THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP, JUNE.

FIRST MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON.

WE'RE BRINGING YOU THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW.

STORM SEASON PROGRESSES.

THAT NOT ONLY MEANS OUR ATLANTIC OUTLOOK AND WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO PREPARE, BUT ALSO A LOOK AT THE GULF AND THE PACIFIC AS ALL ARE PART OF POSSIBLE NAMED STORMS FOR THIS SEASON.

AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM PAST STORMS.

HOW ONE AIRPORT IS USING RECOVERY EFFORTS FROM PREVIOUS HURRICANES TO DEVELOP SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY MARKS THE START OF THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON AND FOLLOWING A SLOW SEASON LAST YEAR WHERE 0 STORMS IMPACTED FLORIDA.

WE'RE GETTING A PREVIEW OF THE 2026 FORECAST.

ACCORDING TO NOAA'S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, THERE IS A 55% CHANCE OF A BELOW-NORMAL SEASON PROJECTIONS CALL FOR BETWEEN 8 AND 14 NAMED STORMS WITH ONLY 3 TO 6 DEVELOPING INTO A HURRICANE.

WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR'S FORECAST FROM SENIOR METEOROLOGIST BEN NELSON FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

>> SO THIS BRINGS ASIDE TO HURRICANE SEASON AGAIN, PEAK MONTHS BEING AUGUST, SEPTEMBER IN OCTOBER AND WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE OUT ACTIVITY EARLY IN JUNE AS WELL.

JUST NOT QUITE AS FREQUENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE LOOK AT THE HURRICANES THAT YELLOW SHADED AREA.

SO WE'LL BE WATCHING HERE.

THE CARIBBEAN AND GULF OF MEXICO.

THOSE ARE THE FAVORED AREAS IN JUNE, POTENTIALLY THE SEA ARTHUR DEVELOP.

IF YOU IF YOU IF YOU FOLLOW ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA ROLLA JUST ONLINE, A LOT OF ATTENTION ON THE GULF AND CARIBBEAN HERE AS WE HEAD ON INTO THE EARLY PART OF JUNE.

BUT NOTHING, YOU KNOW, IS IMMINENT, AT LEAST AS FAR AS CONSOLIDATED.

WELL FOR TROPICAL STORM POTENTIAL HERE OVER THE NEXT 7 DAYS.

SO WE LOOK AT THE FORECAST CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE SEASONAL OUTLOOK.

I KIND OF LOOK BROKE DOWN 3, NO FACTORS THAT GO INTO THIS.

WE DO THINK OF THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER DOES THINK THAT'S THE ATLANTIC OCEAN BASIN.

THE WATER TEMPERATURES WILL PROBABLY WARM UP TO AT LEAST AROUND AVERAGE OR PERHAPS EVEN A LITTLE ABOVE AVERAGE, DEPENDING ON WHAT PART OF THE THE BASIN URINE.

SO THAT WARM OCEAN WATERS, OBVIOUSLY THE FUEL.

FOR TROPICAL CYCLONES DEVELOPING.

WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE AT LEAST ENOUGH OF THAT SURROUND THE QUESTION HERE IS WITH THE DEVELOPING EL NINO IN THE PACIFIC.

YOU KNOW, ALL THE THE WATER TEMPERATURES OVER THE PACIFIC HAVING A BIG INFLUENCE ON WIND SHEAR AND THE ATLANTIC AGAIN, THAT THE CHANGE IN WIND SPEED, THE STRENGTHENING WINDS ALOFT THAT RIPS APART THE STRUCTURE OF DEVELOPING TROPICAL CYCLONES.

WE THINK THAT THEY'LL BE QUITE A BIT OF WIND SHEAR, ESPECIALLY IN THE CARIBBEAN, POTENTIALLY THE GOLF AND AND PORTIONS OF THE MAIN DEVELOPMENT REGION WITH THAT VERY STRONG SUBTROPICAL JET STREAM, ESPECIALLY AS WE GET INTO THE FALL MONTHS.

SO THE PART OF THE SEASON, THERE MIGHT BE TOO MUCH WIND SHEAR AROUND FOR AT LEAST A LOT OF TROPICAL STORMS AND HURRICANES TO DEVELOP.

AND THOSE MAIN DEVELOPMENT REGION AREAS.

AND THE QUESTION MARK HEARS AS WE YOU KNOW, BEFORE THAT WIND SHEAR REALLY SETS IN LATER THIS SEASON.

WELL, WE HAVE A LOT OF SAHARAN DUST THAT COMES OFF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.

HOW ACTIVE OR TROPICAL WAVES BE.

SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A QUESTION MARK.

AGAIN, WE TYPICALLY DON'T LOOK OUT TO THE, YOU KNOW, THE THE EASTERN ATLANTIC TO WE GET INTO THE MONTH OF AUGUST SINCE KNOW LATER IN AUGUST FOR THESE WAVES TO REALLY GET GENERATED.

SO THAT'S A BIT OF A QUESTION MARK.

AND AGAIN, THE PROBABILITIES HERE ARE 4 OF, YOU KNOW, A BELOW AVERAGE SEASON IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS, ONLY ABOUT A 10% CHANCE THAT SIR, YOU KNOW, THE WARM ATLANTIC WATERS WILL WILL OVERCOME ALL THIS WIND SHEAR THAT WE'RE EXPECTING AS WE GET TO THROUGH THE ESPECIALLY THE PEAK MONTHS OF THE SEASON, AUGUST SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.

I DO WANT TO CAUTION EVERYBODY.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THIS.

YOU KNOW, THE SEASON, NOT HERE.

THE LAST FEW WEEKS WITH A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON THE GULF AND THE CARIBBEAN WITH POTENTIAL ARTHUR, A DEVELOPING TROPICAL STORM ARTHUR.

YOU'VE REALLY GOT TO TRUST THOSE CREDIBLE SOURCES AND PROBABLY PREACHING TO THE CHOIR FOR THIS AUDIENCE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE ALL THIS OUT HERE WHERE NO FOLK SCHOOL.

WELL, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, TAKE A SCREENSHOT.

LET'S SAY THE HURRICANE CENTER'S TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK AND THEN THEY'LL THEY'LL POST THEIR OWN LITTLE TROPICAL STORM HURRICANE SYMBOLS ON IT TRYING TO GET A LOT OF CLICKS THERE'S THERE'S DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, PUSH IN OUR AGENCY TO TO REMIND FOLKS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, OUR MEDIA PARTNERS NO.

WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE NO DIRECT THOSE FOLKS TOO, NOR TRUSTED SOURCES FOR INFORMATION.

AND THERE'S THIS A LOT OF A LOT OF BAD ACTORS OUT THERE THAT ARE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR CLICKS AND HYPE YOU NEED TO REALLY, REALLY NO.

WE EMPHASIZE THE PUBLIC TOO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE PARK, THEIR TRUSTED SOURCES ONLINE.

PEOPLE POSTING AI IMAGES, YOU KNOW, DURING EVENTS WITH, YOU KNOW, SHARKS AND STORM SURGE.

I KNOW THE STREETS, JUST ALL SORTS OF CRAZINESS OUT THERE.

WE HAVE A SYSTEM APPROACHING.

IT'S NOT A GOOD TIME TO GET YOUR PLAN TOGETHER.

I'M NOT NOT A GREAT TIME TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE BECAUSE PEOPLE PROBABLY ALREADY BE NEAR THERE.

GETTING YOUR PLAN IN PLACE AHEAD OF TIME IS IS KEY AND AND, YOU KNOW, GETTING YOUR SUPPLIES TOGETHER.

FOLLOWING THE ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS LIKE WE'VE HAD ON THIS.

ON THE SET WEBINAR TODAY AND HAVING A PLAN FOR YOUR YOUR PETS AS WELL.

FLOOD INSURANCE.

BIG DEAL FOR THE STATES.

YOU KNOW THAT THAT HURRICANE INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER FLOOD, DAMAGING FLOOD DAMAGE IS SO THEY'RE 2 SEPARATE ENTITIES AND YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, ORDER UP A FLOOD INSURANCE POLICY WHEN THERE'S A NO THREAT ON THE ATLANTIC AND USUALLY HAVE TO HAVE ABOUT 30 DAYS BEFORE THOSE FLOOD POLICIES GO INTO EFFECT.

SO NOW IS THE TIME WHEN WHEN PEOPLE NEED TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE?

IN ADDITION TO, YOU KNOW, THE PROPERTY INSURANCE THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.

I MAKE THOSE PLANS A AGAIN BEFORE THE WATER RISES AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO EVACUATE HUNDREDS OF MILES.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NO STORM SURGE AND ALSO FLOODING FROM FROM HEAVY RAINFALL THAT SAYS THE MISTAKE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MADE IN PRIOR STORMS WERE SAY THEY GET ON.

I-75 OR I-FOUR GO TO THE ORLANDO AREA, PERHAPS TO, YOU KNOW, IN AN EFFORT TO GET AWAY FROM THE WIN AND THEN YOU PUT YOURSELF ACTUALLY IN THE AREA THAT'S EVEN MORE WERE VULNERABLE TO A FLOODING DEPENDING ON WHERE YOUR ULTIMATE DESTINATION IS AND THEN SURE INC, CHECK OUT A NEED TO KNOW YOUR POLICY, WHETHER YOU HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE OR NOT AND KEEP THOSE DOCUMENTS IN A ELEVATED DRY PLACE.

IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD TIME TIME AS WE GET TO JUNE.

1ST TO CHECK WITH YOUR AGENT AND MAKE SURE YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING UP TO DATE.

NEED TO KNOW YOUR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY NORTH.

YOU HAVE NEWER CONSTRUCTION.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE COVERED BY THOSE NEWER BUILDING CODES.

WITH A IMPACT RESISTANT CLASS AND SHUTTERS THAT NO INTO EFFECT.

IN 2002.

BUT THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO MITIGATE AHEAD OF TIME, TAKING CARE OF TREES ON YOUR PROPERTY AND KNOWING WHICH WHICH SIDE OF YOUR YOUR HOME IS MORE EXPOSED TO STRONG WINDS WHEN WE HAVE THESE LANDFALLING HURRICANES.

OBVIOUSLY MOBILE HOMES CAN EASILY GET ROLLED OVER AND LIFTED OFF FOUNDATIONS IF THEY'RE NOT PROTECTED FROM THESE THESE EXTREME WIND EVENTS THAT WE HAVE, SOMETIMES WE HAVE LANDFALLING MAJOR HURRICANE.

AND SO NOW IS THE TIME TO GET OUT THERE AND MITIGATE.

IF YOU HAVE A TREE OF CONCERN.

IF YOU HAVE YOUR ROOF ISSUES AND STALLING, SOME KNOW SOME SOME BETTER PROTECTION AS FAR AS HURRICANE STRAPS CLIPS AND MAKING YOUR MOBILE HOME WITH MORE SAFE FROM THE WIND IMPACTS FROM THESE TROPICAL SYSTEMS.

THIS IS A GOOD TIME OF YEAR TO DO THAT.

>> COMING UP, LEARNING FROM PAST STORMS TO MAKE SURE THE SAME MISTAKES DON'T REPEAT THEMSELVES.

THE NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL ENSURE NO STORM CAN GROUND THE NAPLES AIRPORT.

THE NAPLES AIRPORT IS WORKING ON A FIRST OF ITS KIND PROJECT TO MAKE IT MORE STORM, RESILIENT IN 2022.

HURRICANE IAN FLOODING SUBMERGE THE RUNWAYS SEVERELY DAMAGING AIRFIELD LIGHTING AND NAVIGATION SYSTEMS.

WGCU REPORTER YOUN JOO PARK TELLS US MORE ABOUT THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT UNDERWAY TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON BOTH DURING AND AFTER THE WORST STORMS.

>> IN PREPARING FOR HURRICANES, NAPLES AIRPORT IS SETTING A PRECEDENT FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW.

IT WILL BE THE FIRST AIRPORT IN THE SOUTHERN COASTAL STATES TO INSTALL HIGHER AIRFIELD LIGHTING ON THE TARMAC RUNWAYS.

THESE NEW LIGHT FIXTURES, WE'LL STAND ALMOST ONE AND A HALF FEET OFF THE GROUND.

THE INCREASED HEIGHT.

WE'LL MAKE LIGHTING MORE VISIBLE FOR AIRCRAFTS AND HELP THE FIXTURES TO BE MORE RESILIENT FROM HURRICANE FLOOD WATERS.

WHAT INSPIRED THIS PROJECT WITH THE SAFETY HAZARDS FOLLOWING HURRICANE IAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHRIS ROZANSKI REMINISCED ABOUT THE DAY HE ARRIVED AT THE AIRPORT TO ASSESS DAMAGES.

>> YOU GOT TO GET THE RUNWAYS READY FIRST TO BE ABLE TO REOPEN THE AIRPORT.

BUT THERE IS A LOT OF THAT DEBRIS FROM THE STORM SURGE.

SO THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WAS TO CLEAN UP ALL THE DEBRIS, INCLUDING SOME FISH OFF THE RUNWAY AND AIRFIELD FAVORITES SINCE VISIBILITY IS VITAL FOR SAFETY.

>> THE AIRPORT'S 2 RUNWAYS WILL UNDERGO A MAKEOVER WITH THE INSTALLATION OF 1080 AIRFIELD LIGHTS THAT ARE ALL 20 INCHES HIGH.

TO DECIDE ON ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS, LIGHT FIXTURES, THE EXECUTIVES OF NAPLES AND PORT DISCUSSED LIGHTING OPTIONS CLOSELY WITH ENGINEERS.

AT CANNES CEO SANDEEP SINGH EXPLAINS THE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY OF THESE NEW LIGHTS.

>> THE LATEST LIGHT FIXTURES ARE LIGHT EMITTING DIODE TYPEFACE SHOWS THEY HAVE ADVANCE FROM WHAT USED TO BE IN KEN DESCENT LIGHTING WHERE BASICALLY THE ELECTRICITY WAS JUST INCREASING GOING TO IT AS A DISTANCE AND CREATING HEAT AND LIGHT.

THE HEAT WAS OF NO USE.

LIGHT IS ALL WE CAN ABOUT.

AND AS WE HAVE MOVED TO THE MORNING PAST PICTURES, ALL OF THE ENERGY GOES TO A PRODUCING THE LIKE.

>> ROSEANNE SKI SAYS THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION IDENTIFIED NAPLES AIRPORT AS THE NEW NATIONAL STANDARD AND LIGHTING FOR ALL AIRPORTS AND THE COASTAL SOUTH.

>> THE FAA ALLOWS US AND NORTHERN AIRPORTS WHERE THERE'S SUBJECT TO SNOWFALL, BUT IT'S NOT TYPICAL AT A SOUTHERN AIRPORT, ESPECIALLY ONE ALONG THE COAST.

SO WE WERE CLOSELY WITH THE FAA AND ART ENGINEERING PARTNERS AND AND AND THEY AGREE THAT THIS IS A COMMON SENSE CHANGE.

AND SO NAPLES WILL BE THE FIRST.

>> BESIDES THE TALLER LIGHTING FIXTURES ACROSS THE RUNWAYS, ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT VITAL TO AIRPORT OPERATIONS WILL BE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRPORTS AND THE TRICK OF ALL, ACCORDING TO ROSEANNE SKI.

>> THE THE CENTRALIZED BUILDING WHERE ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS RUN BACK TO CALLED OUR AIR OR AIR FIELD ELECTRICAL.

WHAT THAT WAS INCHES FROM BEING INUNDATED BY STORM SURGE AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY DEVASTATING FOR US.

SO AS A RESULT AND THROUGH A RESILIENT FLORIDA GRANT THAT WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT ELECTRICAL VAULT BUILDING WILL NOW BE 5 FOOT HIGHER THAN THE ONE THAT EXISTS TODAY.

>> USING VARIOUS GRANTS, NAPLES AIRPORT WILL REPLACE BOTH THE AIRFIELD LIGHTING AND THE ELECTRICAL VAULT.

THIS 25 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE 2 YEARS.

BY ENHANCING STORM RESILIENCY.

THESE TALLER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

WE'RE LITERALLY TAKE NAPLES AIRPORT TO GREATER HEIGHTS FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M YOUN JOO PARK.

>> WGCU TAKES EXTRA PRECAUTIONS TO PREPARE FOR STORM SEASON.

SO EVEN IF THE POWER DOES GO OUT, OUR TEAM NEVER SLOWS DOWN.

WGCUS MIKE NYREE AND RICHARD CHANG QUI TAKE YOU BEHIND THE SCENES TO SHOW YOU EXACTLY HOW WE USE TOOLS LIKE THE FLORIDA PUBLIC RADIO EMERGENCY NETWORK TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE VERY LATEST INFORMATION BEFORE DURING AND AFTER A STORM.

>> HI THERE.

I'M MICAH NYREE, A PRODUCER AND HOST HERE AT WGCU PUBLIC RADIO AND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

THIS IS RICHARD CHEN QUI.

WHAT YOUR TITLE?

EXACTLY THE FM STATION MANAGER HERE AT THE STATION.

I WATCH OVER OUR OUR CONTENT ON THE AIR THAT ISN'T REPORTING.

WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A NUMBER OF STORMS TOGETHER.

YOU AND I YEAH, WE WANT TO TRY TO PASS ALONG SOME INFORMATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE TRACK THE STORMS AS THEY MAY BE APPROACHING.

AND THEN THE THINGS THAT WE DO ONCE THEY DO GET HERE.

SO FLORIDA PUBLIC RADIO EMERGENCY NETWORK EXPLAIN WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION WE'RE ABLE TO GET FROM THEM YET.

SPRING IS A NETWORK OF STATIONS, PUBLIC STATIONS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

>> AND THE HEADQUARTERS IS UP AT US.

WE'VE STATE METEOROLOGIST THERE AND BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE ARE LARGE STORMS THAT THREATEN ANY PART OF THE STATE AND EVEN A COUPLE OTHER STATES, THEY JUMP INTO ACTION TO COVER IT AND TO OFFER NOT ONLY ON AIR CONTENT BUT ALSO TO RECEIVE CONTENT FROM THOSE STATIONS IN THE NETWORK SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN KIND OF GET GROUND LEVEL THINGS AND THEN GET HIGH-LEVEL METEOROLOGY GOAL NEWS FROM THEM.

>> BASED ON WHAT A STORM IS DOING, WE HAVE DIFFERENT TIERS OF RESPONSE.

IF A STORM LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE COMING OUR WAY.

WE DO ONE THING, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WALK THROUGH WHAT THOSE TEARS ARE LIKE.

WE REACH A POINT WHERE WE ARE ALL HANDS ON DECK.

>> RIGHT.

SO ONCE WE KNOW A STORM IS LIKELY TO IMPACT, LET'S SAY THE STATE IN GENERAL, WE DEFINITELY HAVE A MEETING AS A TEAM TO SAY IF THIS BECOMES REGIONAL FOR US, IT BECOMES AN IMPACT FOR OUR LISTENING AREA.

THEN YOU KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BE WHERE WHEN WE GET MORE CERTAINTY THAT IT'S GOING TO IMPACT PART OF OUR LISTENING AREA, ESPECIALLY A SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR LISTENING AREA.

THEN WE KIND OF SHIFT THAT FROM WHAT WILL WE DO TOO?

WHEN ARE WE DOING IT?

WHEN ARE PEOPLE GOING TO BE COMING TO THE STATION?

WHEN ARE PEOPLE GOING TO BE GOING TO THE DIFFERENT EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTERS DEPENDING ON WHERE THE STORM IS GOING TO HIT.

SO ONCE IT'S MAKING, YOU KNOW, IMPACT IN OUR AREA, PARTICULARLY TROPICAL FORCE STORM WINDS IN OUR AREA.

WE COULD GO FROM LIGHTER COVERAGE.

WE'RE GETTING UPDATES FROM SPREADING TO MORE REGULAR COVERAGE.

WE'RE JUMPING IN ON BREAKS, YOU KNOW, IN THE REGULAR SHOWS.

AND WE JUST WE DO 10 MINUTES OF CONTENT.

AND THEN WE TAKE 10 MINUTES FRIEND AND THEN WE GO AGAIN AND THEN THEY GO AGAIN AND WE DO THAT UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED OUR LISTENING AREA AND DURING THAT ENTIRE PERIOD WHICH SOMETIMES 8 HOURS, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE EVERY OTHER REPORTER WHO'S AVAILABLE HERE AND OUTSIDE THE BUILDING SENDING ANY CONTENT THAT THEY CAN FIND TO GENERATE TO PRODUCERS WHO ARE THEN FINALLY THAT INFORMATION TO ME AND TO YOU OR TO OUR OTHER PRODUCERS INTO JOHN DAVIS.

AND WHEN WE GET THAT ON THE AIR SOON AS WE HAVE IT.

>> THIS IS THE BROADCAST TRANSMISSION FACILITY FOR BOTH WGCU RADIO AND TELEVISION.

THIS TALL TOWER ALLOWS US TO BROADCAST TO OVER 10 COUNTIES IN SOUTHWESTERN AND SOUTHERN FLORIDA ON BOTH TELEVISION AND RADIO INSIDE.

WE HAVE A FACILITY THAT HAS A LOT OF EQUIPMENT THAT MAKE SURE IT ALL AS POSSIBLE AND RELIABILITY IS SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.

WE HAVE NOT ONLY BACKUP EQUIPMENT FOR BOTH TELEVISION AND RADIO.

THAT INCLUDES TRANSMISSION FACILITIES THAT INCLUDES ANTENNAS.

WE ALSO HAVE BACKUP POWER SYSTEMS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE GENERATOR THAT'S BEHIND ME CAN RUN FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS WITHOUT NEEDING TO BE REFUELED.

WE ALSO TAKE MAINTENANCE VERY SERIOUSLY.

WE ROUTINELY SEND OUT STAFF THAT KEEPS UP THE AIR CONDITIONING IN THE POWER SYSTEMS AS WELL AS MAKE SURE THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS ARE ALL WORKING CORRECTLY.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A BACKUP FACILITY THAT'S LOCATED ON THE FGCU CAMPUS AWAY FROM HERE.

SO IN THE EVENT THAT WE LOSE THIS FACILITY FOR WHATEVER REASON WE'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE BROADCASTING, ALBEIT AT A REDUCED POWER.

BUT MOST PEOPLE WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO GET THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PUT OUT ON RADIO.

SO THIS IS WHERE IT ALL HAPPENS AND WE TAKE THAT RELIABILITY VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS FACILITY IS ON THE AIR, EVEN DURING THE WORST OF THE STORMS.

>> AND WE A BUILDING.

WHY GENERATOR?

YES, DURING IAN, WE DID NOT LOSE ELECTRICITY OR INTERNET OR OUR BROADCAST SIGNAL DID NOT GO DOWN.

I BELIEVE THE SAME WAS TRUE FOR HELENE AND MILTON.

SO WE HAVE SOME REDUNDANCY IN OUR SYSTEM.

I GUESS YOU CAN SAY WE DO.

AND PART OF THE REASON THAT WE'RE SO THE CITY US ABOUT.

>> MAKING SURE WE'RE ON THE AIR IS BECAUSE AS AN LP ONE STATION, IT'S A DESIGNATION.

THE SHORT VERSION IS.

IN IN THE STATE.

THERE ARE CHUNKS OF COUNTIES AND THAT GROUP OF COUNTIES DESIGNATED A STATION TO BE YOU MUST STAY ON THE AIR.

IT'S CALLED THE STATION OF LAST RESORT AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN LAST RESORT FOR INFORMATION.

IT MEANS EVERYTHING ELSE IS DOWN.

THEY SHOULD BE ON.

>> AND THEN AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED, WE WILL SEND OUR REPORTERS OUT WHEN IT SAFE.

WE WILL B IN TOUCH WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS IN VARIOUS JURISDICTIONS AND WE WILL TURN GULF COAST LIFE.

OUR RADIO SHOW OVER TO POST STORM COVERAGE TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES.

SO WE REALLY DO HAVE A PLAN THAT WE HAVE LEARNED THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR.

>> YEAH, IT'S ITERATIVE EVERY YEAR WE THINK ABOUT LAST YEAR AND WE MAKE CHANGES THAT WE HOPE KIND OF MAKE THAT COVERAGE, NOT ONLY EASIER AND MORE EFFICIENT FOR US, BUT MORE IMPACTFUL FOR THE LISTENER.

I KNOW THAT WE'VE RECEIVED MESSAGES FROM PEOPLE SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY KEPT THEM GOING THROUGH THE STORM.

WE SAVE THEM IN VARIOUS WAYS AND WE TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY.

IT'S IT'S IT'S I DON'T LOOKING.

IT'S IT'S A BIG IMPACT TO KNOW THAT THAT WE'RE NOT JUST GIVING PEOPLE INFORMATION, BUT THAT THE ACTION ON THAT INFORMATION MAKES LIFE-SAVING DECISIONS FOR THEM.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, RICHARD, FOR EXPLAINING ALL THAT.

YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR BEING A PARTNER IN THIS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF STORMS TOGETHER.

AND SO WE YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY TO HAVE YOU AS SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP KEEP US IN OUR LISTENERS AND VIEWERS SAFE.

AND I JUST WANT TO SUGGEST TO VIEWERS THAT'S HAVING SOME SORT OF WEATHER RADIO THAT YOU CAN CRANK THAT WILL WORK IF THERE IS NO POWER, IF THERE IS NO INTERNET OR WGCU AND W M K O WE'LL STAY ON THE AIR.

SO IF EVERYTHING ELSE FAILS, THAT'S THE WAY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US.

>> FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION, TUNE IN TO 90.1 IN FORT MYERS AND NAPLES AND 91.7 IN MARCO ISLAND AND DON'T FORGET TO DOWNLOAD THE WGCU APP FOR NEWS ALERT AND THE LATEST STORM INFORMATION COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.

WHETHER YOU HAVE ONE OR ARE THINKING OF BUYING ONE PORTABLE GENERATORS ARE POPULAR FOR STORM SEASON, BUT WHAT SHOULD YOU BE AWARE OF BEFORE SETTING ONE UP?

THAT STORY'S COMING UP NEXT.

WHEN THE POWER DROPS OUT FOLLOWING SEVERE WEATHER, THE NOISE FROM PORTABLE GENERATORS RAMPS UP PORTABLE GENERATORS ARE AT LEAST A 1 BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS IN THE U.S.

AND A MAJOR HEALTH DURING STORM RECOVERY IN FLORIDA.

PORTABLE GENERATORS ARE PERMANENTLY EXEMPT FROM FLORIDA SALES AND USE TAX.

THAT MEANS IF YOU THINK YOU NEED ONE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TO BUY IT FOR A TAX HOLIDAY.

BUT KNOWING WHAT GENERATORS THE RIGHT FIT AND HOW TO PROPERLY USE IT IS CRITICAL BEFORE EVEN STARTING ONE UP.

WE ARE JOINED BY GUILLERMO RODRIGUEZ.

HE IS THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE PORTABLE GENERATOR MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE AND HELP THE FORT MYERS COMMUNITY STAY SAFE AND EARN MORE ABOUT THE PROPER USE OF PORTABLE GENERATORS.

>> CAN YOU FIRST GIVE US AN IDEA OF HOW WIDE SPREAD THE MISUSE OF PORTABLE GENERATORS IS AND WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THEY ARE NOT USED PROPERLY.

>> THAT IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

ON FORTUNATE.

TRAGEDIES FROM.

YOU SEEN A PORTAGE, A PORTABLE GENERATOR INCORRECTLY ARE HAVE HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

SO ACCORDING TO THE U.S.

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION.

IN THE TIME PERIOD BETWEEN 2004 2021.

EACH YEAR ABOUT 46 TO 100 PEOPLE DIE FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING INVOLVING PORTABLE GENERATORS.

THE REASON IS VERY SIMPLE.

CARBON MONOXIDE.

POISONOUS.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE HUMAN SENSES TO DETECT IT.

YOU CAN'T SEE IT.

YOU CAN'T SMELL IT.

IT DOESN'T TAKE TOO LONG.

FOR CARBON MONOXIDE, TOO.

SEVERELY INJURE PEOPLE.

AND WITHIN MINUTES LEADING TO DEATH.

IF NOT.

EXITING THE PREMISES WHERE THE CARBON MONOXIDE EMISSIONS CAN BUILD UP.

>> WHY DO THESE TRAGEDIES KEEP HAPPENING?

WHAT IS GOING ON THAT PEOPLE?

I DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY NEED IT.

>> THE SAD REALITY OF IT IS THAT THE TRAGEDIES WILL TAKE PLACE.

IF A GENERATOR IS USED INSIDE.

SO THE VERY EASY WAY TO PREVENT THESE TRAGEDIES IS 2 VERY SIMPLY PUT.

TAKE YOUR GENERATOR OUTSIDE.

IT CAN NEVER BE USED INSIDE A GARAGE.

NEAR A WINDOW.

THE DOOR.

ANYWHERE WHERE CARBON MONOXIDE EMISSIONS CAN BUILD UP.

>> NOW YOUR ORGANIZATION PROMOTES PREP.

DON'T PANIC.

WALK US THROUGH WHAT ADVICE YOU GIVE TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

SO JUST LIKE FIRE SAFETY.

PORTABLE GENERATOR HUGHES.

NICE TO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE YOU NEED TO.

FIRST OF ALL.

PLAN AHEAD, NOT WHEN YOU >> NEED TO USE THE GENERATOR LIKE WHEN A HURRICANE OR SEVERE WEATHER APPROACHES.

>> AND YOUR POWER'S OUT.

SO FIRST OF ALL, FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE FUNCTION OF THE GENERATOR.

ANY MANUFACTURER'S GUIDELINES.

AND THEN AND THEN FOR THE PROPER PLACEMENT.

NOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PLACEMENT, SEVERAL.

GENERATOR BRANDS AND THE U.S.

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION ADVICE 20 FEET AWAY FROM ANY.

INSIDE ANY ANY CLOSE STRUCTURE.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THEN HAVE THE NECESSARY SUPPLIES.

THINK ABOUT EXTENSION COURTS THAT NEED TO STRETCH.

FAR OUT FROM THE HOUSE IN 2, THE HOME TO POWER YOUR APPLIANCES.

THINK OR REFRIGERATORS.

FANS AND ALL THEIR APPLIANCES.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE.

AND LET ME NOT FORGET TO MENTION THE USE.

OF CARBON MONOXIDE.

ALARMS.

>> EXCELLENT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

MISTER RODRIGUEZ.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM HAS MORE FARMS AND RANCHES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ARE BEING FLIPPED INTO HOUSING AND RETAIL OUTLETS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IF THE LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT STILL RELY ON THAT OLD FLORIDA WAY OF LIVING?

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG.

YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.