[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 85 (Thursday, June 7, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1007]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    BROADCAST EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 7, 2012

  Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, June 1st marked the official start to this 
year's hurricane season. As the hurricane season begins and tornado 
season continues, we are in an even greater need for life saving 
communications and technology. I want to take this time to thank our 
local TV and radio stations for the invaluable lifesaving work they do 
during times of emergencies.
  Radio and television stations are our nation's most reliable network 
for distributing critical emergency information. Even when the 
electricity goes out and internet networks and cell phone towers go 
down, over-the-air broadcasting continues to air. This was never more 
evident than in the wake of the April 27, 2011 tornadoes and storms 
that ravaged the great state of Alabama.
  Last year, four months into my first term in office, the State of 
Alabama experienced unimaginable tragedy as we were ravaged by the 
force of tornadoes and storms. Nine of the 12 counties in my district 
experienced tremendous damage and loss. These devastating storms 
destroyed many of our homes, churches, schools and businesses. 253 
lives were lost including 76 from the 7th Congressional District.
  There is no doubt that broadcasters act as first responders in times 
of crisis. Before and after these devastating tornadoes, broadcasters 
remained on the air uninterrupted, providing local communities with 
vital, lifesaving information. Had it not been for our local 
broadcasters providing critical information around the clock, many more 
lives could have been loss. Americans depend on their local TV and 
radio stations when unforeseen emergencies arise.
  If we are to improve disaster preparedness in our nation, we must 
ensure that local stations have effective tools to communicate with the 
public during these times of crisis. This can be done by readily 
equipping mobile devices with broadcast radio for emergency 
preparedness. Cell phones are ubiquitous and broadcast radio would 
provide instant emergency information on the go to the widest possible 
audience during times of emergencies.
  The ability to have access to lifesaving information is critical and 
has very serious homeland security implications. For example, during 
last year's 5.8 Virginia earthquake, cell phone networks in the 
Washington, D.C. area became overloaded and inoperable.
  This should never be the case. Congress, the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission and the mobile 
phone industry should consider ways to expand the availability of 
broadcast radio service in mobile phones to keep Americans safe.
  I look forward to working with these various agencies to ensure that 
all Americans have the next generation of emergency warnings and 
information.
  Again, thank you to local broadcasters for providing lifesaving 
coverage during times of emergencies and crisis situations around the 
clock.

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