From the mailbag...
A viewer writes:
“My question is: What is the best way for me to monitor Bham severe weather when there's no electricity? What does your family do to monitor severe weather when you lose electrical power at home (aside from cellphone)? I am an intelligent, well-educated person who has tried to research this question on the internet. And I am still baffled by what my first response should be when my area is in the midst of severe weather AND I lose electrical power.
When I see severe weather developing AND I have electrical power, I immediately turn my TV on to Channel 12 because you provide coverage that is continuous, detailed, and more factual and less hysterical than other channels. At the same time, I also have identified several favorite severe weather websites that I check periodically. But all of this requires electricity.
Am I correct in saying that, when all other forms of getting information (for the average citizen) are cut off by a lack of electricity, the last resort is listening to a radio? I own a weather radio with the SAME alert filtering technology but I still find it to be information overload.”
A great question... One idea is a battery operated TV; those have become fairly inexpensive and are available at many discount retailers.
Of course, a battery operated radio receiver is another way to get weather information when your power is out. But, in this day and age, most radio stations are often voice tracked from announcers who have never set foot on Alabama soil, and are run by computers that only know to “play 20 in a row”. But, there are some exceptions.
Cox Radio here in Birmingham goes to great lengths to cover local severe weather. In fact, they employ our own J.B. Elliott, the great Alabama weather legend, who handles their long form coverage on radio. So, if you can’t see us on TV, I strongly suggest listening to J.B. on 98.7 FM (WBHK/Kiss FM). They often simulcast J.B.’s coverage on their stations at 610 AM, and 95.7 FM. And, Don Dailey and his team do a great job on 104.7 FM (WZZK), along with 106.9 FM and 97.3 FM. Those three stations will occasionally simulcast the ABC 33/40 audio during tornado threats.
A viewer writes:
“My question is: What is the best way for me to monitor Bham severe weather when there's no electricity? What does your family do to monitor severe weather when you lose electrical power at home (aside from cellphone)? I am an intelligent, well-educated person who has tried to research this question on the internet. And I am still baffled by what my first response should be when my area is in the midst of severe weather AND I lose electrical power.
When I see severe weather developing AND I have electrical power, I immediately turn my TV on to Channel 12 because you provide coverage that is continuous, detailed, and more factual and less hysterical than other channels. At the same time, I also have identified several favorite severe weather websites that I check periodically. But all of this requires electricity.
Am I correct in saying that, when all other forms of getting information (for the average citizen) are cut off by a lack of electricity, the last resort is listening to a radio? I own a weather radio with the SAME alert filtering technology but I still find it to be information overload.”
A great question... One idea is a battery operated TV; those have become fairly inexpensive and are available at many discount retailers.
Of course, a battery operated radio receiver is another way to get weather information when your power is out. But, in this day and age, most radio stations are often voice tracked from announcers who have never set foot on Alabama soil, and are run by computers that only know to “play 20 in a row”. But, there are some exceptions.
Cox Radio here in Birmingham goes to great lengths to cover local severe weather. In fact, they employ our own J.B. Elliott, the great Alabama weather legend, who handles their long form coverage on radio. So, if you can’t see us on TV, I strongly suggest listening to J.B. on 98.7 FM (WBHK/Kiss FM). They often simulcast J.B.’s coverage on their stations at 610 AM, and 95.7 FM. And, Don Dailey and his team do a great job on 104.7 FM (WZZK), along with 106.9 FM and 97.3 FM. Those three stations will occasionally simulcast the ABC 33/40 audio during tornado threats.
on September 29, 2006, 5:55 am
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