WWL Coverage

[Ghll2005]

I was driving up from Alexandria to Shreveport last night. From 7:30 p.m. til I arrived at 9:30, WWL provided what I think was very good coverage and information.

Sadly, the Shreveport emergency management stations had nothing but music. There were so many evacuees still on the road at that time on I-49. You could see them getting off at Alexandria, Natchitoches, and Shreveport, only to find that all the hotels were booked. The Shreveport stations could have provided, at the very least, some weather and hotel/shelter information for these folks.

As I've already heard on the media about some lessons to be learned from and address following this disaster, this may be another issue to be addressed.

 

[B3grinder]

> I was driving up from Alexandria to Shreveport last night.
> From 7:30 p.m. til I arrived at 9:30, WWL provided what I
> think was very good coverage and information.
>
> Sadly, the Shreveport emergency management stations had
> nothing but music. There were so many evacuees still on the
> road at that time on I-49. You could see them getting off
> at Alexandria, Natchitoches, and Shreveport, only to find
> that all the hotels were booked. The Shreveport stations
> could have provided, at the very least, some weather and
> hotel/shelter information for these folks.
>
> As I've already heard on the media about some lessons to be
> learned from and address following this disaster, this may
> be another issue to be addressed.
>

One would think that there SHOULD be stations along the evac routes to carry such information. I am in Memphis and was surprised that not one of the staions here was carrying any type of public service information of this type. If I was 400 miles from home, it sure would be good info to have.

 

[PR680]

> > I was driving up from Alexandria to Shreveport last night.
>
> > From 7:30 p.m. til I arrived at 9:30, WWL provided what I
> > think was very good coverage and information.
> >
> > Sadly, the Shreveport emergency management stations had
> > nothing but music. There were so many evacuees still on
> the
> > road at that time on I-49. You could see them getting off
>
> > at Alexandria, Natchitoches, and Shreveport, only to find
> > that all the hotels were booked. The Shreveport stations
> > could have provided, at the very least, some weather and
> > hotel/shelter information for these folks.
> >
> > As I've already heard on the media about some lessons to
> be
> > learned from and address following this disaster, this may
>
> > be another issue to be addressed.
> >
>
> One would think that there SHOULD be stations along the evac
> routes to carry such information. I am in Memphis and was
> surprised that not one of the staions here was carrying any
> type of public service information of this type. If I was
> 400 miles from home, it sure would be good info to have.
>

Exactly right. Just watched the noon news on WREG in Memphis and it seems like most area hotels are full due to the evac. Such info would be nice to pass on to the folks, along with alternatives. Years ago I bet the old "Great 68, WMPS" (Plough days) would be giving the info out. Another great station lost!

The 680 signal, now WWTQ, is beamed to the Gulf Coast at night and is clearly heard in Mobile and Gulfport/Biloxi(as well as along I-55) with a mere 5kw. If daytime power were put into the directional array during a hurricane it would be a flamethrower. What a waste of a great service to the public. A station like WWTQ should be the secondary northbound "evac" station.

I'm sure WWL has a great emergency plan, but nothing can fight a Cat 4, or 5 hurricane. WWTQ may have a great plan too, but the next time the Mississippi flows backward during the long overdue New Madrid quake, there will most likely be silence on 680. Maybe WWL can beam info in?

Seems a shame the "owners" of some of these frequencies no longer feel the need to do anything that doesn't put cash in their accounts. The public should challenge this at renewal time. I thought the public owned the frequencies, guess not.

Kinda' funny how good ole' AM can't be beat in an emergency.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by PR680 on 08/29/05 07:43 PM.</FONT></P>

 

[B3grinder]

Re: WWL Coverage - FEMA Question

Does FEMA have the authority to “take-over” a facility to provide regional emergency information?


> > > I was driving up from Alexandria to Shreveport last
> night.
> >
> > > From 7:30 p.m. til I arrived at 9:30, WWL provided what
> I
> > > think was very good coverage and information.
> > >
> > > Sadly, the Shreveport emergency management stations had
> > > nothing but music. There were so many evacuees still on
>
> > the
> > > road at that time on I-49. You could see them getting
> off
> >
> > > at Alexandria, Natchitoches, and Shreveport, only to
> find
> > > that all the hotels were booked. The Shreveport
> stations
> > > could have provided, at the very least, some weather and
>
> > > hotel/shelter information for these folks.
> > >
> > > As I've already heard on the media about some lessons to
>
> > be
> > > learned from and address following this disaster, this
> may
> >
> > > be another issue to be addressed.
> > >
> >
> > One would think that there SHOULD be stations along the
> evac
> > routes to carry such information. I am in Memphis and was
> > surprised that not one of the staions here was carrying
> any
> > type of public service information of this type. If I was
> > 400 miles from home, it sure would be good info to have.
> >
>
> Exactly right. Just watched the noon news on WREG in Memphis
> and it seems like most area hotels are full due to the evac.
> Such info would be nice to pass on to the folks, along with
> alternatives. Years ago I bet the old "Great 68, WMPS"
> (Plough days) would be giving the info out. Another great
> station lost!
>
> The 680 signal, now WWTQ, is beamed to the Gulf Coast at
> night and is clearly heard in Mobile and Gulfport/Biloxi(as
> well as along I-55) with a mere 5kw. If daytime power were
> put into the directional array during a hurricane it would
> be a flamethrower. What a waste of a great service to the
> public. A station like WWTQ should be the secondary
> northbound "evac" station.
>
> I'm sure WWL has a great emergency plan, but nothing can
> fight a Cat 4, or 5 hurricane. WWTQ may have a great plan
> too, but the next time the Mississippi flows backward during
> the long overdue New Madrid quake, there will most likely be
> silence on 680. Maybe WWL can beam info in?
>
> Seems a shame the "owners" of some of these frequencies no
> longer feel the need to do anything that doesn't put cash in
> their accounts. The public should challenge this at renewal
> time. I thought the public owned the frequencies, guess not.
>
>
> Kinda' funny how good ole' AM can't be beat in an emergency.
>