IEMA launches new preparedness radio spots featuring radio, TV personality Steve Harvey

New spots highlight importance of emergency supply kits

[April 04, 2013]  SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois' effort to promote individual emergency preparedness is once again getting the star treatment. This week the Illinois Emergency Management Agency launched three new radio spots, recorded by TV and radio personality Steve Harvey.

The star of TV's "Steve Harvey Show," "Family Feud" and the nationally syndicated daily radio show "The Steve Harvey Morning Show" is the latest celebrity to lend his voice to IEMA's public education radio campaign promoting emergency preparedness and the state's Ready Illinois website, www.ready.illinois.gov.

Harvey's spots will air in conjunction with previous celebrity-driven campaigns, including those with actress Marion Ross of "Happy Days" and emergency disaster planning for pets, featuring legendary Chicago radio personalities Larry Lujack and Tommy Edwards.

"We're very excited to have Steve Harvey lend his talent to our latest preparedness spots," said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken. "Having a well-known celebrity like Steve in our radio spots helps our message stand out. We hope these new spots will spur listeners to take actions to be better prepared."

Harvey recorded one 30-second and two 60-second spots that highlight items needed for a home preparedness kit, such as a three-day supply of water and nonperishable food, flashlight, weather radio, first-aid kit, and extra batteries.

"The Illinois Broadcasters Association is so appreciative for Steve Harvey's generosity in lending his talent to this important campaign," said Dennis Lyle, president and CEO of the Illinois Broadcasters Association. "Now that Illinois is home for his exciting new daily TV talk show, ‘The Steve Harvey Show,' as well as for his daily ‘The Steve Harvey Morning Show,' he's the perfect celebrity to promote emergency preparedness in his very own backyard."

Earl Jones, chairman of the Illinois Broadcasters Association board and market manager for Clear Channel Media-Chicago, first approached Harvey with the idea of recording the preparedness spots. "The Steve Harvey Morning Show" airs on Clear Channel's V103-FM in Chicago.

The new spots will begin airing soon on radio airwaves throughout Illinois as part of IEMA's broadcast preparedness campaign, which is aired in cooperation with the Illinois Broadcasters Association Public Education Partnership program. The spots will air on more than 200 Illinois radio stations.

All of the TV and radio spots in the state's preparedness campaign are available on the Ready Illinois website at www.ready.illinois.gov.

[Text from Illinois Emergency Management Agency file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]