KABU Radio Preps For More Snow By Taking Emergency Management Training

By Kyler Edsitty

KABU Radio staff participating in NPM's EMP training

[St. Michael, ND, March 24, 2026] – Year-round, KABU Radio serves the Spirit Lake Nation in St. Michael, ND by providing vital news and community information. Day and night, Tribal members and the surrounding communities depend on KABU radio. Now coming out of a harsh winter, KABU staff want to prepare themselves for future snow and windstorms. To create better safeguards, they participated in Native Public Media’s (NPM) Emergency Management Plan (EMP) training.

Native Public Media is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Tribal radio and television stations across Indian Country. With increasing threats from climate change and natural disasters, NPM created the Emergency Management Plan training for broadcasters to equip them with the knowledge needed to respond to various hazards. Using Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) tactics, Tribal radio stations are creating their own EMP and working with local agencies to protect their station, staff, and communities.

To start the training, KABU staff learn the fundamentals of prevention, mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery in terms of emergency management. Then, the staff performs a capabilities assessment that audits the station’s ability to respond to various hazards and disruptions. Through this process, the staff realized they needed to create evacuation and lockdown procedures. They also realized they are capable of communication internally as staff and externally with the community during times of crisis.

Part of the training includes a hazard and threat risk assessment. This is when the station staff ask themselves what threats can threaten the station and how often they occur. The team determined the most likely threats are seasonal snow and windstorms.

Frozen Devil's Lake, ND

Historically, heavy winds have damaged the station’s tower, leading to expensive repairs and limited broadcasts. To mitigate the risks of these windstorms, the staff wants to schedule regular tower inspections to catch damage and repairs before it is too late. They also want to explore more insurance options and policies in the event the tower is severely affected.

Snowstorms have also affected station operations, causing staff members to hunker down and stay at home. Usually, KABU staff are directed to stay home the night before a major snowstorm. However, that leaves the radio station unattended. Moving forward, the staff wants to streamline their automated broadcasts and amplify their remote broadcast capabilities. In the event a staff member cannot leave during a storm, they want to ensure any food and supplies they need are stocked during the winter. The staff also wants to work alongside the neighboring Spirit Lake Tribal Casino to ensure they are accommodated during future emergencies.

Once these threats were identified, the staff created their EMP, including their newly developed snow and windstorm hazard plans. Their EMP also includes evacuation procedures and documents their response and recovery for community members.

KABU General Manager Sacheen Thompson spoke to the effectiveness of the training and what lies ahead for the station.

“The emergency management strategies in the training were well presented,” Thompson stated. “We as a team felt comfortable and engaged discussing the information. This has definitely been a learning experience, and I look forward to finalizing and implementing our EMP.”

With newfound knowledge, KABU staff are ready for whatever winter has in store.

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