Hurricane Ike: Station Assistance

posted on 9.15.2008

More than 40 radio stations out of 207 in a 49 county region in Texas remain off the air. 

Texas TV stations have fared far better, coming through the ordeal remarkably unscathed, although several reported losing shore power and resorting to backup generators.

The FCC is now stepping in to assist broadcasters with help securing generators, fuel and other needed items to resume broadcast operations.   Neither the FCC, or TAB is satisfied with the State response to broadcaster requests for such assistance. 

Generators and fuel
Since relief may only come from federal agencies, TAB encourages all broadcasters to continue the daily reports to the FCC's Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS).  More details on DIRS are below.

Broadcasters should also continue to alert TAB as to station needs,  Please submit information in the following format:

DATE:
CALL LETTERS:
LICENSEE/OWNER:
STATION PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
 
CONTACT
Name:
Title:
E-mail:
Office Ph:
Cell Ph:
Home Ph:

ALT. CONTACT
Name:
Title:
E-mail:
Office Ph:
Cell Ph:
Home Ph:

NEEDS: describe any and all equipment needed to keep station on the air and operating.

Stations can also contact the FCC?s Allan Manuel, in the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau directly if you are having trouble accessing fuel, facilities or need assistance in obtaining generators.   Allan's direct dial at the FCC is 202-418-1164, or he can be reached at Allan.Manuel@fcc.gov.

Special Temporary Authority (STAs) and Waivers
Please follow normal FCC procedures during business hours (see STA Bureau and Office contact list at http://www.fcc.gov/pshs/services/sta.html).
 
For requests outside of 8-5:30 pm M-F (EASTERN), call the FCC Operations Center at 202-418-1122 or 202-418-1192

FCC DIRS
DIRS is a voluntary program the FCC uses to assess, on a daily basis, communications outage information during a disaster.  Because broadcasters play a critical role in keeping citizens informed during disasters, the FCC is ready to assist broadcasters in their efforts to restore communications in areas affected by a disaster.

It is important for stations to enroll in the program and provide the FCC with daily updates regarding station operations.

The FCC uses the information reported through DIRS to track problem areas, to establish priorities, and designate federal resources to help resolve operational issues for broadcasters.

DIRS has been activated for portions of Texas and Lousiana.  The area of interest for this activation is focused on those areas projected to be hardest hit by the storm.  If your station is one of the following Texas counties, you should sign up on DIRS if you have not already done so:
 
Anderson, Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Colorado, Falls, Fayette, Fort Bend, Freestone, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Henderson, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, Matagorda, Milam, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Polk, Refugio, Robertson, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Washington, Wharton

Accessing DIRS
Go to:  https://www.fcc.gov/nors/disaster/

Time Schedule 
Reports should be made by 11:00 am (Eastern Time) every day while DIRS is activated.

DIRS Help
There is a User Manual available at the DIRS website.  Please feel free to contact John Healy, FCC, at 202-418-2448 or at 215-847-8094 (cell) if you have any questions.  The information collected by DIRS will be treated as presumptively confidential by FCC employees. 

Generators
The following is a list of generator suppliers that may be able to assist stations still in need of one:

Kohler Rental Power
Steve Jackson, 281.310.6858, or 713.992.9432 (cell)
Tom Wieghrad, 281.310.6858

Stewart & Stevenson
Kendall Archer, 903.758.5562 or 903.241.5051 (cell)
Eric Terkelsen, 903.758.5562 or 903.241.5060 (cell)

Global Power Supply
Ron Zamir, 805.683.3828 X309

Cummins
Mark Commins, 713.725.1000

Sierra Mountain Construction
Doug Benton, 209.988.2282

Decker Mechanical
Vince Hood, 469.446.8754

Generator Super Center
Andrew Spitzmueller, 866.516.7199 or 832.492.2046 (cell)

ARR.LLC
Mike Nelson, 208.756.8056 or 208.756.8060
 
Emergency Alert System
TAB remains in contact with the State of Texas Division of Emergency Management (DEM) on the EAS.  It does not appear that there will be post-storm activation by the State of Texas.

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