Lauderhill radio station created for emergencies

By Juan Ortega
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted August 18 2006

Lauderhill has launched a radio station, joining a trend of cities hitting the airwaves to better inform their residents. The station, WQFF542, AM 1650, was created to deliver announcements and updates during emergencies. In the case of Hurricane Wilma last year, city information wasn't always immediately updated, Lauderhill Fire Chief Edward Curran said.  "There were conflicts of information out there," said Curran, who also is the city's emergency management coordinator. "We felt this would be a good way to get to our residents immediately."

Lauderhill joins other municipalities with stations, such as Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, Weston and Boca Raton.  Other media can falter during emergencies, but "one thing that seems to be a mainstay is the radio," said Leslie Tropepe, a Lauderhill spokeswoman. The station started in July, and cost the city $33,900 for licensing, an antenna, transmitter and software. 

WQFF542 is expected to keep running during power outages because the city has a generator, Baker said. The station's 6-foot-high antenna is mounted on a concrete pole, so it reaches 30 feet high and gives a signal of three to five miles.