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Are You Prepared
for a Disaster?
Disaster preparedness
is something that every broadcast engineer must deal with. A session
at the upcoming NAB Broadcast Engineering Conference (BEC, April
10-15, 2010, Las Vegas, Nev. � see below for additional information)
entitled �Disaster Preparedness, Recovery and Security� includes
a paper, excerpted here, which focuses on the experiences of Steve
Fluker, Director of Engineering with Cox Radio, Orlando, in dealing
with the aftermath of a tornado that destroyed one of Cox�s Florida
facilities. INTRODUCTION � at 4 a.m. on February 2, 2007, I got
a phone call telling me that WCFB, 94.5 was off the air. The station
operator told me that there were severe storms near the tower site
so it could be related. I attempted to call the remote control system,
but the phone just rang with no answer. Next I tried the wireless
link through my PC, but again no response. Fearing the worst, I
called another engineer, grabbed my camera, and headed for the tower
site which was an hour drive away. When we arrived, we were faced
with the reality that this storm had produced an F4 tornado which
had taken down the 1,500 foot tower, and had destroyed the transmitter
building and all of the equipment inside (see photo). Once the news
got out that our tower was down, our competitors started calling
our clients telling them that we would be off the air for months,
and that they could handle our schedules. That might have been the
case had we not been prepared for what to do in a situation like
this. GETTING BACK ON THE AIR � Because of previous planning and
being prepared, we were able to get back on the air at 2:37 p.m.
that same afternoon. The work that day included emergency FCC filings
to operate from a different tower, and to operate with an emergency
STL. This temporary signal covered the entire metro Orlando area,
and within a month, we were back up to full power and full antenna
height with a short term lease on another nearby tall tower. This
gave us the opportunity to take the proper amount of time to rebuild
the tower and building the right way without cutting corners to
speed up the project. WHAT WILL BE ASKED OF YOU � When a major disaster
like this one hits, you can bet that your telephone will begin ringing
and won�t stop for days or even weeks. Your General Manager, program
director, and sales managers will all call wanting to know when
you�ll have the station back on the air. The business manager will
want to know how much this will cost and have you talked to the
insurance company yet. Among these calls will also be one from your
insurance adjuster asking for a list of all of the equipment damaged,
and the approximate value of each item. And �Oh by the way,� they
want it as soon as possible. In my case, they asked if I could get
the initial report to them within a week. PROPER PREPARATION PAYS
OFF � There are a few steps that you can do right now that will
pay off when you come face to face with a problem. First, come up
with a document or book with all of the information you will need
in times of trouble. This Business Continuity Plan should include
the following: List all service providers that you do business with.
This includes telephone companies, Internet providers, power companies,
water Company, network programming providers, IT services, etc.
Create a list of all emergency contacts that you may need. This
would include sheriff�s department, fire department, local hospitals,
environmental protection agency, security companies, poison control,
and hazmat organizations. Also include the FCC and FAA for NOTAM
notifications (be sure to have all of your tower registration numbers
listed). DOCUMENT WITH PHOTOS � Now that you have a plan in place
you need to know what you have at all of your locations. The best
way to document your facilities is with pictures. A digital camera
can give you a very accurate and extensive record of what you have
at virtually no cost. Be sure to organize your pictures on your
computer under files based on your locations as shown in the figure.
Keep a copy of these photos on a backed up network drive, as well
as on CD�s located at every tower site, and one at your home. You
can never have too many copies, or too many pictures. SUMMARY �
a disaster can strike at any time, and is usually unexpected. Don�t
be in denial that this can�t happen to you, or that you have plenty
of time to prepare later. It�s too late once the storm hits. Having
the proper written plan, photos of your facilities, old invoices,
and copies of old drawings and documentation can greatly reduce
the stress when you come face to face with a tragedy. You�ll also
build confidence with your managers, corporate office, and the insurance
company when you show that you are organized and ready to face the
challenge of rebuilding, which is always a positive thing. Mr. Fluker
will present this paper on Wednesday, April 14, 2009 starting at
9:30 a.m. in room S226 of the Las Vegas Convention Center. It will
also be included in its entirety in the 2010 NAB Broadcast Engineering
Conference Proceedings, on sale at the 2010 NAB Show Store and available
on-line from the NAB Store (www.nabstore.com) after the convention.
Other papers being presented during this session include the following:
Strategies for Disaster Preparedness: Staying on the Air if the
Worst Happens, Charles Kelly, Director of Sales, Nautel Putting
the Final Touches on Next-Generation EAS Panel, moderated by Larry
Walke, Associate General Counsel, NAB. Scheduled panelists include
Antwane Johnson, Division Director and Project Manager, FEMA, James
Barnett, Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, FCC,
Suzanne Goucher, President and CEO, Maine Association of Broadcasters,
Thomas Beers, Chief, Policy Division, FCC, and Wade Witmer, Deputy
Division Director, FEMA. For additional conference information visit
the NAB Show Web page at www.nabshow.com.
2010 NAB
Broadcast Engineering Conference Summary of Presentations
Check out
the papers
that will be presented at the 2010 NAB Broadcast Engineering Conference
in Las Vegas, April 10-15, 2010. Find registration, housing or
additional information on the NAB Show at http://www.nabshow.com/2010/default.asp.
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March 8, 2010 Radio TechCheck is also available
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