Portland Radio's response to tornado warning

[Nova931]

So last night a series of powerful storms ripped through southern Maine, possibly even touching down a tornado in a few places. All three TV stations (WGME, WCSH, WMTW) went wall to wall coverage until the tornado warning expired at 8:00 PM. So did anyone hear any coverage on local radio? I took a spin down the dial several times during the height of the storm and heard nothing but business as usual, even on news-talk 560 WGAN, who claims to offer "Breaking News, Immediately". If no local radio stations were offering any storm coverage, how is someone who loses power suppose to get any information? I remember hearing the advice that during a tornado warning you're suppose to go in the basement with a battery operated radio.

 

[Andy Taylor]

I was at work and tried all the stations and just what I expected
,absoloutly nothing."Breaking News, Immediately" is just one of those slogans all the SAGA stations in Portland drive down your throat.If you say it enough I think most listeners believe it.

 

[Underminer]

Personnel shake-at PRG soon. Take it to the bank.

 

[samw54]

Yes, it does seem that many commercial radio stations would rather keep the music playing for their listeners rather than interrupting it with a serious and possibly life saving weather warning. HOwever, having said that, I did observe that My Place on VPR was interrupted last Saturday night for a severe thunderstorm warning issued by the National Weather Service Office in Burlington for several eastern New York counties that were definitely within the coverage area of WVPS.
I guess most radio stations feel that people are just in the habit of going to their TVs for any breaking news, rather than relying on local radio stations any more which is a real shame, because that's certainly not how radio used to be. I remember when radio station's news departments prided themselves on being there, live and local wherever there was an inportant story, even with something that really seems to be a thing of the past now, the station's mobile unit.

Anyway, what people should obviously have available to them if the power goes out, is a battery operated NOAA Weather Radio.

 

[Chuckigo]

On behalf of Jeff Wade, Rick Johnson & Jenn Gondek: there was coverage on ALL of the Saga stations. except for that period where a lightning strike took 3 of the stations off the air, so Rick Johnson (who stayed WELL PAST his scheduled time) worked to get those 3 stations back on the air while Jeff & Jenn kept the updates timely on the other stations.

Underminder: hopin' you're really, really wrong, dude.

 

[MassMusicMan]

It's a simple case of getting what you pay for. Nobody wants to work after 5 PM. Therefore, no update.

 

[Biff Barfington]

Hey, Nova, you're probably way too young to have experienced it, but here's an interesting bit of ancient history. During the Big Blackout of 1967, when the entire Northeast lost power for several hours, we got ours back earlier than most. One of the Boston TV stations was live from the newsroom. Their ace reporters were doling out advice to viewers on what they should do UNTIL THEY GOT THEIR POWER BACK! Thank God the intrepid reporters of today have evolved since then. I understand many of them now have opposable thumbs.

 

[OldPort]

Frank was playing the usual tunes but Mr Erickson offered weather updates through his entire show... actually mentioned names of relevant towns in some of the warnings... and automated Emergency Alert break ins occurred as well. Our viking pal is usually pretty good about weather updates judging over a few years of listening to him. Tried tuning to 870 for WCSH coverage but was knocked off the air for a bit.

Cheers,
OldPort Wino

 

[newsbot]

Television has almost entirely supplanted radio for breaking news coverage of this nature. Honestly, folks, after you've seen Charlie Lopresti and Doppler HD there's no turning back to TV without pictures. Only if the power goes out (or the cable goes out) would anyone in their right mind give radio a second thought.

 

[kc1ih]

Yea, everyone is just sitting at home glued to the TV anytime there are even clouds in the sky. Nobody needs this information if they are in their cars, right?

 

[Andy Taylor]

I was listening to 970 that night and they were running weather reports from 560.Also spinning the dial while at work,I started listening to Loveline on 1490 and someone who works with me said it was the same show as last night.Adam Carrola was the guest.This was on the 20th & 21st.This doesn't seem that complicated.Someone needs to care!

 

[ajaynejr]

Are the "news wires" today easy to scan and get a relevant story printed to take back to the studio to read? Many stations have just one person on duty, manning the phones (talk) or CD players (music). Or maybe no one on duty because it is automated. Way back when, the "news wire" was a teletypewriter that spewed out (slowly) reams and reams (that was exaggerating but at least foot after foot) of paper and the jock could quickly riffle through that between tunes and rip off a piece to read.

Or were actual warnings and notifications put on the radio in timely fashion? Not breaking into the programming just to air the results of the storm such as a tree on a roof or a car off in a swollen stream.

Yes I have had the TV on for hours during an "emergency" and they repeat the same clips a lot.

 

[CatCall]

Anyway, what people should obviously have available to them if the power goes out, is a battery operated NOAA Weather Radio.

Do those give local emergency info like shelter locations?