With statewide FM coverage and partnerships with NEMA, FEMA and the State Patrol, public media helps Nebraskans stay informed when it matters most.
Al Berndt devoted his career to public service. After retiring from the Lincoln Police Department, he served as assistant director of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) from 2000-2015, guiding the public response to natural disasters and emergencies.
“During any disaster or emergency situation, good, reliable, truthful information needs to be disseminated to the public,” he said. “Nebraska Public Media is an integral part of the state’s emergency alert system.”
The network’s FM radio station is Nebraska’s primary dissemination point for the Emergency Alert System (EAS), originating both routine tests and actual alerts from NEMA and the Nebraska State Patrol. We also relay information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for nationwide tests and presidential alerts to all Nebraska broadcasters and cable companies.
“You cover the state. You fill a role that basically everybody takes for granted,” said Berndt.