From The Mailbag...

November 30, 2005, 5:22 pm
Posted by James Spann in General Thoughts
Rating: 5/5   Votes : 1
Received this comment from a viewer, concerning our severe weather coverage Monday:

"Why is it that the Eastern side of the state is not as well covered in severe weather as the western and middle. This past Monday there were 2 warnings and you all did not have "wall to wall coverage", as you promise. You were on pretty much constant from lunch on... then when the weather gets to eastern AL, you all go back to regualr programing. I live in Calhoun, and when 40 merged and moved to B'ham we all followed... but now we don't seem to get the coverage as in the past."

I totally disagree that the "eastern side of the state is not covered as well".

Monday evening at about 6:50 p.m., the NWS issued a tornado warning for Clay county. We broke into Wheel of Fortune immediately with continuous coverage, as promised. John Oldshue started the coverage; I took over for him at 7:00. We remained on the air, covering Wheel of Fortune and ABC's prime time programming, until the time the tornado signature vanished from the radar. It was at that time we went back to programming.

True, there was technically a tornado warning for the county for a little while longer, but when storms move out of a county, or weaken below severe limits, that is when we stop the coverage. That has always been the way it works here.

We simply can't justify covering programming for storms that are not dangerous.

Another tornado warning was issued for the northeast corner of Clay county about 30 minutes later when the tornado signature returned around Delta. Once again, we broke into programming and covered the rotation until it moved into Cleburne county, which was also under a tornado warning. At that time, we went back to regular programming.

Cleburne county is not in the Birmingham/Anniston market, it is assigned to the Atlanta market because a majority of the people in the county watch local stations out of Atlanta. I wish that wasn't the case, but we have no choice. I do occasional live reports when Cleburne county is under a warning since I do understand many people watch us, but I can't promise long form programming since it is an out-of-market county. That is another article for another day...

To show our commitment to the people of east Alabama when it comes to severe weather coverage, during the grand finale of the series "Dancing With The Stars" (which aired on July 6), one of the highest rated programs on our station and any station in this market, I covered about 20 minutes of the program for a tornado warning for Clay county. That generated over 500 nasty e-mail messages from people furious about our severe weather policy, including these below:

"Get James Spann off the air. You have a good program on the air and you take to off for James Spann the people in East Alabama doesn't even watch you stupid weather. We would like to finish watching Dancing with the Stars. NOT JAMES SPANN."

"Get off the TV. I want to watch "Dancing with the Stars" not all your crap about the weather. There is absolutely no need for you to stay on over 2 minutes every half hour. All you do is repeat and repeat over and over again and again. Now you're telling us that you're going to be on the TV for another 7 minutes?? What the h*** is the matter with you??? I am so p*ssed. Your policy sucks and needs to be changed. There is absolutely NOTHING you or your general manager can say that will make me think otherwise. I am so sorry I moved to Alabama."

Many of the messages I cannot show here due to the profanity involved. There were many personal threats.

By the way, not one person responded in a positive fashion from Clay county to thank us for the coverage. We understand that is the way it works; you always get the negative stuff. And, we sure don't expect any positive reponse in today's society.

But, I find it hard to believe someone from east Alabama thinks we don't cover tornadoes where they live. Simply not true. I will open the "hate mail" file going back over the years and prove every event.

ALL counties in our market are treated the same! I have all program records here going back to our beginning in 1996 to prove the point if anyone wants to take us to task....

Thanks for letting me vent... now back to regular blog posts...
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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 5:28 pm
Very well done, James. You can't make all the people happy all the time. However, you do the right thing and that makes a difference. I see this in the line of work I am in. If you keep doing what you are supposed to do then everything else falls in line. There is not place for personal attacks. All I have to say is that if you need to vent, we will listen.

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Posted by Will  
on December 1, 2005, 9:23 am
Anytime someone complains, just remember there are some people (like me and a few friends of mine) that would rather watch your weather coverage -- since you do such a great job of it -- than any network programming.

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Posted by Jason  
on November 30, 2005, 5:38 pm
It is very sickining to hear that there are people like that, but we all know, thats the way it is. James you can have faith in knowing you'll always have more people holding you up than people pulling you down. We appreciate you very much as well as the rest of the team. Thank you for your sacrifices and God bless you.

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Posted by   www
on November 30, 2005, 5:45 pm
All these naysayers should ask themselves this- how greatly have tornado deaths declined over the last couple decades? Enormously, you rarely hear of huge loss of life during tornados anymore. Is it because we don't have as many tornados? No, it's because of better warnings and better coverage of those events. How loud would people have screamed if dozens of people got blowed away because they were watching Dancing with the Stars? 33/40 has THE BEST weather coverage in central Alabama and if your life is so wrapped up in a tv show that you don't care if you're in the path of a tornado, then you have worse problems than I can fix.

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 6:06 pm
Dave, Jason, and Karl, I completley agree. People that complain about their programs getting cut off for severe weather coverage have serious issues.. If I'm not mistaken, Y'all usually play the program again later anyways? Life is far more important then some TV show... James great job and don't let these negative people get to you.. You are the best at what you do and we are blessed to have someone like you here. thanks and God Bless

Jared -Hueytown-

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 6:09 pm
how sad people are so self centered all they care about is something they want to watch on tv. yet as it has been said before, those are the same people who would say there was no warning. please. i personally know people who are so terrified of storms, that they will watch James Spann till he goes off the air. It doesn't matter if the storms are 3 counties away, they find comfort in the wall to wall coverage. i think it is time for these individuals to put away the bon bons and get a life.

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Posted by Jason Leake  
on November 30, 2005, 6:10 pm
AMEN KARL... James, I live in Talladega county and you do cover the area equally as well as the west and central parts of the state. One question, how does rain fade effect getting warnings out in a timely manner? Or is nexrad not effected by this.

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Posted by Rusty Pitts  
on November 30, 2005, 6:16 pm
James, You know my personal view... I believe that you and your team have done a great service to this community as well as those in your market. As for those that have a problem, there is alternative methods of watching your programming, am I not correct James?? But Most of these 500 people probably dont have the Capability to use this service...nor enough intelligence to use it. Sorry ..Ihad to take a shot... James has to be politically correct I dont...... James...I believe it is time, and Im sure Matthew would agree...We need to put his Story onto the web site and refer all callers to his story and then they can voice their opinion... I have never seen such selfish inconsiderate behavior from Adults as I have seen with this wall to Wall Coverage... But again , we are not dealing with very intelligent people, they cant be... They are so wrapped up in some Reallity show...If you want reallity...Watch the Tornado coverage from the web cam some time...Now that is reallity.... Personal threats..... On James??? Thats it.... The Bloggers army is now offended...... SAtephanie, Goldwing Dave Micheal Chris, and all the others.... We are there.... And sorry to the rest orf you ...Now I can run the tower cam ...I can also serve as his personal Guard... 10 years in the Marines..I should be able to handle it... And engoy it at the same time....

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Posted by Matthew  
on November 30, 2005, 6:27 pm
James....Yall keep up the good work...your reward is not here anyway...and, PLEASE tell me you are taking the appropriate legal action dealing with the personal threats...

Keep your chin (and suspenders) up.

Stephanie...Keep dancing!

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 6:31 pm
Yeah, you can count me in on the bodyguard deal. 6'8" 265 lbs of lean, mean, chili making, snow dancing, blog writing, Spann Protecting machine. Thats all I got to say about that!

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 6:42 pm
Ok Snow dancing chili making/eating suspender wearing blogger army - one wrong dance move - <<KICK>> oops there goes my spiked heel shoe!!!!!!!!!

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 6:58 pm
I have a pair of red suspenders I can wear! But spiked heel shoes are out of the question.

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Posted by AC  
on November 30, 2005, 6:59 pm
I am always amazed about what goes on in people's minds. If it weren't for wall-to-wall coverage, some of those people might be "dancing with the stars" in another form!! I don't know about you all, but if it is wall-to-wall, and myself or any other family member we know is out of danger, we have the right to get the remote and change the channel!! But, oops, the other stations are wall-to-wall as well...so we just wait or watch a Satellite channel. The power of choice...it's amazing!!

Thanks James and staff for the long hours and being away from your own families in bad weather to keep us safe!!

AC

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Posted by John T.  
on November 30, 2005, 7:29 pm
KICK SOME BUTT JAMES!! You & the rest know how I feel about you and your program. Rusty spoke for me REALLY WELL about this issue and I don't even know the gentleman. I've said it before and now again. You, J.B., John, Jason, Bill Murray, Brian Peters, Bill Castle and Mr Gary Kelley himself are THE BEST OF THE BEST! Rusty, thank you sir for your words and how you used them & for everyone else that backs up our SUPERB weather team.

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 7:40 pm
Hey James I go along with what everyone is saying if you want us as body guards than bygolly we will be there!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I can't believe that someone would threnten James Spann come on people It is just a TV show grow up!!!!!!!. Severe weather is more important than some stupid TV show. You know what will happen the people that are acting like kids if there house gets blown away than they will wonder why James did not warn them, I can see it coming.

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 7:44 pm
And Rusty if you need any help with the body guard thing than I will be there, between the two of us and any body else that might want to join us I believe James will we be more than safe.

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 7:44 pm
James, you mentioned in your post that Cleburne Co. is in the Atlanta Market..Why do they put an alabama county that is close to the border in another city market like that?..I would think as a matter of safety with regards to weather that you guys be able to cover it or do Atlanta tv market channels break in for an alabama counties warning that is near the state's border?

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 8:04 pm
Good night everybody!! just got the little tiger to bed, and between chasing him and all that snow dancing in spiked high heels, i am pooped!!!

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 8:08 pm
James is it safe for me an Curtis to come on out yet. We been setting hear in the crawl space under the trayler sense Monday afternoon. Curtis is plum out of cigrettes and he's getten pretty riled up. We never herd nothing about it being saft to come on back out. Help us!

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 8:39 pm
Count me as one of the thousands who appreciate your weather coverage. I live in northern Coosa County, near Sylacauga. I know for a fact that Coosa is not in 33/40's market, but i can attest to the fact that James And John covered all three warnings for us. And I appreciate that. Thanks for looking out for us James!

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Posted by AC  
on November 30, 2005, 8:35 pm
My, My, My.......

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 8:40 pm
i guess wylene has a computer under the trailer huh? night everyone :-)

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Posted by John T.  
on November 30, 2005, 9:02 pm
If Wylene and Curtis are this ignorant then maybe its better for everyone they stay put. Mr. Jones, if I not badly mistaken, just this last storm on the wall-wall coverage James mentioned that Coosa was now in the B'ham DMA. Mr. Spann correct me if I'm wrong. And Phill, if you can convince the majority of folks in your county to watch B'ham channels you can be swapped over. Thats what they go by.

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 9:43 pm
James,
Some folks don't know much about us here in Clay County. In stead of Ashland we're often called Ashville and a few other things. We're not ungrateful though. As you covered the tornado warning for my county we heard the roar of the wind as the storm raced by. Thanks to you and you team we were taking cover and following the advice you've shared with usc over the years.
TV programs like a lot of other things in this world have become too important in poeple's lives.
Here's one life who's mighty glad to know where to turn when the weather gets scary. Thanks guys!

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Posted by Clay in Pleasant Grove  
on November 30, 2005, 10:30 pm
Three cheers for Mr. Spann!

It is a shame that people haven't learned to be concerned with the 3-Dimensional reality! Living 1.5 miles from where the F-5 struck in 1998, I couldn't be happier to have wall-to-wall coverage in the Birmingham television market. It's obvious that ABC 33/40 is doing something right, because WBRC Fox 6 and WVTM NBC 13 have followed the footsteps of long-form severe weather coverage. I couldn't be happier! I am one of the people that watch the coverage the entire time, regardless of location. Only until Mr. Spann gives the all-clear for severe weather for my area (due to cooler temps, for example) do I change channels or turn the TV off (I know--off, what a concept, right?!)

Thanks for letting me vent, and as an earlier poster said...don't be concerned with petty hate mail and anonymous nasty posts...these should be of little concern to you...a true reward awaits in heaven!

Thanks to all, and God Bless-

Clay in P. G.

18 years old

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 10:38 pm
Hey Clay for someone that is only 18 man me and Rusty need you to help us guard James, with the three of us James will be fine.

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 10:46 pm
John T- I actually live in the Bham tv market, just curious as to why an alabama county that is close to a GA border has to have them deal with it..

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 10:56 pm
Hey people,

I was wondering if any of yall had yahoo instant messenger? Let me know your name, I want to talk to some people that are actually down to earth.

Jared -Hueytown-

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Posted by Alan  
on November 30, 2005, 10:54 pm
Dancing with the stars? That's what people got upset about missing. Am I in the minority or is there somebody else who watched less than 30 seconds of that show? (and that's because I couldn't find the remote!) This last tornado caught on the towercam was the best REALITY show of the season. Don't worry about a few negative comments, most of us can care less how well an overpaid puppet can dance.

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 11:17 pm
James, I am very impressed with your wall-to-wall coverage. I lived in Atlanta for almost 20 years before moving to Tennessee and now Colbert County. As a native Huntsvillian, I would like to ask these complainers if they were around during the '74 tornado outbreak. I was in Huntsville at the time, I remember parts of it well. If it were not for great meteorologists at the time and the TV coverage, many more lives would be lost. As far as Cleburne county goes, WSB in Atlanta often covers the "border counties" when severe weather strikes. Its the same in Huntsville where many TN. counties such as Wayne, Lawrence, and Giles are actually part of the Nashville Market, but are covered by Huntsville. Dancing with the Stars? Never heard of it. If I lived in the Big B, I would definitely watch you.

Russ - Cherokee

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Posted by John T.  
on November 30, 2005, 11:20 pm
Jared I'm not sure of what you mean by "down to earth" but this blog is about people who are as down to earth as you can get. This is reality! Clay! I think I can speak for a lot of folks on this blog that it is really wonderful to hear from an 18 y/o in a positive way like this. Thank you so much for writing.

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 11:20 pm
I live in Calhoun County. Every time that there is a Tornado Warning issued for us, 3340 weather team is on the air-EVERY TIME. Technology grants us a choice of channels to watch and enjoy. I recommend for those who dont like to be informed of lets say 70 to 120 mile per hour winds coming straight for your home or community, to get different service that does not have 3340(Our #1 source for all News, Weather Sports ect.). Then you can watch these over paid actors that in fact cant dance...try to. But who are you going to blame when the power goes out? Jason Simpson??????

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Posted by  
on November 30, 2005, 11:23 pm
I think it is wonderful to have this forum available to us. There are regular readers and those who post regularly. There is alot of passion in the responses here tonight. We are all blessed that we have people who give of their time to make sure we are informed of the weather situation. We are blessed to live in a country where we can share our thoughts and opinions. This kind of wall to wall covereage saves lives. But even more so, we still need to keep "preaching" the importance of weather radios. That is where the rubber meets the road. You combine all of this with the trained storm spotters we have in place and what we end up with is a good recipe for success. Have a wonderful night. Snow talk resumes with the morning map discussion.

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Posted by John T.  
on November 30, 2005, 11:33 pm
For all those "complainers" will say (trying to be nice here) the way I see things is that James, & the rest of the team, ARE our messangers from GOD. And of course & thankfully GOD sees & hears ALL. So just as a little reminder to ALL who has cursed, threatened etc. James, he is a man of GOD. You will have to go before the ALLMIGHTY ONE one day and face him. He never forgets and at the end its to late for forgiveness. Just something to think about the next tornado outbreak when someone from GOD is trying to save YOUR LIFE! May GOD bless us all. Have a wonderful nite.

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Posted by  
on December 1, 2005, 1:31 am
The simple fact that people complain about missing a television show when people's lives could be in danger amazes me. ITS JUST A TV SHOW!! Especially if its a reality show season finale they'll show it AGAIN! People really need to learn to be less self-centered and think of others for a second.

James, you and the entire weather crew at ABC 33/40 has never let me down! During the spring tornado season my roommate was visiting her hometown of Goodwater, down in Coosa County. You had been on the air all night and I was watching when you indicated a strong sign of rotation in her area. I quickly called her and told her what was going on. She had been in bed and as we were on the phone the sirens started going off. She was able to wake everybody up and get them to cover. There wasn't any damage done to their home but that could have been different.

Thanks you for all that you do! I know that when I need the best weather coverage I turn to the station with the man in suspenders!

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Posted by  
on December 1, 2005, 1:50 am
Cleburne County is in the Atlanta market because more people in that county watch Atlanta TV. Same goes for Randolph. I know it doesn't make sense, but that's the way it is.



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Posted by  
on December 1, 2005, 1:51 am
Oh... and death threats??? Some people...

They'll also be the same ones on TV the morning after a tornado destroys their house saying they had "no warning" when of course there was plenty of warning and they were too busy doing other things.



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Posted by  
on December 1, 2005, 8:21 am
I live in Randolph county and most people here who watch Atlanta stations are probably like me who have Dish Network or DirecTV and don't have a choice as Atlanta is the only stations they will give us. I have even told them I would pay extra to get Birmingham but it does no good. I am not sure how more people could watch B'ham stations and get the DMA changed when most of us have no way of watching the B'ham stations.

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Posted by Mac  
on December 1, 2005, 9:48 am
I'm still shocked that people actually watched Dance with the Stars? Besides, doesn't 33/40 re-air programs skipped during storms at night?

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Posted by  
on December 1, 2005, 10:25 am
Yeah... DirecTV or Dish gives you the TV stations your county's market is in. There's nothing they or you can do about that(unless you can somehow have a strong enough antenna to pick up Birmingham). Randolph has been in the Atlanta market for as long as I can remember.

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Posted by Brian  
on December 1, 2005, 10:52 am
Dancing with the Stars? Who cares? These people need to get lives, and try to understand that James and the ABC 33/40 weather staff are trying to protect them. Severe weather is serious stuff. Take it from someone who went through the Superoutbreak of 1974 in Huntsville.

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Posted by  
on December 1, 2005, 10:51 am
My name is David and I live in Nashville, TN. I have to say that I love to see the way ya'll got the back of your weatherman. They posted this link at the News Channel 2 WKRN Nashville weather web site (www.nashvillewx.com) and I thought I would take a look. I love the way the weathermen or women take the time to give us wall-to-wall coverage of severe storms. I'm 6'2" 265lbs. and I'm scared to death of tornado's. I've been in 2 different houses that have taken direct hits from tornado's and without these guys or gals warning us I might have been badly hurt or even killed. Ya'll can add me to the group of people that are bodyguards for the weathermen or woman.

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Posted by  
on December 1, 2005, 11:10 am
Hey David in Nashville! Come on down and join the James Spann/WTW weatherman Dancing blogging army. (for the dancing part, you may have to look way back in the blog to get the gist of it tee hee hee) We do have a lot of fun in this blog, and our weather team is awesome!!

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Posted by  
on December 1, 2005, 12:14 pm
Being a long time James Spann Watcher (I even have the McDonald's Severe Weather Folder to prove it.) I must say that James and his team are the best in the state and always have been. These people with their negativeness about programming and such should instead be proud of a dedicated weather team such as this. The F5 Tornado coverage in 1998 was more that a lifesaver for many folks even though many lives were lost to that tragic event, James Spann and his team made sure everyone was very well warned and now that I live within a tenth of a mile from where the F5 struck I know that when severe weather strikes we can always count on James and the ABC33/40 weather team to keep us informed. Again many thanks for a job well done and may God Bless...

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Posted by  
on December 1, 2005, 3:21 pm
Hey James,

Im from Vidalia Georgia which is in south georgia. I have recently moved to west georgia (Carrollton) where I intend on obtaining a degree in communications then Meteorology. I have always been interested in studying the weather. I have watched you map discussions for the past year or so now. Living in the ATLANTA market still dosent change the fact that my weather man is James Span. If my county is under a warning I tune to Atlanta. But when I want to know the forecast for the following day or week for that matter... I tune to James Spann.

You rock!!!!!

Brandon Mckenzie

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Posted by Josh  
on December 2, 2005, 12:36 pm
I'm from Talladega and I do watch 33/40 so there goes the morons griping about us Easterners dont watch 33/40. I wouldnt put up with the death threats, I'd report that to the proper authorities. Threatning someone's life over 'Dancing with the Stars' is stupid. Hope you find em and they pay for it James. Keep up the work.

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