Religious Broadcasters Urge Support For AM Radio

 Troy Miller, the CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters, recently highlighted the resilience and calming effect of AM radio during hurricane seasons. 

As stormy weather looms over the Atlantic coast, communities are bracing for potential impacts. The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially began on June 1 and is expected to be extremely active. According to Colorado State University’s Seasonal Hurricane Forecast, we can anticipate 23 named storms, with 11 of them becoming hurricanes, and 5 reaching major hurricane status (category 3, 4, or 5 with winds exceeding 111 mph) 1. 

Troy Miller

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a range of 17 to 25 named storms, with 8 to 13 becoming hurricanes, and 4 to 7 reaching major hurricane strength 2.

One critical factor in predicting hurricane activity is surface water temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. These temperatures play a significant role in storm development. Notably, the region where storms tend to form already exhibited early summer temperatures in April and May. By June, these temperatures have reached levels typically seen in August, which is the peak of hurricane season.

In a Newsmax article, Miller writes AM radio, with its wide coverage and ability to operate during power outages, remains a reliable source of information during emergencies. It provides a sense of calm and connection to communities, even when other communication channels falter.