About Hurricane tracking and response

Saving lives through information is our first goal.

As highly experienced reporters, broadcasters and documentarians, we have learned through years of experience that more people need better, more comprehensive information about storms. This runs contrary to the fact the major media outlets have in recent times taken to covering hurricanes as significant "breaking news". The problem is that many outlets cover storms as sensational events, exciting times that skip over important details. We aim to change that focus.

In 2022, as Hurricane Ian approached the northwestern coast of Florida, the attention was mainly on the larger city of Tampa  with great fears of potential massive flooding in addition to high winds. The storm did not follow the most likely path, instead curving inward toward Ft. Myers and Sanibel Island, causing extensive damage and lost of life. Local residents could be forgiven for thinking that the threat was elsewhere.

As for the former head of FEMA, Craig Fugate says, "Radio can save lives". That is our intention.

(above, a hurricane hunter aircraft operated on behalf of the National Hurricane Center)

ERN NEWS and the Emergency Response Network are assembling a small team of experienced reporters to cover hurricane events in a new, more comprehensive way.

The focus is before, during and after hurricanes, preparation, survival and recovery.

As a non-profit, we can move quickly and change as conditions require, unlike large government agencies bound by regulations and past procedures.

FIRST STEPS: provide more detailed information as storms approach. Our distribution through the non-commercial, NPR radio stations is a key part of the plan. Radio stations that choose to use our coverage will have carefully reported and interpreted information about the pending threats to life and property.

We also use social media and live video reports.

As a storm moves through an area, we will report as much as possible about developing threats. Because of the nature of high winds and rising water, this reporting has to be limited to available sources of information but, as we progress, we will strengthen sources of information  by reporting on the ground. This is an area where traditional media often fails, sometimes using a forecast of what was predicted rather than events on the land.

(above, search and rescue workers from Oklahoma offer assistance after Hurricane Harvey flooding in Houston, 2017)