Christian Radio & Artists Feel Katrina's Effects
Several Christian radio stations located in the coastal regions have been left wondering if and when they will be able to get back on the air.
Amidst the tens of thousands of homes and businesses affected by hurricane Katrina, several Christian radio stations located in the coastal regions have been left wondering if and when they will be able to get back on the air.
The American Family Radio (AFR) network has reported that 13 of its stations in the Gulf Coast region are currently off the air.
“In some places we’ve lost contact with personnel at those locations and at some locations we’ve lost contact with the equipment we use to monitor the stations,” AFR chief engineer Joey Moody told Billboard Radio Monitor. “We have crews working at all the sites that have power, and that we can get to. Because we are a non-commercial network, we don’t have generators at our stations like most commercial stations do, so we are dependent up the power company.”
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AFR stations that were hit include WPAS in Mobile, Ala., which suffered minor damage to its roof and tower, WAII in Hattiesburg, Miss., and WAOY in Gulfport, Miss., which also suffered roof damage and is currently without power.
One station hit particularly hard by the storm was Louisiana’s WBSN, whose transmitter and tower are reportedly under water.
Along with radio, Katrina has affected several Christian artists who reside the disaster area including members of Fervent Records band Big Daddy Weave, whose homes and offices were also hit by Hurricane Ivan in September of 2004.
“Our spirits are high and we are doing well,” band member Jeff Jones told Billboard Radio Monitor. “We’ve been without power now for almost 48 hours, but our houses sustained little damage compared to others. It was quite frightening to hear the power of the wind outside – there are no words to describe it.”
Vertical artist Jason Morant, a New Orleans resident, was able to evacuate to Nashville before the hurricane hit his city, but it is reported that house and all his band equipment were lost in the storm.
Integrity Music is asking for "special prayers" for Jason and his family, according to a news release.
On an important business note, because Provident-Integrity Distribution is located in Nashville, Tenn., CBA retail operations were not interrupted at all by the hurricane.
Singer Mark Harris, a solo artist and member of vocal group 4HIM, was also an eyewitness to the effects of Katrina from his home in Mobile, Ala.
“It is a very sad situation for anyone who had coastal property on Mobile bay, Dauphin Island, and anything further west. The wind damage was not that bad but the water damage was the worst it has ever been,” Harris told Billboard Radio Monitor.
“I have been here all of my life and been through all the major hurricanes – Camille, Frederick, Ivan,” he continued. “This is by far the worst because of the size and the overall scope of damage. Please keep us all in your prayers as we on the Gulf Coast clean up and pick up the pieces.”
