 |
 |
THE POWER OF LOW-POWER |
|
|
August 24, 2007
"I cannot replace my house. I don't have the money to do it...in a way, that's why I'm in this level of service to my community. Because when you're left with a last resource, you
share it with your friends, you share it with your family and you share it with each other."-Brice Phillips
Brice Phillips' low power FM radio station, WQRZ LP, was one of only 4 stations in the region that remained on the air after Hurricane Katrina devastated Hancock county,
Mississippi. He and a small group of volunteers remained on air 24 hours a day, broadcasting alerts and pointing survivors in the direction of vital aid.
"He's probably saved as many people after the storm than he did before the storm because of being able to tell them where to go get food, water, and ice," explains Brian "Hooty" Adams, director of Hancock County's emergency operations center.
Directly after the disaster, the FCC allowed WQRZ to boost it's signal from 100 watts to almost 2000 watts, which increased its reach to about 30 miles (LPFM stations usually extend only 4 miles), and to
this day Phillips and Hancock County officials are trying to allow the station to keep its "full-power" status.
Read an update on Brice Phillips from Rick Karr on THE BLOG.
|
|
|
Watch THE NET
AT RISK, a Bill Moyers program about the future of the Internet, October 18, 2006
WQRZ Katrina Radio Web site
NPR: Radio Operator Honored for Katrina Serviceby Pam
Fessler, MORNING EDITION, April 13, 2006 "One community radio operator managed to stay on the air during Hurricane Katrina. He is in Washington, D.C., to be
honored with a federal award. He's also applied for an extension of his temporary permit to broadcast at higher power."
MSNBC: An Endangered Beaconby Alex Johnson, MSNBC,
November 14, 2006 "Phillips says he often gets 'exercised' about the predicament, but he works hard to keep a positive outlook. 'Getting upset over stupid
things is not good, especially in an emergency,' he says. In the end, he says, 'With all the generosity that's come in here and all the volunteers, there'll be
someone.' Until then, 'Life is good, man. We accomplished all we set out to do.'"
NOW: Battle FieldsWatch the PBS NOW program produced by Karla Murthy about
the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, who have used low power radio to help their cause.
Additional Low Power FM stations:
FEMA Hurricane Katrina Center
Check FEMA'S Press Releases on the recovery process.
Voices of Katrina
Read USA TODAY'S blog VOICES OF KATRINA to hear stories from survivors, rescue workers, and residents of New Orleans.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
