Broadcasters prepare for disasters

Published 22 March 2006

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has announced that radio and television stations are significantly more prepared to respond to disasters than was the case three years ago. An internal survey conducted between 21 February and 3 March 2006 assessed the current state of emergency preparedness of local radio and television stations. “Based on our survey, we estimate there are now over 800 television stations and more than 6,000 radio stations with a written disaster recovery plan,” said NAB vice president of Research and Planning David Gunzerath. “That represents more than a 50 percent increase in the number of television stations who reported having such plans in 2003. Over the same period of time, the number of radio stations with such plans has more than tripled.”