Lou_S said:
the problem here is everybody will run to their web mp3 player and smartphone when the 7.x quake hits San Francisco.
And you think there's a chance in hell that cell towers and the Net will support all those users while simultaneously trying to work around a bunch of earthquake damaged infrastructure?
The death of Whitney Houston and Etta James is all fine and good, and they will be missed, but natural disasters impact hundreds if not thousands, or even millions quite personally.
I rode through the 89 quake in the Bay Area, not more than a few miles from the epicenter, and can tell you it was nice that the stations in SF were able to provide information over the air (they were able to stay on the air).
Now, in these days, Internet only stations may be able to disseminate information too. Infrastructure may be limited at times, and localized, but I bet there will be a way to get crucial information out to the masses, if not locally, then somewhat locally. If a severe quake occurred in SF, I bet the Sacramento, San Jose and Santa Cruz/Monterey markets could fill the void information wise, if those living in the SF area would be able to access it (and I know that is an if).
Tornadoes are something different, as they are somewhat unpredictable. Still, they tend to be localized, and so information can be normally obtained through radio and otherwise on disaster response and other information, because not all stations in the area will be off the air. Glad they don't happen often in California, but know they impact a good portion of this country. Remember Joplin from this last year, along with the tornadoes in Alabama?
Funny. Several small earthquakes have hit the Bay Area in the past week too, but not near SF proper. Remember, the 89 quake was in the Santa Cruz mountains, and impacted SF and Oakland in a big way, even from 70 to 80 miles away, The City can be severely impacted from an earthquake from afar. The fact that more people live outside SF proper in the area is a note of interest too. Maybe the next quake wont impact SF proper so much, but another location in the Bay Area might be the target, not that I am predicting that or wishing that by any means.
When my wife and I rode out the quake in 89 near the epicenter, radio was an important link for information. We knew we couldn't get out of the area, at least for the night, which we found out through radio. It was our anniversary, and we were enjoying it at a cabin near Felton. That changed dramatically once the quake hit. Regardless, information from KGO, KCBS and the SC/Monterey stations was a big help.
By the way, managed to get out the next day thorough Highway 9 into Saratoga, and then up the Peninsula. House in San Mateo was fine, except for a broken sink. A bottle fell out of the Medicine Cabinet into the sink, and put a hole in it. Lol! That was it. Some damage to my business, though not much, so I am extremely grateful for that.
Finally, radio, and media in any means, is a big help in a disaster, whether it is an earthquake, tornado, huge fire (like Oakland, if you remember the Oakland hills fire from years ago) or Hurricane in the East or Gulf. We need to be prepared, even outside the impact area, to disseminate information the best we can in a disaster, so the local public has the best information possible to obtain help if needed, or important information in other means for what listeners need in any way to help them through the local issue.
