Over 1000 Clear Channel radio stations across the USA are airing public service announcements (PSAs) directing listeners to www.StormAid.com.

Operated by Clear Channel, www.StormAid.com, is also providing National Hurricane Centre advisories for the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and a list of the Clear Channel stations that are airing shelter locations and directions, providing coverage, collecting donations for the American Red Cross and holding collection drives.

Individual Clear Channel stations are spearheading drives for supplies and cash.

Clear Channel has also filled three trucks with life-saving supplies and has collected $US 15,000 which is now headed to the Hurricane region to provide aid.

Meanwhile the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has announced the “BroadcastUnity for Katrina Relief” initiative, a plan that the association says will raise a minimum of $100 million for relief efforts through local radio and television stations. Broadcasters will be voluntarily donating airtime for special fund-raising appeals as part of the initiative.

The move was approved by the NAB Board of Directors during a special conference call and includes a $1 million cash donation from the NAB to the American Red Cross.

“Broadcasters are a lifeline to communities in times of crisis, and Hurricane Katrina has touched America’s soul like no natural disaster in our history”, says NAB president Eddie Fritts.

The NAB has designated Friday, September 9 as “Broadcast Unity Day,” a day when local stations will block out specific times for fund-raising relief efforts, telephone banks, radiothons and the like.