What coverage other than EAS did KTN provide?
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What Kind of Coverage Did Your Local Station Provide During the Tornado Outbreak
- Thread starter delgriffith
- Start date
Our local TV stations emphasize, over and over again to have multiple ways of getting warnings. "Weather Alert Days" may be promotional hype (as in Tuesday will be a Weather Alert Day), but that's part of that process.
We recently heard claims about the reliance of small communities on local radio and more specifically AM radio during emergency situations. Unfortunately, that claim was tested in real time when a series of tornados ripped through Ohio. That was the underlying reason for my original question. Actual performance vs those claims. Many responses here centered on the business reasons that makes it difficult if not impossible to be much more than a deliverer of EAS warnings. There were a couple of mentions of possible extended coverage but nothing specific. Some here mentioned regional radio and television as supplying coverage and info the area needed and the possibility of co-opping with them.
But at the end of the day, local broadcast didn’t live up to the recent claims.
But at the end of the day, local broadcast didn’t live up to the recent claims.
There was (keyword) a grant program in some states that would buy generators for critical communication infrastructure. All the 911 centers, police & fire stations got them or had upgrades. Some radio stations in KY got them too.
IMHO the EAS planers have not trained the 911 operators on how to use the EAS. My country just puts it Facebook and turns on the tornado sirens for tests. That's it. Last time we had a tornado warning (3am) the sirens didn't go off. They didn't want to cause panic unless they had confirmation that the tornado was actually on the ground. I felt sorry for the deputys they sent out to try to spot it How are you going to see a twister in the dark in the rain?
We were lucky that the tornado never touched down.
IMHO the EAS planers have not trained the 911 operators on how to use the EAS. My country just puts it Facebook and turns on the tornado sirens for tests. That's it. Last time we had a tornado warning (3am) the sirens didn't go off. They didn't want to cause panic unless they had confirmation that the tornado was actually on the ground. I felt sorry for the deputys they sent out to try to spot it How are you going to see a twister in the dark in the rain?
We were lucky that the tornado never touched down.
delgriffith - blame radio, go ahead. Tell me how radio stations magically get information. I've been through weather events and nobody provides any information. You can call them...too busy to talk to the station. You can imply we are basically letting our towns down. If the ad dollars are not there and you cannot afford to be staffed, who is really to blame. I work for a station 25% plus in my county listens to. Our billing is 20% of what it was 40 years ago. We can't afford much. We have to be a computer driven station after 6. My owner has a fulltime job outside radio so we can do as much as we can. You're not telling that story. It must be because you have never been in our shoes.
Then again, in the past, when I started in radio, it was some high school kid running things during the times you're speaking of. Most that I knew couldn't handle what they needed to handle and yes they'd call somebody if they 'got' they were over their head. Heck, half didn't know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning.
Then again, in the past, when I started in radio, it was some high school kid running things during the times you're speaking of. Most that I knew couldn't handle what they needed to handle and yes they'd call somebody if they 'got' they were over their head. Heck, half didn't know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning.
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From whom? I think what I've been saying is you can't generalize. All radio is not the same. They're not staffed the same, they're not licensed the same. A small 1000 watt daytime AM station simply couldn't be on the air on a Friday night for this particular storm. They had to sign off at sundown. So as I said, all AM stations aren't the same.
First, I didn’t blame radio. Maybe I blame those who noted the industry is important because it “ is an essential resource of information during critical times.
Only speaking for my post, I wish I could have provided more help. I wasn't home that night, but if I were, given the areas the storms ripped through and the fact that I'm connected to some of them, I'd have been checking local stations like WCSM, WIMA, WKKI, etc. in addition to the TV coverage. I like to think they were on when their communities needed them, but I don't know.
They form alliances. There are a couple of phases in a general emergency situation. If it’s weather related there’s generally a warning phase. Early & immenient. Generally where EAS comes in with first warning. There’s the actual calamity phase. This is weather and calamity situations like East Palestine. That’s when you coordinate with local ema and first responders with them providing essential information. What to do. What not to do. Where to go. Where to avoid. The station is basically a ring master. And the coordination is already in place. The ema and first responders know the local station is their voice to the community for mass communication. It’s just executing it. The third phase is a bit simpler with longer term displacement recovery information. Even letting locals share their experience.
And you do “fire drills” to keep in shape and keep key people in shape knowing who, what and where. But it only takes a couple of people.
I keep hearing radio is essential and relevant. And that’s because they claim to be the service that disseminates timely information. I also keep hearing radio income has diminished over the years. Is that because it’s become less rssential and relevant?
I know the News Director of WCSM, he was active online and I'm sure. on-air. The LPFM in Russell's Point was knocked off-air as it hit. WIMA is a skeleton staff as part of iHeart Lima. I think they even cut their morning show.
Cold Coffee
Banned
As broadcasters we do our best to keep our listeners safe. But we can't save your life if a tornado hits your trailer park and you are in a mobile home. A tornado can come down in an instant and be gone in an instant too.
I have been through tornado's. Kind of scary. My house in north west Indiana has been through two tornado's. One was an F 4.
My tower sites have been through more than one tornado. We do our best in these situations.
I have been through tornado's. Kind of scary. My house in north west Indiana has been through two tornado's. One was an F 4.
My tower sites have been through more than one tornado. We do our best in these situations.
Thanks for that info. I did go to Kevin Sandler’s Facebook page. They must of had some live coversge as he had some links to live audio. He also had links to archived but still timely archived audio. I guess the point is he was using social media to drive listeners to the station for coverage. In broadcasting that’s the way social media should be used. And by airing and archiving they kept a lot of info accessible to their listeners. Now if they can do it, why can’t/didn’t others?
All stations are not equal. Some can afford a news director but many small markets cannot. Some towns have advertisers that support their local station and in some towns it's like pulling teeth. One can say the ones that likely are the poorest are mostly computer driven because that is all they can afford.
A news director has connections with the right people who will provide info. A DJ on the air might never get their call taken. And for the past couple of decades the percentage of stations that are voice-tracked or unattended after 6 or 7pm is likely about 60% or more. Lots of major market stations find themselves in the same situation. So, if something happens, there is nobody there to get the information out there assuming the authorities will even give you the time of day in a crisis situation. I've been told more than once by Emergency Management's Control Center "We are too busy to talk to you".
A news director has connections with the right people who will provide info. A DJ on the air might never get their call taken. And for the past couple of decades the percentage of stations that are voice-tracked or unattended after 6 or 7pm is likely about 60% or more. Lots of major market stations find themselves in the same situation. So, if something happens, there is nobody there to get the information out there assuming the authorities will even give you the time of day in a crisis situation. I've been told more than once by Emergency Management's Control Center "We are too busy to talk to you".
That’s why you at least put plans in place. So ema, sheriff, police chief or fire chief know who you are and take you seriously. If your community isn’t supporting you (generic you) , then despite claims of relevance, you’re not.
Franklin County is responsible for working with and training local ema’s as well as first responders in a large region around Columbus for emergency/diaster events including hospitals, Red Cross and other similiar entities. I don’t recall if Logan County is in their region. They’ve run table top excercises going through who does what and who gets involved and at what point. I don’t remember if local radio was part of the equation of if they were relying mostly on regional television. If local radio wasn’t part of that equation, they better be finding out why and how they become part of the mix. However, if there’s no one to man the ship, why bother. Radio must be a first responder so to speak. But if you’ve thrown in the towel, then quit with the we are relevant and the communities source for information and wonder why you’re ignored by the relevant agencies.
Once again, you're making sweeping generalizations as though radio is all one thing run by one person, and that one person is out there touting how great radio is. That's not the situation. Some stations are very involved, and some aren't.
Really? There are 20ish local stations serving the affected by the storm. There is one who appears to have been engaged and involved. If I’m making a sweeping generalization, somebody gave me a broom to do so.
Are you sure? Did you listen to all 20? Or are you asking others to do that for you?
If you had read the original post you’d find the following: “The tornado outbreak this past Thursday took place in mostly rural Ohio. How comprehensive was local radio’s coverage during the storms other than emergency notification system before, during and after. Not asking about major city coverage that flanks these rural areas. The actual local stations that cover the affected areas? Anyone stand out with superior or innovative coverage?”
Out of all these replies, there was only 1 definitive mention. Someone said they saw the news director of WCSM in Celina had used social media to promote live coverage as well as stories with various first responders and community leaders.
Someone else mentioned “maybe WKTN” and Bellefontaine. But no one gave any concrete examples. And the were several replies as to the financial difficulties maling it a virtual impossible task to provide needed coverage.
So no, I didn’t listen to each of the stations in the affected areas. I asked had others if they had.
Do you think everyone who lives in the area posts here?
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