The concept of "Erin Radio" was given a kickstart after the hydro blackout in August 2003. The mayor and council arranged to have a local company provide free bottled water to Erin residents, but there was no way to get the word out. Phone systems were down, home radios and televisions were off and there was no emergency communications system in the town. If Erin Radio had been operating at the time with a diesel generator, emergency information could have been broadcast to those with car or transistor radios.