Since Saturday’s devastating $50 million dollar fire engulfed Hobart’s Myer city store in Liverpool Street, HOFM’s Road to Recovery Hotline has attracted an unprecedented number of calls, resulting in the need to roster additional staff to handle the influx.
This morning (Wednesday 26 September) the entire HO-FM on air team will be supporting those businesses re-opening in Liverpool Street by broadcasting live from 9am-12pm inside the popular clothing store and historic Les Lees building in Hobart’s downtown retail precinct.
The HO-FM Road to Recovery team will be on the streets interviewing store owners live to air and giving them the opportunity to thank everyone for their generous support.
HOFM Program Manager John Inglis has told radioinfo:
“Both the HOFM on air and off air team have done a great job so far. It’s tremendous to feel the community spirit and see everyone lending a hand around the clock. Nothing’s been too small or too big a task for them in helping people get back on the Road To Recovery. We’ve seen some truly heartbreaking stories, but providing assistance has meant those impacted by the fires know both the Hobart Community and HO-FM are by their side.”
Edward Harry, Director of Les Lees, is glad to be able to re-open for business. “We were allowed access to the building Tuesday morning to find a slight smell of smoke in the air, however there has been a limited effect on stock in the store. There has been only slight damage to the building. I can’t thank the people of Hobart enough for the positive messages we’ve received on our Road to Recovery.”
The HOFM Road to Recovery Hot Line swung into action at the station’s studios on Saturday evening immediately following the fire, to keep the station’s listeners, retailers and businesses up dated on the latest information resulting from the fire. Since then the Hotline has been swamped with calls from those impacted by the fire. HO-FM has been providing affected businesses the opportunity to have their opening hours, customer information, updated details for employees on opening times, and other relevant facts broadcast free of charge, day and night on HO-FM.
HOFM’s ‘Road to Recovery’ Hot Line number, 03 6234 0277, will continue to operate as long as needed while the Liverpool Street precinct continues to clean up and re-open in stages over the coming weeks.