{"id":28585,"date":"2017-09-29T18:00:12","date_gmt":"2017-09-29T22:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=28585"},"modified":"2017-09-29T16:27:33","modified_gmt":"2017-09-29T20:27:33","slug":"puerto-rico-this-radio-station-stayed-on-the-air-even-though-it-lost-its-roof","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/puerto-rico-this-radio-station-stayed-on-the-air-even-though-it-lost-its-roof\/","title":{"rendered":"Puerto Rico: This radio station stayed on the air even though it lost its roof"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(Source: The Miami Herald<\/a>)<\/p>\n

SAN JUAN
\nNormally, Rub\u00e9n S\u00e1nchez would not interrupt a live interview with as prominent a newsmaker as Gov. Ricardo Rossell\u00f3.<\/p>\n

But Wednesday was anything but normal.<\/p>\n

Less than an hour after Hurricane Maria plowed into Puerto Rico, Rossell\u00f3 was updating Spanish-language radio listeners by phone on the Category 4 storm\u2019s destructive path when host S\u00e1nchez suddenly interrupted.<\/p>\n

The studios of Univision\u2019s WKAQ-AM (580) had become \u201cvulnerable,\u201d S\u00e1nchez said, his voice tinged with tension. He and his broadcast colleagues would have to abandon the premises \u2014 and fast.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay safe,\u201d Rossell\u00f3 said, urging them to seek shelter in an internal hallway.<\/p>\n

Finding refuge \u2014 and a safe place to keep broadcasting \u2014 turned out to be complicated. The station and a handful of others became vital listening posts for Puerto Ricans starved of information Wednesday as their electricity went dark and their cellphones silent. Several news outlets continuously reported online, but relatively few people on the island could click.<\/p>\n

[…]\u201cA few of the offices exploded,\u201d he said, describing how Maria shattered street-facing office windows and forced itself into the building, in the Guaynabo neighborhood west of San Juan. \u201cIt even changed the smell of the environment, and the temperature in WKAQ.\u201d<\/p>\n

The on-air staffers scrambled, making their way into the studios of a sister station, WKAQ-FM (104.7), known as KQ-105. But even that proved insufficient. Moments later, News Director Jaime Cosme grabbed the microphone to say they were devising a makeshift studio deeper in the building \u2014 a structure that, until Wednesday morning, the station had considered a \u201cbunker.\u201d<\/p>\n

S\u00e1nchez likened the scene to a grenade blast. \u201cIt was a bunker,\u201d S\u00e1nchez said. \u201cWe could see the sky because the roof blew off.\u201d[…]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click here to read the full article at The Miami Herald…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Source: The Miami Herald) SAN JUAN Normally, Rub\u00e9n S\u00e1nchez would not interrupt a live interview with as prominent a newsmaker as Gov. Ricardo Rossell\u00f3. But Wednesday was anything but normal. Less than an hour after Hurricane Maria plowed into Puerto Rico, Rossell\u00f3 was updating Spanish-language radio listeners by phone on the Category 4 storm\u2019s destructive […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,3],"tags":[1489,6529,871,5686,102,6543,6542],"class_list":["post-28585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-news","tag-hurricane","tag-hurricane-maria","tag-miami-herald","tag-puerto-rico","tag-why-radio","tag-wkaq","tag-wkaq-am"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-7r3","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":31750,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/puerto-rico-am-radio-makes-a-comeback-post-hurricane\/","url_meta":{"origin":28585,"position":0},"title":"Puerto Rico: AM Radio makes a comeback post-hurricane","author":"Thomas","date":"April 23, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Columbia Journalism Review) ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2017\u2014the day before Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico\u2014the evening news team at WORA-TV in the coastal city of Mayag\u00fcez broadcast its final program before shutting down the station ahead of the storm. \u201cIf Maria was going to be the monster everyone\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/AM-Radio-Tower-Dark.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/AM-Radio-Tower-Dark.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/AM-Radio-Tower-Dark.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/AM-Radio-Tower-Dark.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28509,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/puerto-rico-hurricane-relief-arrl-asks-for-volunteers\/","url_meta":{"origin":28585,"position":1},"title":"Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief: ARRL asks for volunteers","author":"Thomas","date":"September 26, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning, I received a message from a friend. Knowing that I'm an amateur radio operator, she asked if I could contact someone in Puerto Rico and verify that her friends' family are safe--no one has heard from them since Hurricane Maria hit the island. The situation in Puerto Rico\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Fullscreen-capture-9262017-124528-PM.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Fullscreen-capture-9262017-124528-PM.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Fullscreen-capture-9262017-124528-PM.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Fullscreen-capture-9262017-124528-PM.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28593,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/npr-amateur-radio-operators-stepped-in-to-help-communications-with-puerto-rico\/","url_meta":{"origin":28585,"position":2},"title":"NPR: Amateur Radio Operators Stepped In To Help Communications With Puerto Rico","author":"Thomas","date":"September 29, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: NPR via Eric, WD8RIF) Volunteer HAM operators have set up informal radio networks to connect family and friends with their loved ones in Puerto Rico. NPR's Kelly McEvers talks to one of those volunteers, Greg Dober. Click here to listen via NPR.","rel":"","context":"In "Emergency Preparedness"","block_context":{"text":"Emergency Preparedness","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/emergency-preparedness\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28776,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/nab-and-other-broadcasters-donate-10000-shortwave-radios-to-puerto-rico\/","url_meta":{"origin":28585,"position":3},"title":"NAB and other broadcasters donate 10,000 shortwave radios to Puerto Rico","author":"Thomas","date":"October 15, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: AP) With no end in sight for the recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, the radio industry is putting its best foot forward to help the folks on the ground. This week, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations, and a number of U.S.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Hurricane-Maria-Puerto-Rico.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28590,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/cnn-ham-radio-operators-are-saving-puerto-rico\/","url_meta":{"origin":28585,"position":4},"title":"CNN: “Ham radio operators are saving Puerto Rico”","author":"Thomas","date":"September 29, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: CNN) (CNN)The phone call from the Red Cross came in late Friday night, just as the full scale of Hurricane Maria's calamity began taking shape. \"We need 50 of your best radio operators to go down to Puerto Rico.\" In the days after the worst storm in three generations\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Emergency Preparedness"","block_context":{"text":"Emergency Preparedness","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/emergency-preparedness\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Puerto-Rico-Post-Maria.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Puerto-Rico-Post-Maria.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Puerto-Rico-Post-Maria.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Puerto-Rico-Post-Maria.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29419,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/etow-distributes-radios-to-hurricane-ravaged-puerto-rico-through-amateur-radio-network\/","url_meta":{"origin":28585,"position":5},"title":"ETOW distributes radios to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico through amateur radio network","author":"Thomas","date":"January 11, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In November, we posted an update on the Ears To Our World website with information about our most recent work in Puerto Rico. After Hurricane Maria left the majority of Puerto Rico without power and basic services, at ETOW we waited for the right opportunity (after food, water and medical\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Puerto-Rico-ETOW.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Puerto-Rico-ETOW.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Puerto-Rico-ETOW.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Puerto-Rico-ETOW.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28585","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28585"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28585\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}