> Those hurricanes didn't wash ya out over there eh?
>
It's funny that you ask. We have three FM's and an AM here at The Radio People (WJKK, WYOY, WUSJ, WIIN)... and the days leading up to, during and after the hurricane were the most demanding days I have had in radio (up to this point). We were fine until the power went out at the generator, and then our studio(s). We had to come across diesel and propane when the demand was at its highest. Needless to say, our flagship station, WUSJ -- US 96.3 -- Country's Latest and All-Time Greatest (I'm the overnighter, work in the business office during the day) had someone live in the studio non-stop for about a week. And when I say this I mean 24 hours LIVE. But we did play commercials, came in and out as our generator power dwindled, but we were live, as our direct competitor was not.
At that time we didn't even have internet or other power in the building. At one point we lost all telephone lines. Finally we picked up one of the news stations a couple of days later.We couldn't update our commercial traffic if we had receive the spots online... but we kept on truckin'.
CC finally went live and covered the hurricane like we had been doing (just so happens was right when we have no more fuel/propane and go off air for the rest of that day). They got us at our weakest. They hadn't even been covering the hurricane in this capacity until this point. Anyways, I am blabbering right now.
Power was out all over Jackson and south of us as well. I personally was out of power for one week. People relied on their radio more than anything. Unfortunately, most of the talk was about gas. Motorists were using more gas waiting in line for gas. It was dangerous to venture out. Curfews were imposed for each individual city in the area. But this is radio. This is when all ears were on radio. FEMA/shelter/help phone numbers were given out, and we gained many listeners at this time. People with relatives down south (Biloxi, New Orleans, etc.) were calling asking if we knew anything about cerain area, some very small, some larger cities as well. We were dealing with people at a very hard time, and they were quite emotional.
I slept up at the radio station for three or four nights. None of the sales reps reported to work for a couple of days. It was quite a fiasco. I learned a lot of things during this time. People were on their last leg.
I'm just glad that things are looking more promising. Many people called our station (WUSJ) and let us know how far they could pick us up in their cars (down south). We were one of the only stations you could pick up in southern Mississippi at that time, and many people are thankful that they had something to count on.
So to answer your question. We had close to 90 mph winds when I was at the station when Katrina blew through. It was something that I will never forget, and will remember as the most demanding time I have ever had in radio. May our thoughts and prayers be with everyone who experienced Katrina.
