Astrodome Radio Project

To learn more about KAMP (Katrina Aftermath Media Project), and the radio station independent media organizers set up at the Houston Astrodome, visit Houston Indymedia or Evacuation Radio Services.

The radio volunteers, led by community media organization Houston Indymedia, worked with a pack of volunteer engineers and technicians from all over the United States to get this station on the air. The project was stymied for a week because organizers were not allowed to set up the station in the Astrodome by officials, despite the fact that the FCC issued an emergency license for that location. KAMP finally went on air on Tuesday, September 13.

In the wake of the terrible tragedy in the southern Gulf Coast region, the FCC gave permission to the city of Houston to build an experimental low power radio station - inside the Astrodome. Many tens of thousands of residents of the affected areas, especially New Orleans, took shelter in the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. In order to facilitate communications among the people there, a group of volunteers from the region and beyond have been working on setting up a small studio and transmitter. You can read about the design of the project in our press release from September 6th. (NOTE: this release is from before the project went on air)

The Harris County staff did not permit the volunteers to build inside the Astrodome. Spokeswoman for the Astrodome's Joint Information Center, Gloria Romer, told Renee Feltz of KPFT Local News, "The demands they required to do this we could not meet... Elecricity supplies, phone lines, internet, chairs and computers, we could not accomodate that." The station ended up broadcasting from the press parking lot of the Astrodome for nearly a week.

Gulf Coast LPFM stations and the impact of Katrina

Many people have asked which LPFM stations were affected by the hurricane. REC Networks has compiled a list of 34 LFPM stations and permit-holders that are eligible for public assistance from FEMA and were likely affected. Prometheus has been in contact with a number of stations as well who have asked for donations and assistance.

We don't know all of these stations personally, but we do have contact information for the stations we do know. Please check below for more information.

KOUS-LP - Monroe, LA
We have heard that the folks at KOUS-LP have been helping victims find shelter and housing since just after the storm. If you would like to support KOUS-LP, you can send funds to:

KOUS 96.3 LPFM
3122 Louisville Avenue #B
Monroe, LA 71203
Attention: Augusta Turner

KOCZ-LP - Opelousas, LA
KOCZ, Opelousas Community Zydeco worked with Prometheus to get on the air. They offer great teen health programming and work closely with the local Holy Ghost Church. Please write checks to the KOCZ Katrina Fund:

Southern Development Foundation
328 Congress St
Opelousas LA 70570
Phone: (337) 942-2392

New Baton Rouge, LA - GSRI Property Owners Association This neighborhood group has been working to get on the air, but will likely be delayed by the destruction to the area. They have said to Prometheus "Urban legends and tracking down false rumors did more to delay the mobilization of Baton Rouge than any foreign power or any hurricane that came down the Gulf Coast." They would like to get on the air soon, and are collecting funds. If you wish to donate to GSRI, please make checks out to:

GSRI POA radio fund
c/o Stephanie Kocher
2969 Joyce Drive
Baton Rouge, Louisia
70814-2568

Below is the list of stations we have not worked with in the area, to show how many stations were affected by the hurricane. They likely all need help, but contacting them right now might be difficult.

Visit the FCC search page for how to look up the mailing address of the stations listed above.

For more information on FEMA Public Assistance, please visit FEMA.gov.

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Contact us at:
Prometheus Radio Project
P.O. Box 42158
Philadelphia PA 19101
info@prometheusradio.org
(215)727-9620