An FM broadcasting station for supporting disaster victims ("Disaster Broadcasting Stations") is a specific kind of Community Radio system to supply "Emergency Control Programs," "Life Support Information" and other community related programs that re-unite the minds of refugees away from their old communities. Also, they supply information for foreigners residing in those areas, who lack vital daily life information in their own languages.
Many of the victims who lost their houses by Tsunami are now living in "Temporary Houses". However, it is difficult to get a good radio reception in these temporary houses which are mostly built by the hill-side or in the valley. To solve this problem, detailed research works and designing by experienced engineers is necessary before setting up a station. Also, many of the broadcasting stations started in a hurry with make shift equipments, thus upgrading is required to continue services.
BHN experts will help launch an FM station or give advice to stations already in service by visiting the sites. Depending on individual problems found for each station, BHN will set up a broadcasting antenna, re-locate an antenna, build additional radio relay station, build roof-top antennas and/or connect radio wave boosters to individual houses, etc. Also, installation of emergency back-up batteries is imminent as the blackouts could happen by the closure of nuclear power stations.
The life in the "Temporary Houses" may be prolonged for, at least, some more years and the "Disaster Broadcasting Stations" are going to last for another 10 years.(after this period, most of them will transform to "community radio broadcasting"). During this period, broadcasting systems will play a more and more important role to connect people and prompt interaction between the town administrations and inhabitants to jointly making the "Town Rebuilding Plan."
