Dennis got me thinkin...

[BobAltimari]

OK, one of the weatherheads recently mused that the Jersey Shore is waaaaaaaayyy overdue for a direct hit from a hurricane. Hasn't it been since the turn of the 20th century that a tropical cyclone took dead aim for South Jersey?

I think Tom McNally could answer this best. Also, some of the staffers of Access.1, Coastal, Clear, Equity, etc. can step in here. With hurricane season upon us, it's perfect timing to discuss.

With that in mind, I am asking my brethern (and sistern) from "down-a-shore" to describe what the stations contingency plans are...

1) What would be the audio feed offered? (NBC40, Philly stations, etc.)

2) When is the decision made to switch to wall to wall coverage made, and who gives the directive (management, etc.)?

3) Behind the scenes, what would the DJ on air have to do to "batten down the hatches before getting out of dodge"?

4) What are the technical aspects for hurricane preparedness to ensure the public is still served by the stations?

5) New Jersey 101.5/97.3: If a warning is issued, would WIXM split from the simulcast or would coverage be on KXW-FM as well? (I guess the same question could be asked of The Breeze).

(And, as I am typing this, and not to pull a Julius here, but they just upgraded Dennis to Cat 4...I'm listening to a press conference off of WKRG/Pensacola)<P ID="signature">______________
FOX News Alert: YOU SUCK!!! Ya like apples?</P>

 

[tom]

> 1) What would be the audio feed offered? (NBC40, Philly
> stations, etc.)

NBC40 ? hahhahahahahhahaha

No - we'll do it ourselves !

>
> 2) When is the decision made to switch to wall to wall
> coverage made, and who gives the directive (management,
> etc.)?

At Millennium (WFPG/WPUR/WKXW-1450) it would be the
news department making the call, at the point where
it got serious

>
> 3) Behind the scenes, what would the DJ on air have to do to
> "batten down the hatches before getting out of dodge"?
>

Our studios are far enough inland that it probably isn't a
concern, but in worst case scenarios, the things you can't
rely on are power and phone lines - so an off air feed of an
inland station sent to the transmitter is best.

> 4) What are the technical aspects for hurricane preparedness
> to ensure the public is still served by the stations?
>

Nothing special - normal backups are always in place.
The real problem along the coast is towers going down
and power loss. Some stations are better equipped to
stay on - so the public may have to tune around to find
one that's still on the air. WPUR, WFPG, WIXM and WSJO
are probably the best bets in this area. Not slighting any
other stations, I just happen to know how they all work,
and those have the best backups or inland towers.


> 5) New Jersey 101.5/97.3: If a warning is issued, would WIXM
> split from the simulcast or would coverage be on KXW-FM as
> well? (I guess the same question could be asked of The
> Breeze).
>

WIXM wouldn't split from NJ 101.5, and more than likely,
the other stations would join the Millennium network feed.
WIXM does have it's own EAS system, since it's the primary
for Cumberland and Salem Counties, and the Salem/Hope Creek
Nuclear Plants ...

Keep in mind, not EVERY station up and down the coast would
provide coverage, it's up to the public to tune around a little !

 

[BobAltimari]

> > 1) What would be the audio feed offered? (NBC40, Philly
> > stations, etc.)
>
> NBC40 ? hahhahahahahhahaha
>
> No - we'll do it ourselves !

So, i would ASSUME that, at least the Millenium stations, would piggyback off of NJ101.5/97.3. Makes sense.
>
> >
> > 2) When is the decision made to switch to wall to wall
> > coverage made, and who gives the directive (management,
> > etc.)?
>
> At Millennium (WFPG/WPUR/WKXW-1450) it would be the
> news department making the call, at the point where
> it got serious

I guess I was always under the impression that a station in the affected area would flip the switch once a warning came down the pike.

> >
> > 3) Behind the scenes, what would the DJ on air have to do
> to
> > "batten down the hatches before getting out of dodge"?
> >
>
> Our studios are far enough inland that it probably isn't a
> concern, but in worst case scenarios, the things you can't
> rely on are power and phone lines - so an off air feed of an
>
> inland station sent to the transmitter is best.
>
> > 4) What are the technical aspects for hurricane
> preparedness
> > to ensure the public is still served by the stations?
> >
>
> Nothing special - normal backups are always in place.
> The real problem along the coast is towers going down
> and power loss. Some stations are better equipped to
> stay on - so the public may have to tune around to find
> one that's still on the air. WPUR, WFPG, WIXM and WSJO
> are probably the best bets in this area. Not slighting any
> other stations, I just happen to know how they all work,
> and those have the best backups or inland towers.
>
Good point. One station that comes to mind immediately is WCZT's stick on the bay. I would figure that they would probably buy the farm first, no?

> > 5) New Jersey 101.5/97.3: If a warning is issued, would
> WIXM
> > split from the simulcast or would coverage be on KXW-FM as
>
> > well? (I guess the same question could be asked of The
> > Breeze).
> >
>
> WIXM wouldn't split from NJ 101.5, and more than likely,
> the other stations would join the Millennium network feed.
> WIXM does have it's own EAS system, since it's the primary
> for Cumberland and Salem Counties, and the Salem/Hope Creek
> Nuclear Plants ...
>
> Keep in mind, not EVERY station up and down the coast would
>
> provide coverage, it's up to the public to tune around a
> little !
>
Again, makes sense since the hurricane is farther reaching than just the center/eye.

One observation...I am listening to the feed of WKRG out of Mobile/Pensacola. I tried to dial into WPMI Radio's feed (courtesy of stormalert.net). When you get the Media Player up and running....it's a feed from country sister WKSJ. BTW they are in regular programming!!! You'd think, with a MAJOR hurricane on the doorstep a mere 16 or so hours from landfall, they'd go to their media partner (In this case NBC15, WPMI-TV). <P ID="signature">______________
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[pab]

> OK, one of the weatherheads recently mused that the Jersey
> Shore is waaaaaaaayyy overdue for a direct hit from a
> hurricane. Hasn't it been since the turn of the 20th century
> that a tropical cyclone took dead aim for South Jersey?

You're kidding, right? Floyd skirted us in 1999, but Gloria, David, Frederick, and at least one other I can't think of right now hit us dead on, all in the last 25 years!

We've had MANY hurricanes since the turn of the 20th Century.

<P ID="signature">______________
The Pab Sungenis Project - http://www.lowbudgetradio.com</P>

 

[myke]

> One observation...I am listening to the feed of WKRG out of
> Mobile/Pensacola. I tried to dial into WPMI Radio's feed
> (courtesy of stormalert.net). When you get the Media Player
> up and running....it's a feed from country sister WKSJ. BTW
> they are in regular programming!!! You'd think, with a MAJOR
> hurricane on the doorstep a mere 16 or so hours from
> landfall, they'd go to their media partner (In this case
> NBC15, WPMI-TV).
>

I was bored over the weekend at home and work, so I went to wkrg.com's website and watched on WMP the whole broadcast. It was amazing to see all of the damage down there, but also, that they kept a solid stream going, with the occasional buffering issues. I was trying to dial into WPMI as well, and even when the storm was in Key West, the US1 station provided very little coverage as if they weren't even worried. I think we're extremely overdue for a serious hurricane. However, NJ is in a position where we won't directly take a head on hit. Long Island is more favorable for it. Floyd was a drencher, Gloria was weak. Bob brushed us a bit. If the climate continues to become as intense as it is, we might just very well in the next few years, have water temps near 80 and get slammed all the time. It's due. Just a matter of time. As far as radio stations and their towers, t1's, stl's, etc., We know WJLK would go out. They seem to go off the air for everything. If it's sunny outside, they'll find a reason to be knocked off the air. I think most of the stations along the coast would fare well due to the fact that modern technology and good tower designs might withstand the power outage/winds/lightning. I remember that really big thunderstorm in August 2002 when WHTG G-106.3 was broadcasting from under their transmitter at the Hope Rd. bldg. Their former studio on Rt 66 was without power for days I believe. So, if all else fails, then just do what they did.

 

[BobAltimari]

> > OK, one of the weatherheads recently mused that the Jersey
>
> > Shore is waaaaaaaayyy overdue for a direct hit from a
> > hurricane. Hasn't it been since the turn of the 20th
> century
> > that a tropical cyclone took dead aim for South Jersey?
>
> You're kidding, right? Floyd skirted us in 1999, but
> Gloria, David, Frederick, and at least one other I can't
> think of right now hit us dead on, all in the last 25 years!
>
>
> We've had MANY hurricanes since the turn of the 20th
> Century.
>

I found a website, which I since lost in a crash, that stated the last time South Jersey took a DIRECT HIT was back in the 20's. The ones you mentioned were all skirts. Especially Gloria, since that was 1986 and I was just starting my senior year of high school.....after a teacher's strike.<P ID="signature">______________
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