The National Association of Broadcasters announced Wednesday it will be sending 10,000 battery-operated radios to Puerto Rico for distribution to residents affected by Hurricane Maria. NAB, the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations, and multiple U.S. broadcasters are funding the initiative. NAB is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local Puerto Rican authorities to ensure that the radios are properly distributed to those most in need. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL) were instrumental in coordinating the effort.
“Time and again, broadcast radio has served as a lifeline to communities desperate for information and support,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “Our fellow Americans in the Caribbean now face a once-in-a-generation humanitarian crisis, and radio is one of the only communications resources available. We admire the resolve of our friends in Puerto Rico and are proud to undertake this effort with help from FEMA to keep citizens safe and informed.”
