KVLU 91.3 working to restore broadcast after flooding, programming still online
Southeast Texas’ public radio station 91.3 KVLU lost its broadcast signal when Hurricane Harvey’s catastrophic rainfall pummeled Orange County August 30 and the station’s transmitter site in Rose City lost power.
On Monday, September 11, station manager Byron Balentine was able to visit the tower site in Rose City for the first time after the flood receded. He discovered that the site received some seven feet of water and all equipment was damaged beyond repair.
“It’s a total loss,” he said of the facility that housed the high-power transmitter, testing and monitoring equipment, remote-control system, emergency generator, as well as stored equipment for backups, telemetry and transmitter diagnostics.
KVLU’s leadership is working with Lamar University administrators and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to develop a plan for the restoration of its signal with a goal to get back on the air at full power as quickly possible, Balentine said.
“For now, our listeners can still hear their favorite KVLU programming by streaming live at KVLU.org or by using the free NPR News app,” he said.
Work to clean up the transmitter site is underway and the station is borrowing equipment to begin transmission at low power as soon as electrical inspections are completed and power is restored. The low-power signal should support most of the station’s audience in Beaumont and Vidor, Balentine said.
“As a public radio station we are supported by our members,” Balentine said. “We are so grateful for their well wishes and patience as we work to restore our signal.”
KVLU is the sole NPR news affiliate for southeast Texas, offering a diverse mix of news, talk and music programming. In its 43rd year of broadcasting, the station is licensed to Lamar University with studios on the main campus.
For station updates please visit kvlu.org and the 91.3 KVLU Public Radio Facebook page, or follow KVLU on twitter at 913kvlu.
