Although Rochester and the Finger Lakes region was spared the worst of Superstorm Sandy, WXXI was there to bring you the news and official information needed to help keep you and your family safe.

Emergency information was broadcast throughout the day Monday and Tuesday, with updates from the Monroe County Emergency Operations Center, the Governor’s Office, and our New York Public Radio sister stations. Coverage included Amtrak, Airports, FEMA, RGE/National Grid, Red Cross, schools and government, closings, and many other topics.

1370 Connection had special shows dealing with storm preparedness and relief: a Cornell University meteorologist explained what happened to the Northeastern United States and why. Our talk show also hosted a “round robin” update from the responders to the storm, including officials from the Red Cross, Rochester International Airport, RG&E, and County Executive Maggie Brooks.

We activated emergency power for AM 1370 before the worst of the storm hit, to protect our transmitter from potentially damaging electrical surges.  We also leased an additional generator and positioned it on Pinnacle Hill to provide back-up power for 91.5 FM, if needed. In anticipation of widespread power outages, our WXXI radio truck, with a mobile studio, was moved to our French Road transmitter site and was ready to go.

WXXI’s Albany Bureau Chief, Karen DeWitt, kept public radio listeners throughout New York State informed of official information from the State Capital, following Governor Cuomo’s activities throughout the storm. Our Innovation Trail reporters and editor were on top of the economic fall-out from the storm and continue to report on the cost of the clean-up and the investment that must be made to repair and improve infrastructure.

Social network updates on Twitter and Facebook from WXXI news staff provided the latest emergency information, such as availability of generators and other emergency supplies.

If you were listening to our news, you also heard the outstanding coverage from NPR, with reporters stationed throughout the hardest hit areas of the Northeast.  Coverage of the after effects and the clean-up continues, both locally and nationally.

On air and online, WXXI was there for our community with official information and important updates. To our members and supporters, thank you for helping provide the resources to serve our community and State in this time of need.