WPVM has launched a new emergency‑preparedness page and Signal alert sign‑up that grew directly out of Hurricane Helene, showing listeners in Western North Carolina how to stay informed when power, internet, and cell service fail—and how local radio remains their lifeline.
When Everything Else Fails, Radio Asheville Keeps You Connected
Hurricane Helene showed us how quickly modern life can collapse. Cell towers went dark for weeks. Power grids failed. Internet disappeared. But analog radio kept broadcasting—and those with battery-powered or car radios stayed informed while everyone else was left guessing. Radio Asheville is building a multi-layered emergency communications system so you’re never cut off again—no matter how bad it gets.
Here’s how it works:
• Analog FM Radio (103.7 FM): Your primary lifeline. When power and cell service fail, a simple battery, solar, or hand-crank radio delivers real-time emergency updates, official briefings, and critical local information.
• Emergency Satellite Messaging: Even when cell towers are down, newer iPhones (14+) and select Android devices can receive emergency text messages via satellite. Radio Asheville will send short, urgent alerts through this backup channel when traditional SMS fails—giving you flash flood warnings, evacuation orders, and shelter locations when you need them most.
• Signal App Alerts: For those with the Signal app installed before disaster strikes, we’ll push encrypted emergency notifications that can get through even on weak or damaged networks.
• HAM Radio Partnership: Radio Asheville works directly with local amateur (HAM) radio operators who provide real-time field reports when all other communications are down. During Helene, the HAM community delivered critical updates about road closures, water distribution sites, wellness checks in isolated areas, and safe routes—information that saved lives.
This isn’t just about convenience—it’s about survival. When the next storm hits, you need multiple ways to get information. Sign up for our emergency alerts, keep an emergency radio in your home, and install Signal before you need it.
Because when power, cell service, and the internet all fail at once, Radio Asheville will still be speaking.
Sign up for WPVM Emergency Alerts on Signal, and you’ll be automatically entered to win a FREE solar-powered emergency radio. No power? No problem. These radios work when everything else fails.
Winners will be randomly selected and announced on June 30, 2026.
When all else fails, the radio is still around. Portable radios are available that can be charged by solar, handcrank, or battery. They can also be used to charge your phone, send SOS messages, and send weather alerts via NOAA. You can also use your car radio to pick up our signal. Move to higher ground if you are near water, but also be aware of the potential for landslides.
Sangean Emergency Radios
When all else fails, the radio is still around. Portable radios are available that can be charged by solar, handcrank, or battery. They can also be used to charge your phone, send SOS messages, and send weather alerts via NOAA. You can also use your car radio to pick up our signal. Move to higher ground if you are near water, but also be aware of the potential for landslides.
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WPVM has launched a new emergency‑preparedness page and Signal alert sign‑up that grew directly out of Hurricane Helene, showing listeners in Western North Carolina how to stay informed when power, internet, and cell service fail—and how local radio remains their lifeline.
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