Emergency weather procedures

[statichead]

I was listening to Joe Kleon on WRQK last night. (Thank God they finally found a pro to take over that slot, after going through several less than professional, sub-par, "broadcasters" in the last few years. All they need now is someone decent for overnights.)

A tornado warning was issued and WRQK cut to a repeated loop of Kleon reading the National Weather Service Tornado Warning and telling people to seek shelter immediately. They did this for almost an hour, until the warning ended. They must have played this loop hundreds of times. I have never heard a station do this. Is this proper procedure? If not, what is proper procedure during a tornado warning?

By the way, if you haven't caught Joe's all local music show on Sunday night, it is worth a listen. It begins at 10pm and plays until midnight. It is about time a station in the Akron/Canton area supports local original rock music! I used to listen to Joe on WNCX and am glad he is back on radio full time. I have spoken to him many times over the years and he is a class act.

 

[techie]

> A tornado warning was issued and WRQK cut to a repeated loop
> of Kleon reading the National Weather Service Tornado
> Warning and telling people to seek shelter immediately.
> They did this for almost an hour, until the warning ended.
> They must have played this loop hundreds of times. I have
> never heard a station do this. Is this proper procedure?
> If not, what is proper procedure during a tornado warning?
>

I once worked weekends at a small AM (news/talk/sports format) that did the same thing if a tornado warning was issued in their home county. The board ops were told to put on the tornado warning loop and take shelter in the basement of the building if necessary.

 

[dab1100]

>
> I once worked weekends at a small AM (news/talk/sports
> format) that did the same thing if a tornado warning was
> issued in their home county. The board ops were told to put
> on the tornado warning loop and take shelter in the basement
> of the building if necessary.
>
If it were coming at me, sure sounds like a plan.... especially if the studios might be in the vicinity of towers that could potentially fall.

 

[network]

> A tornado warning was issued and WRQK cut to a repeated loop
> of Kleon reading the National Weather Service Tornado
> Warning and telling people to seek shelter immediately.
> They did this for almost an hour, until the warning ended.
> They must have played this loop hundreds of times. I have
> never heard a station do this. Is this proper procedure?
> If not, what is proper procedure during a tornado warning?

Procedure usually varies per station. And if the station is automated, dont' expect anything more than the EAS activated announcements.

Kudos to WRQK for doing a public service and keeping their audience informed of the tornado warning. Too bad other stations that are live and local in the area there aren't that attentive. Some of those storms were moving extremely fast yesterday evening/night. Plus, given their coverage area and the fact that that area over the past couple of years has been prone to some pretty serious flooding and related weather damage, this was a smart move.

 

[gr8oldies]

"I'm looking at it right outside the studio window, oh, it just took out that barn!"<P ID="signature">______________
Soon to set the world record for recieving Nigerian scam and phising e-mails!</P>

 

[dab1100]

> "I'm looking at it right outside the studio window, oh, it
> just took out that barn!"
>
"The godless tornadoes have just invaded Cincinnati..." (Les Nessman(