and Sean Streeter, turned to their Facebook page to provide a constant stream of updates on recovery efforts.

“People are relying on our communication right now, where people can find food, where people can find water. There’s a lot of confusion with that,” Streeter told The Associated Press.

He and Dunning worked as "Flip & Streeter" for Panama City Beach radio station WKNK Kick’n 103.5, owned by Powell Broadcasting.

In the days after Michael ruptured everyday life, the station was a lifeline of information for Florida Panhandle residents, debunking rumors and telling residents where to find hot food and ice, phone charging stations and dialysis treatment.

But Powell Broadcasting last Saturday shut down its operations and those of three other Florida Panhandle radio stations because of damage from the hurricane.

In a phone interview from Panama City Beach, Streeter choked up when asked about the timing of the station’s shutdown.

“To make this announcement at this time, three days after everybody’s world is flipped upside down is disappointing to me and our community,” Streeter said.

Officials with Powell Broadcasting didn’t return multiple calls and emails, nor did officials with its parent company, Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based The Powell Group.

Ahead of the storm’s landing, Streeter evacuated to Birmingham, Alabama and Dunning went to Nashville so they would have power and Internet to communicate with listeners via the station’s Facebook page. Streeter has since returned to Panama City Beach. Dunning has a newborn and hasn’t made it back yet.