The newly-created Red Cross Radio (XM Channel 248) is broadcasting on XM Satellite Radio from coast to coast. It can be heard on all XM radios for the car, home, and portable use. XM is donating radios to the Red Cross for relief workers and aid stations.
The Red Cross is using the XM radio channel to deliver information and announcements directly to workers in the field. In addition, the Red Cross is using the channel to send mass messages to staff across the country.
This is not only a great idea but should serve as a springboard for the Federal government and all state governments to incorporate into their emergency plans for natural disasters or terrorist attacks a relationship with both Satellite Radio providers.
Satellite Radio is an obvious and easy answer for helping our leaders maintain communication nationwide in the event of catastrophic conditions.
Every mayor, governor, the Director of Homeland Security, the Director of FEMA, Secretary of Defense, the President, and select others should all have the ability to walk into a secure area in their respective locations where they can dial up a satellite phone and be broadcast on emergency channels on both Satellite Radio providers.
In addition, leaders of all responding units, teams, and aid providers from local police, firemen, National Guard units, the Red Cross, and others should be issued wearable, satellite radio receivers as part of their essential and required gear.
Of course, I’m not suggesting our leaders have unfettered control of a satellite channel – only an agreement to access it in the event of calamity as we’ve seen with Hurricane Katrina.
XM’s studios are in Washington, D.C. and SIRIUS’ studios are in Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Both these areas of the country are susceptible to Noreasters and blizzards plus are prime targets for terrorists.
That’s why to make this plan stronger, it would behoove the Federal government to build a standby studio facility for both providers in another location so, in the event an attack or disaster took out either main studio, either service could continue to operate – at least an emergency channel – from the second location.
Pick your event – natural disaster or terrorist attack – and assume electrical grids, land lines, and cell phones will go down if not first, then soon afterwards.
Harnessing the reach of Satellite Radio for regional and national emergencies and crises makes too much sense not to seriously consider.
(For anyone interested in pursuing this idea for your state, municipality or responding team, try these contacts:
XM Satellite Radio: Eric Logan, Executive Vice President, Programming. (212) 529-0029
SIRIUS Satellite Radio: Jeremy Coleman, Vice President of Talk, Information and Entertainment Programming (212) 584-5100)
