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Panama City Beach hurricane Michael
- Thread starter Poledo
- Start date
Can't say I'm surprised if major towers were damaged with a nearly Cat5 hurricane. Although I don't recall reading about other hurricanes damaging TV towers in all the years I've followed the radio & TV trades.
Greetings after this horrific day along the world's most beautiful beaches. I am in Nashville, so forgive me for some misinformation, but here is what I know:
Most of the radio stations on towers east of the Hathaway Bridge are or were off the air. Charlie reported that the red & white tower by the studios came down and is a twisted mess. Pics are online of that. But, in true CCENG style-WPAP and WFSY are back on the air with constant hurricane updates, within the last few hours. Word is all the Magic and Powell stations are off the air and I read that the Powell studio-side tower is bent over, but the antenna equipment is ok, just can't get the signals out. I would think most of those towers up that way are in trouble.
No word from Beach Radio 95.1 on their Facebook page since they announced the Hathaway Bridge was closing about noon on Wednesday. I have also not heard anything about 104.3, but the tower would have been in direct line of the winds. They have indeed posted a few hurricane-related posts on FB this evening.
I have not heard back from Mark Carter at WSBZ (near 98 at 30A) since last night, but most of the stations to the west of Panama City (including PCB, west towards Laguna Beach and all the way back to Destin/FWB probably received little actual damage, but maybe some power issues.) I think that may be a good thing for WBPC, as I "think" their tower is just north of Front Beach Road on PCB and right on the line of possible damage. That may be more of an electricity issue.
Mostly, as some may wonder about Charlie. He is okay and doing his usual magic. He cannot get away from the iHeart studios because of all the debris, trees, power lines, etc., but prayers to him and all along the Panhandle. He has yet to hear from his wife, which I hope everyone who knows and loves will share words of encouragement that all is okay with her at their house in Lynn Haven. If there ever were two more strong people. Power lines and Verizon cell and most cable services are all out in that area and the photos that I have seen are indeed beyond words, but if you are reading this Charlie, the chances of any power or cell service up that way is minimal at best, but you know more in that building than I do looking at all the online info.
Most of the radio stations on towers east of the Hathaway Bridge are or were off the air. Charlie reported that the red & white tower by the studios came down and is a twisted mess. Pics are online of that. But, in true CCENG style-WPAP and WFSY are back on the air with constant hurricane updates, within the last few hours. Word is all the Magic and Powell stations are off the air and I read that the Powell studio-side tower is bent over, but the antenna equipment is ok, just can't get the signals out. I would think most of those towers up that way are in trouble.
No word from Beach Radio 95.1 on their Facebook page since they announced the Hathaway Bridge was closing about noon on Wednesday. I have also not heard anything about 104.3, but the tower would have been in direct line of the winds. They have indeed posted a few hurricane-related posts on FB this evening.
I have not heard back from Mark Carter at WSBZ (near 98 at 30A) since last night, but most of the stations to the west of Panama City (including PCB, west towards Laguna Beach and all the way back to Destin/FWB probably received little actual damage, but maybe some power issues.) I think that may be a good thing for WBPC, as I "think" their tower is just north of Front Beach Road on PCB and right on the line of possible damage. That may be more of an electricity issue.
Mostly, as some may wonder about Charlie. He is okay and doing his usual magic. He cannot get away from the iHeart studios because of all the debris, trees, power lines, etc., but prayers to him and all along the Panhandle. He has yet to hear from his wife, which I hope everyone who knows and loves will share words of encouragement that all is okay with her at their house in Lynn Haven. If there ever were two more strong people. Power lines and Verizon cell and most cable services are all out in that area and the photos that I have seen are indeed beyond words, but if you are reading this Charlie, the chances of any power or cell service up that way is minimal at best, but you know more in that building than I do looking at all the online info.
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WMBB was simulcasting on 90.7 in Panama City, then it was knocked off the air for several hours. This was when 92.5 and 98.5 were off, so basically nothing local was operating. I was getting stream audio from the Religious station on 102.7 (WPHK) around 10:30am PT. All of the iHeart coverage has been from Tallahassee this afternoon/evening, not a surprise as everything is out in PC and PCB. You've all seen the Mexico Beach pictures already. Truly historic devastation there. It will take months to even START the rebuilding process there. Tyndall AFB damage is extensive.
Up in Dothan, the 93.1 had dead air on the webstream, and 105.3 was simulcasting local TV (either 4 or 18).
Up in Dothan, the 93.1 had dead air on the webstream, and 105.3 was simulcasting local TV (either 4 or 18).
The three 1000 foot towers on Cerro La Santa in PR came down during Maria. Those held antennas for WAPA TV, WKAQ TV and WIPR TV and FM. The smaller FM towers up there also came down or were damaged. Most of the TV and FM on Cerro Maravilla went down, as did many on Monte del Estado in Mayagüez. Those are the main TV sites for the whole Island.
Some of the FMs at Aguas Buenas overlooking San Juan and El Cubuy above Carolina were damaged or destroyed. A large number of AM antennas all over the Island fell. Some are still off the air a year later.
In Miami’s Hugo, the Channel 6 1800-footer at Redlands (south of Miami) footer went horizontal, also bringing down several FM stations on the stick. .
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While I'm saddened by the destruction around Panama City (I used to be in charge of WTNT in Talllahassee and know the area), I do have to say that "world's most beautiful beaches" is extreme hyperbole. They are nice beaches, quite pleasant and all that. But they are a bit removed from being world class... based on my experiences during three decades living in the Caribbean and having visited some of the amazing Brazilian beaches, Isla San Andrés in Colombia and and a number of Mediterranean beaches, too.
One of the "tall towers" in Baldwin County fell during Ivan. It held several TV and FM stations. I believe it was just under 1,900 feet tall. Or 1,900 feet HAAT.
My thoughts are certainly with everyone affected by the storm in the panhandle, as well as all the hardworking radio & TV personnel whose lives are being upended for the next several months.
Kick 'em when they're down, huh? What a poorly timed comment. I would have expected better.
G
7 and 13 are still off the air in Panama City. 98.5 WFSY has local coverage with DJ Big Boi from 99.3 The Beat, and someone else. Apparently 90.7 is on the air with some WMBB staffers doing coverage of the destruction. Stream does NOT work. Two deaths already from the storm. I hate to say it, but I'm afraid there will be more deaths. A lot more deaths, probably. Look at how many elderly people stayed behind in PCB, Mexico Beach, Callaway... :-(
From my perspective, there is no reason to make this area into something it never was just to enhance the feeling of loss. It's far better to consider how to rebuild in a better fashion for the future.
Sorry, did mean Andrew. Hugo was the largest one I have personally been through, so it tends to pop to mind. ... where the wind measurement devices at Roosevelt Roads, just "down the street" from me, broke after a 200 MPH gust.
And Hugo knocked nearly every station in eastern PR off the air, some for as much as a week. That should have been seen as a warning of how decrepit and ill-maintained our infrastructure was way back then and how vulnerable to an even larger storm the whole Island was; the damage from Maria was just further evidence of the poor infrastructure administration going back to the 70's. .
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What short wave broadcaster is equipped to do spot news from the US Gulf Coast? What short wave broadcaster even has antennas aimed at the continental US any more?
This is an interesting point, though. First, there are nearly no SW radios left in our hemisphere, and then there are so few SW stations left that there is not much to hear. Voice of America and other US SW stations are prohibited from intentionally serving the USA, but I guess an exception could be granted... but then we are back to the issue of "no radios".
Listening over the air from Pensacola.
Charlie has 92.5 WPAP running strong. Even the RDS works. WPAP is IDing all the PCB iHeart FMs, but the others must be on low power or backup antennas.
No hint of other radio stations located east of Walton county.
WDIZ 590 is off the air. This is the first hurricane I've experienced where AM Radio is obsolete.
Charlie has 92.5 WPAP running strong. Even the RDS works. WPAP is IDing all the PCB iHeart FMs, but the others must be on low power or backup antennas.
No hint of other radio stations located east of Walton county.
WDIZ 590 is off the air. This is the first hurricane I've experienced where AM Radio is obsolete.
Which Panama City radio or TV station was equipped to stay on through this hurricane? Last I saw, they all went off the air, or shifted programming to Tallahassee or Dothan when it got too bad.
Also, several stations still target the US, and there's no prohibition anymore on US-based broadcasters catering to American audiences. I don't think that rule has been in effect for years and years. WHRI, WBCQ and WRMI all spring to mind as stations carrying US-targeted programming.
You're right, though, that there's not enough audience for commercial shortwave broadcasting to do emergency coverage, but there is still an audience. One that actually seems to be growing thanks to the proliferation of software defined radios. WRMI could have easily spared the capacity to carry TV audio or something if they were so inclined. But Panama City is more or less in their skip zone — WRMI uses the old Family Radio facility near Lake Okeechobee — so it's a non-starter.
NBC 15 in Mobile did a story on local hams going to help out with communications issues in PC.
You asked "What short wave broadcaster is equipped to do spot news from the US Gulf Coast? What short wave broadcaster even has antennas aimed at the continental US any more?"
World Harvest Radio (WHRI et al.) had a simulcast of Katrina coverage that came from the United Broadcasters of New Orleans (870-WWL and whoever else could still put out a signal) for several days after Katrina passed through.
World Harvest Radio (WHRI et al.) had a simulcast of Katrina coverage that came from the United Broadcasters of New Orleans (870-WWL and whoever else could still put out a signal) for several days after Katrina passed through.
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