North Carolina Recovery: With the scale of flooding devastation in western North Carolina from Tropical Storm Helene still coming into focus, broadcasters continue to operate in emergency mode. The iHeartMedia/Asheville cluster has been in a round-the-clock simulcast of information and updates since Friday morning (9/27) with assistance from nearby clusters in Charlotte and Greenville, SC, where WSSL & WKSF/Asheville afternoon host Aaron Michael is based. The Asheville studios were inaccessible due to downed trees for more than a day; operations resumed Sunday (9/29). WKSF morning hosts Eddie & Amanda Foxx were unaccounted for until Sunday as electricity and cell service remains spotty in the area. Eddie told listeners this morning, "We're blessed to have this voice, but we're in the same boat as you."

Michael tells Country Aircheck, "I’ve never been more proud to be a part of the western North Carolina community. To be able to work alongside absolutely incredible radio professionals like Mark Starling and Tank Spencer [WWNC-AM], Eddie and Amanda, Josh Michael [WQNQ/Asheville] and Kix Layton [WESC/Greenville, SC] has been the biggest blessing. In the midst of absolute devastation, we’ve been able to connect to our community in ways I never knew was possible. Radio is alive more now than ever, and I’m so thankful for getting to be a small part of this story." Reach Michael here. Stream coverage here.