WGY (Schenectady/Albany NY) is the same as WBZ -- basically. If there is a small-scale closing (that is, one or two schools), they announce the closing (e.g. "Germantown Central Schools are closed due to a heat problem"), but if it's a storm, the referral is to the website. Was that way at least last year.
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No more school closings?
- Thread starter ssetta
- Start date
A
ArtSpooner
Guest
Could LaPierre have been talking about his original hometown, which I believe was Shelburn Falls, a tiny town in the western part of the state?thirdendorsed said:
Giving up school closing announcements is a very decided choice to become increasingly irrelevant.
Just don't ask later where the listeners went if you've been teaching them to go elsewhere.
There are many instances where people who drive their kids to school listen in the car, and find out halfway to school
that school is called off. Lots of them don't have web enabled cars or live in areas where there is cellular coverage
sufficient to be checking websites while they drive.
In fact, people who are driving in heavy snow or blizzard conditions should not be also trying to navigate web based apps!
It would be the same if a restaurant stopped having beverages available.
"Oh, we don't do drinks anymore. You can get them at the Circle K quick mart two blocks over."
" It's OK for you to go over and get them while you're waiting for your food. "
"It wasn't worth our time to serve drinks anymore. Our core competency is food."
How long do you suppose people would keep coming back?
Just don't ask later where the listeners went if you've been teaching them to go elsewhere.
There are many instances where people who drive their kids to school listen in the car, and find out halfway to school
that school is called off. Lots of them don't have web enabled cars or live in areas where there is cellular coverage
sufficient to be checking websites while they drive.
In fact, people who are driving in heavy snow or blizzard conditions should not be also trying to navigate web based apps!
It would be the same if a restaurant stopped having beverages available.
"Oh, we don't do drinks anymore. You can get them at the Circle K quick mart two blocks over."
" It's OK for you to go over and get them while you're waiting for your food. "
"It wasn't worth our time to serve drinks anymore. Our core competency is food."
How long do you suppose people would keep coming back?
Tom Wells said:
How many people live far enough away from their schools that they're already on their way when school is called off? Typically, the last minute decisions to close are still made by 6-6:30AM for schools that open by 8. Regional schools where people are coming from multiple towns would make the call even sooner just for those long commuters. Even if they're not sure they'll close a school, they'll at least make the call to delay the opening before anyone should reasonably be out the door and on their way in.
I can't envision anyone being "on their way" before they hear word unless they simply didn't bother to check (be it listening to the radio, watching TV, or checking a website) before they left the house. Only scenario in which that makes sense is if it isn't a weather-related closing, but an emergency (water main break, no power, gas leak, whatever). And in those cases, radio stations aren't going to refer people to a website, they'll make the announcement on air.
My simple solution to school closings is to tune in to the educational access channel
A slide saying NO SCHOOL is usually up when there is none
A slide saying NO SCHOOL is usually up when there is none
Slightly off-topic but still relevant...
We have for some reason succumbed to the fallacy the Internet and cell systems are "robust". As was found during Katrina, and recently with Sandy, the first communication systems to go off-line due to complexity and many potential points of failure, after power outages are the Internet followed quickly by cell sites. The only reasonably reliable information delivery system is AM/FM radio.
Most AM/FM stations have main and backup transmission facilities, along with backup power including generators for both transmission sites and studios. Also by the fact of shear numbers of outlets AM/FM radio has the ability to get the information out even under the most adverse conditions.
A fine example was WWL New Orleans during Katrina and the emergency network created by the broadcasters in that area who pooled resources, news gathering and in some cases transmission and studio facilities.
The NYC stations, the News players like WCBS, and 1010 WINS have multiple backups plus the ability to shuffle programming to FM facilities when the WINS transmitter site became disabled all the while still providing timely relevant and life saving information through out the region.
This was while the server farms for many websites were under many feet of water off line. Server Not Found/Problem loading Page was a frequent screen display from many websites during that time. Yet radio was there doing what it does best, providing information to many hundreds of thousands of worried ears listening at best by candle light.
While I understand the need for driving listeners to a station webpage for page views and information, I find it extremely ironic when stations in areas of major power outages or in disaster situations say "for more information see our website". I am a firm believer if the information is worth mentioning on the air, it is worth reporting in detail and then followed with a redirect to the station website. The web is the supplemental, not the primary delivery system for time sensitive or disaster information IMHO...
We have for some reason succumbed to the fallacy the Internet and cell systems are "robust". As was found during Katrina, and recently with Sandy, the first communication systems to go off-line due to complexity and many potential points of failure, after power outages are the Internet followed quickly by cell sites. The only reasonably reliable information delivery system is AM/FM radio.
Most AM/FM stations have main and backup transmission facilities, along with backup power including generators for both transmission sites and studios. Also by the fact of shear numbers of outlets AM/FM radio has the ability to get the information out even under the most adverse conditions.
A fine example was WWL New Orleans during Katrina and the emergency network created by the broadcasters in that area who pooled resources, news gathering and in some cases transmission and studio facilities.
The NYC stations, the News players like WCBS, and 1010 WINS have multiple backups plus the ability to shuffle programming to FM facilities when the WINS transmitter site became disabled all the while still providing timely relevant and life saving information through out the region.
This was while the server farms for many websites were under many feet of water off line. Server Not Found/Problem loading Page was a frequent screen display from many websites during that time. Yet radio was there doing what it does best, providing information to many hundreds of thousands of worried ears listening at best by candle light.
While I understand the need for driving listeners to a station webpage for page views and information, I find it extremely ironic when stations in areas of major power outages or in disaster situations say "for more information see our website". I am a firm believer if the information is worth mentioning on the air, it is worth reporting in detail and then followed with a redirect to the station website. The web is the supplemental, not the primary delivery system for time sensitive or disaster information IMHO...
During a disaster? Yeah. During 6 inches of snow? I dunno. If you already know that there's no school, listening to 5 minutes of cancellations is a PPM killer. I hear a lot of stations now run through them, but not overkill. Run 'em once, move the rest to the website. That's where most people today are going to find them anyways.
reelyreal said:
Of course 6 inches of snow in Dallas is a DISASTER ;D
I agree that a one-shot delivery of school closings is enough with a re-direct but re-directing without a one-off read makes little sense to me. Why would I even need to turn the radio on if the info is only on the website?
WLYNgm said:
Off topic, but God, I hate fire whistles. I had a traumatic experience as a small child with sensitive hearing with one blasting on a pole outside my great-aunt's window for several minutes. It was enough to send me into fits for the rest of my childhood whenever I heard one. In this age of mobile phones, beepers, and texting, there is no need for these ugly things.
I also remember Civil Defense sirens being tested, like, once a week, when
I was in elementary school. Bring back Conelrad! ;D ;D
I was in elementary school. Bring back Conelrad! ;D ;D
Back when I was a lowly "producer" at BZ radio. I worked a few nights when I had to take no school calls from School Superintendents. I remember we had a list and the Super had to give us a code to prove they were who they said they were. I remember getting a call from Linda from Linda's Little Day Care. I said I didn't have her on my list and asked if she had a code. She had no idea what I was talking about. I asked her how many students she had a Linda's Little Day Care. She said 4. I said wouldn't it be easier to make four phone calls . She said yes but thought it would be fun for her students to hear their school on the radio.
I always enjoyed Garry announcing No School at Blackstone Millville Regional Vocational Technical High School or Humpty Dumpty Day Care
I always enjoyed Garry announcing No School at Blackstone Millville Regional Vocational Technical High School or Humpty Dumpty Day Care
vmorrison said:
My mom had to call in snow closings for Temple Emanu-el Hebrew school in Marblehead. Her codename was "Snowflake."
hahaha....Conelrad would be an improvement for some stations 
Does anyone remember the big nationwide test of Conelrad in the late 50's/early 60's. I remember telling my parents "no no, WBZ is not on...you have to tune to one of those little triangles on 640 and 1240". How did Conelrad actually work? Were there low power transmitters on 640 and 1240 around the country? or were there a few highly powered transmitters? I understand that during an alert, the programming would switch between transmitters to prevent enemy bombers from homing on the signals.
Does anyone remember the big nationwide test of Conelrad in the late 50's/early 60's. I remember telling my parents "no no, WBZ is not on...you have to tune to one of those little triangles on 640 and 1240". How did Conelrad actually work? Were there low power transmitters on 640 and 1240 around the country? or were there a few highly powered transmitters? I understand that during an alert, the programming would switch between transmitters to prevent enemy bombers from homing on the signals.
Conelrad consisted of high-power regional stations, on specific frequencies,
that would be the only ones on the air, during a declared emergency. This
was during the days of the "Cold War" era. Check it out on the internet.
Interesting reading!
that would be the only ones on the air, during a declared emergency. This
was during the days of the "Cold War" era. Check it out on the internet.
Interesting reading!
http://autouniversum.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/forgotten-american-cold-war-artifact-conelrad/
has pic of radio with triangles where the Conelrad/emerg info freqs were
>>In the event of imminent thermonuclear attack, simply set the dial to one of the white triangles and stand by for further instructions....During the CONELRAD operational period, all radios sold in the U.S. were required to display the triangular Civil Defense symbol at the AM 640 and AM 1240 positions on the tuning dialThe successful development of atomic warhead delivery via ballistic missiles rendered CONELRAD obsolete and it was superseded by the Emergency Broadcast System in August of 1963.
another pic: http://autouniversum.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/picture-86-e1318539295908.jpg?w=584
I would guess stations already on 640 or 1240 would turn off to allow the emerg signl to be heard
has pic of radio with triangles where the Conelrad/emerg info freqs were
>>In the event of imminent thermonuclear attack, simply set the dial to one of the white triangles and stand by for further instructions....During the CONELRAD operational period, all radios sold in the U.S. were required to display the triangular Civil Defense symbol at the AM 640 and AM 1240 positions on the tuning dialThe successful development of atomic warhead delivery via ballistic missiles rendered CONELRAD obsolete and it was superseded by the Emergency Broadcast System in August of 1963.
another pic: http://autouniversum.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/picture-86-e1318539295908.jpg?w=584
I would guess stations already on 640 or 1240 would turn off to allow the emerg signl to be heard
M
MickeyD
Guest
I used to watch Morning Almanac with Jack Chase and Don Kent for school closings. Jack was intense. "NO SCHOOL, ALL SCHOOLS, ALL DAY IN THE FOLLOWING TOWNS".
When that was done they would have Chris something with the pans bang one together and destroy it. Don't remember what the company he worked for.
When that was done they would have Chris something with the pans bang one together and destroy it. Don't remember what the company he worked for.
MickeyD said:
Saladmaster?
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