Brian FM - innovation award for emergency management
Published on 28 August 2017
28 August 2017
Brian FM has won the ‘Innovation’ category for the inaugural Awards for Excellence in Emergency Communication from Australian organisation Emergency Media and Public Affairs (EMPA).
The award was presented in Wellington at EMPA’s Disaster Communications Conference on Monday, August 21.
Brian FM (91.2), which usually only plays music, began broadcasting public information from Whanganui’s Civil Defence headquarters during the April 2017 rain event.
Brian FM’s Andrew Jeffries says he is stoked about the win.
“Brian FM wants to extend a huge amount of gratitude to the Whanganui District Council Civil Defence team. They saw what our small station was trying to do for the community and worked with us to make it a reality for Whanganui residents.
"We know not everyone always likes the music played on Brian FM - but in an emergency who cares? Getting fast, accurate and reliable information out there is much more important - so we stop playing AC/DC, Beck, Split Enz or Twenty One Pilots - and become an actual local information source, which is really cool. The rest of the time we're ‘Playing What We Feel Like’, as our slogan goes.
"Since installing the broadcast system less than a year ago in Whanganui, it's been used numerous times to good effect. From the Whanganui April 2017 weather event and local road closures, to the Kaikoura Earthquake and its impact on our regions, to the big old snowstorms in the Ruapehu region. In all these emergencies we have been able to share information so our community knows what’s happening and what to do."
In the April 2017 weather event, local broadcasters Sue Miller and Dave Hill were joined by Mayoral Aide Linsey Higgins, to broadcast new information as it became available using Brian FM equipment.
Peter Rekers, CEO of EMPA, said Brian FM impressed the EMPA board when choosing finalists. Two new categories, ‘Innovation’ and ‘Readiness and Resilience’ were created because of the range and number of applications.
“Because Brian FM didn't necessarily fit with the existing awards category, we decided to develop an ‘Innovation' category which we were pleased to present to Brian FM. The EMPA team was delighted civil defence teams from Whanganui and Marlborough who work with Brian FM were at the conference to collect the award.
"Partnerships between the broadcasting industries and local Civil Defence organisations are so important when disaster strikes, which was why Brian FM was given the award. It means messages from civil defence leadership can be broadcast immediately to the Marlborough and Whanganui communities when they need it most so people have the most up-to-date and accurate information.
"We here in Australia hope to be able to work with Brian FM in the near future," says Mr Rekers.
Timothy Crowe, Whanganui District Council Emergency Manager, thanks Brian FM for the time and energy they have put into installing the equipment to broadcast direct messages.
“There’s a clear indication from New Zealanders nationally that radio is still very important to them during an emergency. With Brian FM, we have a direct link to the public at the time information is made available, which comes straight from the Emergency Operations Centre on the third floor of the Council building.
“Other radio stations in Whanganui will also be updating people on what’s happening when they can, so it’s not just Brian FM who play this important role, but it’s another channel we can utilise. We also want people to follow the Council’s Facebook page to stay up-to-date with important emergency management messages.”