Iowa Iowa Tornado Coverage

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fatal-storms-pummel-iowa-reducing-parts-one-town-rubble-2024-05-22/

Tornado devastates Iowa town, killing multiple people as powerful storms rip through Midwest

Multiple people have died and at least a dozen were injured since a powerful tornado tore through a small Iowa town, carving a bleak landscape of destroyed homes and businesses, shredded trees, smashed cars, and widely strewn debris.

apnews.com

How's the local news outlets doing like radio and TV. So far this is a preliminary report that is going nationwide via AP and Reuters.

GREENFIELD, Iowa (AP) — Multiple people died Tuesday and at least a dozen were injured when a powerful tornado tore through a small Iowa town, carving a bleak landscape of destroyed homes and businesses, shredded trees, smashed cars, and widely strewn debris.

The tornado destroyed much of Greenfield, a town of about 2,000 around 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) southwest of Des Moines, during a day that saw multiple tornadoes, giant hail and heavy rain in several states.

“We do have confirmed fatalities,” Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Alex Dinkla said at a news conference Tuesday night. He said authorities were still determining the total number but thought they had accounted for all of the town’s residents.

 

[radiofan2023]

WHO in Des Moines and KCJJ in Iowa City had live storm coverage that was really good.

 

[radiorobert]

Seems like, from what little I can tell, WHO radio and WHO TV had the better coverage. KCCI seemed to drop the ball, especially with Greenfield. It was more general coverage about 'rotation'. In the old days MacLaughlin and Gurtz would have been hollering for everyone to get underground as it approached town. They knew how to zoom in on the 'bad one' and focus on the threat. In this case I was watching a YouTube stream that was calling out the debris ball and watching it head straight for town. The YouTube channel has chasers all over giving live video and reports.

I can't speak for WOI-TV. They were on doing coverage but I didnt get a chance to peek.

Interestingly, many more now watch youtube streamers who do an excellent job. Including my parents in their late 60's.

 

[crainbebo]

I can't see this tornado being rated EF3...I've seen pictures of homes reduced to slabs and anchor bolts bent. EF4, maybe even EF5, guaranteed.
RIP to all the victims and condolences to everyone who lost everything. What a disaster.

4 dead, 35+ injured says Gov. Kim Reynolds.
I saw some wind reports saying 200-215 mph winds just a few hundred feet above the disaster area. per AmericanWX forums and several X posts. It does look like downtown may have just escaped it, but it sliced through a good part of the city.

Closest FM to Greenfield is KSIB 101.3 in Creston.

 

[radiofan2023]

Seems like, from what little I can tell, WHO radio and WHO TV had the better coverage. KCCI seemed to drop the ball, especially with Greenfield. It was more general coverage about 'rotation'. In the old days MacLaughlin and Gurtz would have been hollering for everyone to get underground as it approached town. They knew how to zoom in on the 'bad one' and focus on the threat. In this case I was watching a YouTube stream that was calling out the debris ball and watching it head straight for town. The YouTube channel has chasers all over giving live video and reports.

I can't speak for WOI-TV. They were on doing coverage but I didnt get a chance to peek.

Interestingly, many more now watch youtube streamers who do an excellent job. Including my parents in their late 60's.

I like watching Vince Waelti's stormchasing Youtube livestreams. He was in Greenfield when the tornado hit and was helping people out afterwards.

 

[gr8oldies]

Seems like, from what little I can tell, WHO radio and WHO TV had the better coverage. KCCI seemed to drop the ball, especially with Greenfield. It was more general coverage about 'rotation'. In the old days MacLaughlin and Gurtz would have been hollering for everyone to get underground as it approached town. They knew how to zoom in on the 'bad one' and focus on the threat. In this case I was watching a YouTube stream that was calling out the debris ball and watching it head straight for town. The YouTube channel has chasers all over giving live video and reports.

I can't speak for WOI-TV. They were on doing coverage but I didnt get a chance to peek.

Interestingly, many more now watch youtube streamers who do an excellent job. Including my parents in their late 60's.

I have a friend who helps moderate Reed Timmer's channel

 

[radiorobert]

I recently found Ryan Hall Yall's channel. Well done.

 

[grich]

I can't see this tornado being rated EF3...I've seen pictures of homes reduced to slabs and anchor bolts bent. EF4, maybe even EF5, guaranteed...
...Closest FM to Greenfield is KSIB 101.3 in Creston.

And KSIB was on the air with coverage...their PD told me this is the second time this year they have viewed tornadoes from the studio. They have generators and a safe room they can broadcast from if needed.

The Greenfield storm was upgraded to EF4 yesterday...no surprise there.

 

[kwthom]

<...>
Interestingly, many more now watch youtube streamers who do an excellent job. Including my parents in their late 60's.

I recently found Ryan Hall Yall's channel. Well done.

Another Youtuber is 'Max Velocity'

I can see why - seems like these YT forecasters (yes, some meteorologists out there as well - like Reed Timmer, Ph.D.) will get hyperlocal for those that are wanting the information *before* the strike.

 

[crainbebo]

And KSIB was on the air with coverage...their PD told me this is the second time this year they have viewed tornadoes from the studio. They have generators and a safe room they can broadcast from if needed.

The Greenfield storm was upgraded to EF4 yesterday...no surprise there.

Local radio doing what local radio does best. Not just cueing the EAS alert and going right back to a pre-picked playlist and a voicetracked 'personality' but actually TELLING the public to get to their shelters, and warning them what time the tornado will pass through X town and Y city, as it happens.

Some markets are lacking this.