Louisiana leaders push for passage of AM radio bill ahead of Hurricane Katrina anniversary
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Ahead of the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which, is among the five deadliest hurricanes to ever strike the United States, a group of state and local officials are rallying around a bill that would require all new passenger vehicles to have AM radio.
Some newer vehicles, like some models made by Tesla, BMW and Volkswagen, do not include AM equipment.
In a letter addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a coalition of more than 20 Louisiana public safety experts ask that they schedule the bipartisan AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act for a vote and push for its enactment before the end of the year.
Letter-to-Speaker-Johnson-and-Leader-Scalise-about-AM-radioDownload
The group says that AM radio especially proved its effectiveness during Hurricane Katrina when cell and internet services had failed.
“During that time, WWL was a lifeline for the community, getting out the information to those who needed it,” explained Dan Barron, the general manager of WWL Radio. “It also was a voice for the leaders of this community to speak up and tell Washington DC what we needed in New Orleans.”
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Former Plaquemines Parish President Benny Rouselle, who served during Hurricane Katrina, is one of the people who signed the letter in support of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.
“Immediately after Katrina, everything was silent, dead, including the birds. There was no sound anywhere,” said Rouselle. “But AM radio helped put us back in touch with people and require the necessary communications to move forward.”
The bill’s supporters also say another reason why AM radio is critical during a weather event is because of its geographic reach. Many drivers rely on it while evacuating.
“If we go into another devastating situation where all cell towers go down and the communications are out and we don’t have AM radio, it’d be like driving a vehicle at midnight without headlights,” Rouselle said.
Barron believes the loss of AM radio in new vehicles is a public safety issue, so he’s urging his elected officials to pass the bill.
“If you’re truly concerned about the safety of individuals in times of natural disasters, AM radio is essential,” Barron said.
If the bill were to pass, any manufacturer that fails to comply with the mandate may face civil penalties.
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