In an effort coordinated by Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio, along with Rep. Darren Soto, the National Association of Broadcasters is sending 10,000 battery-operated radios to Puerto Rico.
FEMA, along with local authorities on the island, will distribute the radios to those hardest hit by Hurricane Maria.
"Time and again, broadcast radio has served as a lifeline for communities desperate for communication and support," said NAB President Gordon Smith. "Our fellow Americans in the Caribbean now face a once-in-a-generation humanitarian crisis, and radio is one of the only communication resources available. We admire the resolve of our friends in Puerto Rico and and are proud to undertake this effort with the help from FEMA to keep citizens safe and informed."
Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine helped secure a staging ground in Miami for the radios prior to shipment to Puerto Rico.
Levine said the crisis “...requires our ongoing support and commitment, which is why I'm thankful to the NAB for stepping up to provide critical communications infrastructure."
The Florida Association of Broadcasters spearheaded the effort as Puerto Rico is still reeling from the storm.