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Panhandle radio station matches evacuees to housing

By MARY SPICUZZA
Published September 6, 2005

PENSACOLA - Catfish is an unusual sort of activist.

An afternoon DJ for Cat Country 98.7, he normally spends his days playing new country music and all-time country legends.

But after Hurricane Katrina hit, Catfish and others at the Pensacola radio station WYCT-FM 98.7 decided they had to help.

Cat Country radio hosts began asking listeners to open their homes to evacuees. Hundreds of phone calls later, the locally owned station is scrambling to keep up with the offers of assistance.

"We've had an unexpected response," Catfish said. "We've had to set up additional phone banks."

Cat Country has dubbed its sudden disaster relief effort "Operation Open Heart/Open Home."

The station's promotions director, Dana Cervantes, said 600 to 700 people have called offering help since she and general sales manager JJ Waters came up with the plan Aug. 30. "It's great," Cervantes said.

After placing dozens of families in homes, station staff members and volunteers shifted their focus to registering people in need of help and those offering assistance.

Residents who volunteer their homes are required to fill out forms explaining their facilities. Questions include how many people they can house, whether they accept pets, whether they accept smokers and how long they are able to house evacuees.

Evacuees are also being asked about their needs.

"Right now, we have more housing offers than need," promotions assistant Tyler Boonmast said. But the Cat Crew expects that to change as they contact increasing numbers of evacuees.

Many evacuees can't call the station, so volunteers are going to shelters to help people sign up.

Meanwhile, Catfish, Miss Kitty, and other DJs plan to ask for volunteers several times an hour. Joe Rainey, the housing program's volunteer coordinator, is working with other agencies.

"It just grew and grew," Cervantes said.

--Mary Spicuzza can be reached at mspicuzza@sptimes.com or 352 848-1432.

[Last modified September 6, 2005, 03:15:21]