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Weather Alerts

Y

ynot2k

I didn't want to re-activate an older thread on this topic that devolved into a name-calling pi**ing match, so I just thought I'd mention that when the tornado warning went out this morning around 8:15, WFLA and all of the Clear Channel FMs except WFLZ broadcast the EAS announcement in its entirety and then rejoined programming already in progress. I don't know about WDAE or WHNZ but I'm pretty sure WHNZ is unmanned at that time of the morning and ran it as well.
Interesting because I've heard it before on WFLA but never on the FMs as well.
 
Yesterday there was a tornado watch around 3:30 and Q105 gave a lot of details with JoJo Kincaid crowing that they were the live and local station. That would be great if that designation didn't end at 7PM
 
WFLZ aired tornado warnings between almost every song for a while yesterday afternoon. I believe it was Tommy Chuck (the PD) who broke in to the syndicated Seacrest show with live updates.
 
I've heard this repeatedly over the past few months: they allow the entire EAS message to seize air, complete with fax-connecting noises and mechanical voice.
This used to be a giant No-No, because:

1. It takes longer for the automated alert to take air than if a human broke into programming (if necessary)
2. The automated alerts are sometimes hard to understand, incomplete, or may contain information irrelevant to the listeners
3. It makes the station sound totally unattended.

Obviously, the company running these stations has shaved off enough of its employees that there are no longer live humans to handle important local information. The fact that they let EAS alerts grab air, and (apparently) don't preview the alert, decide what is important to get on the air, and have a host/DJ/operator present it live, is pathetic. It is the ultimate sign that most stations no longer really "serve the public interest", a definition that is no longer really enforced.

Apparently, some don't even serve the stockholders' interest, as evidenced by this business story from the hometown newspaper of one large radio company:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/49275922.html


radioguy555 said:
WFLZ aired tornado warnings between almost every song for a while yesterday afternoon. I believe it was Tommy Chuck (the PD) who broke in to the syndicated Seacrest show with live updates.
Click to expand...

There are apparently still some people in the industry who "get it". Unfortunately, they are few and far between. Perhaps he could teach the "News Station" a few things....
 
Magic, Mix, and Q all sound like traditional stations during daytime shows. They do give the important info. The issue is this is gone evenings and overnights. But I am repeating myself.
 
I forgot to mention earlier, about 5 minutes after the initial tornado warning went out over most of the Tampa CC cluster, WFLA aired, in its entirety, the Nat. Weather Service's EBS Flash Flood Warning for Hudson.
No other stations in the cluster picked it up, but it ran on 970 just like the Tornado Warning: right over the programming, complete with the "fax tones" and automated Mr. Roboto voice.
 
ynot2k said:
I forgot to mention earlier, about 5 minutes after the initial tornado warning went out over most of the Tampa CC cluster, WFLA aired, in its entirety, the Nat. Weather Service's EBS Flash Flood Warning for Hudson.
No other stations in the cluster picked it up, but it ran on 970 just like the Tornado Warning: right over the programming, complete with the "fax tones" and automated Mr. Roboto voice.
Click to expand...


I guess the incident about the Flash Flood Warning in western Pasco/Hudson,might have been hard to understand with it being broadcast over the regularly scheduled satellite programming!! Of course Mr Robot/Mr. Humanoid can be hard to understand under the best of conditions; but I really don't expect a live person to give that info; that would be so quaint and so 20th century!!

Thankfully, we all know that emergencies and tornadoes don't happen after 7pm during the week, so it's alright to continue with the voice tracking and satellite feeds in the evening!! ;)
 
I'll go ahead and verify that last week when those bad storms blew through Pasco and Pinellas after 11pm, the EAS did break into the Cox radio station programming as well. Sounded like it simply cut off programming, fired off the tones, and the announcement played. Sure... it sound automated and that was considered a no no years ago, but at least the information aired and was clear. THAT'S what the EAS is for.... Bottom line, the rules have changed.
 
Bottom line: Get your own NOAA - SAME alert radios with battery back up and or 12 volt conversion for your vehicle...
 
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