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Radio's response to storm resonates with many readers
From L. Marraccini:
You were right on with your description of the recent snow emergency and the local radio stations' negligence to listeners. We have tried to contact several radio stations to voice our concerns. Unfortunately, radio station management is spending all of its energy in denying what is obvious. All radio stations in our area need to have an emergency plan which they can implement that will focus on relevant emergency information. Our recent snowstorms were a natural disaster, not on the scale as the Haitian earthquake, but still a natural disaster. God help us if we ever experience a truly major natural disaster.
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I noticed the same lack of emergency coverage on the radio. You'd think that since radio station licenses are granted in return for acting in the public interest, given we own those airwaves, we'd have had a little bit of help. But no ... The FCC needs to hear our complaints.
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From Andrea Michalski of Peters Township:
I too was stunned by the radio broadcasts (or lack thereof) after the storm last week. We were without power, cable and telephone. I told my four kids not to worry, though. We had a radio with batteries and we would be able to find out what was going on.
My kids were as dumbfounded as I was when we searched from station to station, AM to FM, and could find nothing relevant to our situation. We tried off and on for two days, thinking that perhaps they didn't realize how many people were without power and needed information. I kept thinking "KDKA is the Pittsburgh Station," and surely at some point I was certain it would give some meaty reports about the storm, the damage and when I might hope to get the furnace back on. But nothing. We gave up after the second day. I hope broadcasters will take note and remember that there will be times in the future when radio is our only link to the outside world, and we need to know we can count on it. Radio lost an importantchance to remind listeners of its relevance.
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From Jim Baumgartner:
You hit the nail on the head regarding the lack of radio coverage on Feb. 6. Our power went out Friday evening. On Saturday, I pulled out the radio. Unlike you, I had no expectations for information on FM, but was shocked that AM had no real coverage, either. They certainly missed a great opportunity to garner new listeners. Maybe they have already given up the idea of increasing market share and are just in survival mode.
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From L. Dan Briner:
I think you missed the chatter on 2-meter ham radio and HF radio. I awoke Saturday to no phone or cell but was able to check on things on the 2-meter repeaters as folks handled some emergency traffic and on 40 meters I got the outside news from friends all over the country. As they say "amateur radio is there when all else fails." It is amazing to see what happens when "what we take for granted" suddenly disappears.
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From Greg Gooden:
I spent 13 years in radio from 1976 through '89, part of that being a news anchor. Those were the days when part of the qualification for the job was to posess "the voice" of a broadcaster. Those days are sadly gone and we are left with radio stations that are programmed solely for the revenue, and the art of music programming is dead. Once somebody told station owners that listeners only listened during short segments of the day, they figured out that they only had to pay for a certain number of songs to make a playlist. Nothing existed outside of "the playlist."
Our local stations couldn't have provided the information we desperately needed during the storm because those stations don't employ people who are capable of gathering and delivering news, particularly during a crisis situation. I, too, was scanning the stations looking for someone to guide me in determining what my next move should be in preparing to weather a bad situation. The only information I could come up with was a taped recording listing "warming shelters" in Greene and Fayette counties.
If not for neighbors looking out for neighbors, we would have been lost. Sadly, radio is no longer our neighbor. It no longer is part of our community. Worse, radio is no longer that warm friend who can entertain, console, inspire or inform us. I'd like to use Randy Vanwarmer's words from his 1979 record in my message to modern radio: "You left me ... just when I needed you most."
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From Marcia:
While I no longer live in that area (grew up there), I spent much time on my cell phone calling family that do. All were without power at one time or another, the longest being without it for a week's time (and ended up staying with another relative, just to be warm!). All have said exactly what you did about the radio - no help at all. None. The closest it came was one family member finding a station taking people's calls on air about the snow, all asking for help to reach them. It was a station in West Virginia.
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From Lynnelle Goins:
When my power went out, one of the first things I did was look for the portable radio that I jog with and the battery-operated one I bought for emergencies. Like you, all I heard was music and syndicated talk shows. All I learned was that the station I normally listen to (93.7) was moving to another station (100.7 I think). Doesn't Pittsburgh have a news radio station? I moved here from Chicago, where there are a plethora of talk and news stations. I understand this is a smaller market, but doesn't it warrant at least one? Nowadays, folks can broadcast from anywhere, including their homes! Hopefully when this area is examining how they could be better prepared for emergency, having a designated radio station in which to tune will be on that list.
Terry Hazlett can be reached at snowballrizzo@aol.com.
agree to a point : 2/22/2010
I know it was a horrible ordeal for all of us. I know we all looked to radio for a source of information but found none. The local radio station in Waynesburg had it's share of suffering as well, with no power and so on. Their staff had to tend to issues at work while trying to take care of things at home. At best, they got a "sister station" or something in Washington to broadcase a recorded "circle" for them. Those radio stations that had power and ability SHOULD have done more for the general public. I know the folks at WANB felt helpless and were devistated by not being able to do anything to get information out.
pt emergency response : 2/22/2010
pt needs immediately, their local tv channels to give info for emergency situations and disaster situations; also on washington radio station. the prom fashion show was cancelled, in large letters scrolling on screen; but nothing on municipal channel re: recent snow storm. pt taxpayers deserve better, powers that be.
Agree for pt : 2/22/2010
The TV channel for municipal affairs is not well utilized at all. You are right, there was the place to display information. But,nothing. As far as the radio bashing, people have been quit listening in record numbers. In other words, the public has been discarding radio listening habits in recent years. They don't have the the resources because of finanical constraints to give the public the kind of information expected in these comments. Who says they need to do emergency programming? Sure, it would be a great service, but the comments imply the stations owe this programming to us.
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