The loss of all those analog portable TVs removes an important way to communicate with the public during an emergency, said Keith Harrison, assistant administrator of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management.
"When we get information out to people, we like to get it out by every means possible," said Harrison, who also is president of the California Emergency Services Association. "A lot more people watch TV than listen to AM radio."
But the digital TV transition isn't a major public safety issue because broadcast radio is still available to deliver important messages, he said.
"In preparedness kits, we tell people to have a battery-powered radio," Harrison said.
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