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What H1N1 means to radio? EVERYTHING.

H

Holland Cooke

As USA H1N1 deaths top 1000, President Obama declares National Emergency.

At best, this will be top-of-mind Topic #1.
At worst, tens of millions could die.
It happened before.

1918 was a world less-wired; so we don’t know how many died then. Estimates are 40-50 million. Not only will modern technology enable us to KNOW when a pandemic happens, technology may help CAUSE a pandemic. Airplanes helped spread AIDS and SARS, and do the same for flu. Previous influenza pandemics circled the globe in 6-9 months, back when most international travel was by ship. The World Health Organization estimates that, today, a virus could reach all continents in less than 3 months.

H1N1 -- being called "Swine Flu" -- is now widespread in 46 states.
Because the virus is new, humans have no pre-existing immunity, and vaccines could not be stockpiled in advance.
Many developing countries will never have access to vaccines.

In a pandemic, even people who aren’t sick could be severely impacted, as normalcy is interrupted.
For radio, it’s the ultimate “snow day.”

• Worker absenteeism will contribute to social and economic disruption, which could be worse than during pandemics back when trade and commerce weren’t so globally interdependent.

• Power, transportation, communications, and other essential services could be impaired. As if life wasn't challenging-enough in this recession.

This could be a turning point for AM/FM broadcasting, which has already allowed itself to be marginalized as “terrestrial radio.”

• A global story like this can be told on satellite radio and shortwave radio and the Internet.

• But, should pandemic strike, the only kind of radio that can tell people what to do – right-here-right-now – will be local AM/FM stations that have a staff and a plan. Is that you? Admittedly, an awkward question with station staffs so lean now.

IMPORTANT: Sound like you are on this story.

• At best, AM/FM will be sharing this unfortunate opportunity with television and the Internet. Even iPod can tell this story, via RSS podcast syndication.

• If radio is a no-show, this single event could relegate us to a diminished status in people’s lives forever more.

Recommendations:

• Bookmark and check-frequently CDC's H1N1 update page, useful show prep: http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/

• Keep washing your hands.

HC
www.HollandCooke.com
http://getonthenet.com/radio-info.pdf
 
A national emergency and the EAS didn't go off? I do know people who have it; let's hope the worst case scenarios don't happen. But agree radio should be prepared.
 
How has the coverage been in-so-far?

Do you know of any radio stations whose coverage has been up to or above your standards? Any miserable failures?
 
RE "How has the coverage been in-so-far?"

PTBoardOp94 said:
Do you know of any radio stations whose coverage has been up to or above your standards? Any miserable failures?
Click to expand...

Too soon to tell.
And, if we're lucky, we'll never know, eh?
 
Holland Cooke said:
As USA H1N1 deaths top 1000, President Obama declares National Emergency.



H1N1 -- being called "Swine Flu" -- is now widespread in 46 states.
Because the virus is new, humans have no pre-existing immunity, and vaccines could not be stockpiled in advance.
Many developing countries will never have access to vaccines.
Click to expand...

Holland:
Actually the CDC has acknowledged that many older citizens appear to have at least some immunity, because the strain is not too different than some strains that have appeared in the past. This has created an unusual pattern of illness primarily affecting people under 40.
Frankly, this thing has been around at least six months and the total of around 1,000 U.S. deaths is, historically speaking, pretty insignificant. The routine seasonal flu kills around 30,000 every year. Forgive me, but I'm still skeptical about this "emergency." News coverage is important, but raising the volume too high might risk future credibility problems for media organizations. Many consumers might recall the story of the boy who cried wolf...
 
RE "no need to go into wall to wall panic mode yet"

AGREE!
It sure IS time to have some meetings alrighty.
But let's surpress the radio reflex that makes forecasts-of-snow sound like forecasts-of-asteroid-showers.

OldNumber7 said:
this thing has been around at least six months and the total of around 1,000 U.S. deaths is, historically speaking, pretty insignificant. The routine seasonal flu kills around 30,000 every year. Forgive me, but I'm still skeptical about this "emergency."
Click to expand...

I'm comfortable leaving-the-science-to-the-scientists.
This space here is less useful for debating that stuff.
Public Health folks WAY-above-our-pay-grade sure are on-the-case.

As (a) a healthy person and (b) a frequent flyer, I find the government's careful application of "Emergency" in this case LOTS more useful than all the level-orange malarky at the airport.

Radio's challenge is avoiding irrelevance if/when the-fit-hits-the-shan.
Given the draconian cuts radio has suffered lately, it'd be a challenge.

HC
http://getonthenet.com/radio-info.pdf
 
I understand that people who have been exposed to the Swine Flu will probably not get sick. Guess this means college guinea pigs from years ago who got sick as a dog while they were figuring out the right strength.
 
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