RALEIGH – Today, Attorney General Jeff Jackson and 21 other attorneys general joined an amicus brief to protect funding for public radio and TV stations that provide vital emergency communications to North Carolinians during natural disasters, including making sure western North Carolina communities could get information about weather forecasts, road closures, storm damage, and where to find food, water, and medical supplies during Hurricane Helene.
“After Helene, radio stations in western North Carolina became a lifeline for people looking to find their loved ones, find shelter and food and water, and get emergency updates from government and law enforcement,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “When internet, power, and cell service all go down, our radio stations help save the day. The funding cuts at issue in this litigation are unlawful, but they’re also dangerous and put North Carolinians’ lives and safety at risk the next time a hurricane or disaster hits our state.”
Public radio is an especially vital lifeline during natural disasters because radio stations can maintain service during power, cell service, and internet outages. When Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina last fall, Blue Ridge Public Radio provided emergency alerts from the state as well as local updates in the days and weeks that followed. They shared locations for clean water, food, and shelter facilities that were taking in people, broadcasted information about missing persons, dispelled rumors, and aired news briefings from law enforcement.
Blue Ridge Public Radio provides 24/7 news and emergency alert services to more than 650,000 people throughout 14 counties. Much of this mountainous region is a “news desert” with low broadband access, making public radio a critical information source, especially during a severe weather event. Similarly, public radio stations in eastern North Carolina, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, and the Triangle all share important information with listeners.
PBS North Carolina’s towers provide communications infrastructure used by over 40 federal, state and local jurisdictions in North Carolina for emergency communications. It also provides livestreams of the Governor’s briefings as well as from the Emergency Operations Center.
You can read the amicus brief here.
Attorney General Jackson was joined in filing this brief by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
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