Tioga County Businesses Develop Disaster Plans

2/27/2013 (Updated 2/28/2013 11:48:37 AM)

(Source: Jason Weinstein)

"If you don't have a plan for an emergency, you're out of business until you develop a plan. So you're better off having a plan in advance then to have to make one after the fact," said Dave Radigan, owner of News Talk WEBO in Owego.

It's a lesson Dave Radigan learned all to well when the flood of 2011 flooded WEBO out of it's downtown Owego office. The station ended up broadcasting out of a camper by it's transmitter.

"There was a flood in 2005, there was a flood in 2006, there was a flood in 2011. And each one sounded like it was a 100-year flood. So to me I hope it never happens again, but I'm not going to be surprised if it happens again," said Radigan.

"I think a large portion of the businesses in this community are better prepared. I think we all still need to be more prepared," said Martha Sauerbrey, President and CEO of the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce.

Radigan says he had ideas as to what he would do in an emergency, ones that were solidified during the flood. Now he has a specific disaster plan - including a newly-built back-up studio by the station's transmitter and a strategy to deal with the loss of key employees.

"Do you have redundancies in your electronics? Can you take your phone lines with you quickly and easily? That's another thing," said Radigan.

As much as Radigan wants to never see a disaster again, he feels his business is ready.

"It offers us a sort of stability and piece of mind that were going to continue to operate on a day-in day-out basis despite whatever circumstances may be thrown our way," said Radigan.

****In Owego, Jason Weinstein, Fox 40 HD News****

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