The above quote and the following paragraph was sent out by e mail just a few hours ago by my colleague and my friend -- Don Hicks.  Don is the President and CEO of the Missouri Broadcasters Association.  He is one of the best.

At the close of his e mail he wrote a short editorial:  "Hey, we're not the telephone company; we're not your internet service.  We're Broadcasters.  WE GET 'ER DONE!"

"As many of you know, the Joplin tornado has devastated that town.   Cell phone coverage is non-existent and land-line service is only sporadic. However, all broadcasters are on the air. 

I have established reliable communications with our LP1 and their staff will be providing me with more information during the day. 

We have arranged for emergency diesel for our stations’ emergency generators to be delivered from a depot 30 miles away because the local fuel delivery services are not in operation. 

We have also coordinated with law enforcement to ensure that their trucks will have access to the transmitter sites, many of which are on roads that are still covered with debris and therefore closed to traffic. 

Many broadcasters in Joplin have lost their homes.   While I hope not, it may be that some have lost family members.  But, the stations are still on the air --providing the information that people need to cope with this horrible situation.

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MISSOURI BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION

NEVADA BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION

THE VOICE OF COMMUNITY

THE VOICE OF AMBER ALERT

THE FIRST RESPONDERS VOICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY