American Samoa radio station honoured for tsunami efforts

American Samoa radio station 93 KHJ in Pago Pago has been honoured by the International Broadcasters Idea Bank (IBIB) for the station’s efforts in warning the public about last month’s devastating tsunami.

The IBIB represents 450 radio stations in the US and the Pacific.

IBIB executive director David Luther says the warning aired by KHJ probably helped save many lives in American Samoa.

Mr Luther also commended the station for restoring broadcasts as quickly as possible when it set up a makeshift studio at the station’s mountaintop transmitter site.

KHJ general manager Joey Cummings and morning show
co-host, Lupe Lu Lohman, who were on air when the earthquake and tsunami occurred, were praised as dedicated broadcasters who stayed at their posts as the disaster unfolded.

Source: Media Network, Radio New Zealand International