CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR, MEMA TO UNVEIL NEW DIGITAL BILLBOARD MESSAGING INITIATIVE

REISTERSTOWN, MD (May 21, 2014) – The Maryland Emergency Management Agency and Clear Channel Outdoor will announce a new partnership that leverages the real-time ability of digital billboards to communicate safety information to area travelers. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, May 22, adjacent to a Clear Channel Outdoor digital billboard at 1500 Union Avenue in Baltimore.

“I would like to thank Clear Channel Outdoor for partnering with MEMA on this important initiative,” said MEMA Executive Director Ken Mallette. “We want to have as many tools as possible available to reach out to our residents during emergencies. This is another way to safely reach people as they are driving.”

Emergency messaging will now appear on Clear Channel Outdoor’s 21 digital billboards throughout Maryland, which reach an estimated 5.4 million people weekly across the state from Baltimore to Salisbury. MEMA joins the ranks of a growing number of state and local emergency agencies across the U.S. that have tapped the power of Clear Channel’s digital outdoor media to help communicate time sensitive safety messages.

Clear Channel Outdoor has a history of collaborating with local, state and federal officials to use its media in support of public safety campaigns. This includes the FBI, U.S. Marshals and AMBER Alerts for missing children.

“In the case of an emergency, time is of the essence,” said Steve Ginsburg, president, the Clear Channel Outdoor Washington, Baltimore and Salisbury region. “The real-time message delivery of our digital media can work to help MEMA save lives. We are proud to partner with MEMA to help Maryland residents and visitors stay safe during disasters or emergency events.”

This new initiative gives MEMA another tool to reach the public with preparedness information. Last fall, the agency released its new Maryland Prepares app to provide alerts and preparedness information on mobile devices. Over the last several years, MEMA has increased its social media presence on Twitter, Facebook and other platforms to provide direct outreach to the public.