You guys in MIA/FTL/WPB can argue about your best news source, but be happy that you have one, or more. Here in the Keys we now have nothing, zip. I evacuated out to FTL on Friday and drove back to Key West late Saturday. There was very little on the air down here.
The one "News/Talk/Sports" station (WFFG 1300) we have had its usualy weekend satelite type shows. They do have some local/live weekday stuff, so they do have some staff that could have been in. But no.
More disappointing was WWUS (104.1). Recently sold by a small out-of-town operator, to a large out-of-town operator (VOX). Now one in a group of four (4) stations. They have a well-respected full-time (weekday) newsperson, who could have been on the air for the storm, but nothing.
Here's why that's so disappointing. During hurricane Georges (1998?) WWUS was live and local around the clock. They were probably on the air live for thirty-six (36) hours. They won some sort of prestigous award (Peabody?) and their on-air coverage of that storm, and their receipt of that award, was the subject of a recent episode of "Storm Stories" on The Weather Channel. That was not just a passing mention, but an entire episode about this small town coverage.
On Friday, for this evacuation, they did their regular weekday thing. That certainly included storm coverage, but no special coverage. News from 8 - 9 a.m., a "talk/buisness" thing from 9 -11, news at noon and 5 p.m. and that's it. Saturday afternoon during my drive back: their regular music (live DJ), mediocre weather, and hourly (2 minute) conversation with the local utility regarding their efforts to restore power. That's it. Winds still howling at 40 MPH, many major news organizations lined-up on Duval Street, and nothing to be seen or heard locally (unless you had a generator/cable, etc.)
Sunday morning, most of Key West is still without power. A live DJ on WWUS, more hourly updates about power restoration and, GET THIS: they're playing FRIDAY's weather report warning that the storm is coming. They don't seem to realize it.
And we've got no options here. No electricity = no TV. Faint signal from WIOD, if you're in your car. WFTL doesn't reach beyond Kendall. That's it.
The Peabody People should take back that reward.
The one "News/Talk/Sports" station (WFFG 1300) we have had its usualy weekend satelite type shows. They do have some local/live weekday stuff, so they do have some staff that could have been in. But no.
More disappointing was WWUS (104.1). Recently sold by a small out-of-town operator, to a large out-of-town operator (VOX). Now one in a group of four (4) stations. They have a well-respected full-time (weekday) newsperson, who could have been on the air for the storm, but nothing.
Here's why that's so disappointing. During hurricane Georges (1998?) WWUS was live and local around the clock. They were probably on the air live for thirty-six (36) hours. They won some sort of prestigous award (Peabody?) and their on-air coverage of that storm, and their receipt of that award, was the subject of a recent episode of "Storm Stories" on The Weather Channel. That was not just a passing mention, but an entire episode about this small town coverage.
On Friday, for this evacuation, they did their regular weekday thing. That certainly included storm coverage, but no special coverage. News from 8 - 9 a.m., a "talk/buisness" thing from 9 -11, news at noon and 5 p.m. and that's it. Saturday afternoon during my drive back: their regular music (live DJ), mediocre weather, and hourly (2 minute) conversation with the local utility regarding their efforts to restore power. That's it. Winds still howling at 40 MPH, many major news organizations lined-up on Duval Street, and nothing to be seen or heard locally (unless you had a generator/cable, etc.)
Sunday morning, most of Key West is still without power. A live DJ on WWUS, more hourly updates about power restoration and, GET THIS: they're playing FRIDAY's weather report warning that the storm is coming. They don't seem to realize it.
And we've got no options here. No electricity = no TV. Faint signal from WIOD, if you're in your car. WFTL doesn't reach beyond Kendall. That's it.
The Peabody People should take back that reward.