Radio Was Prepared For Gustav…

Tuesday, September, 2, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

The FCC did its job in preparation for Gustav, activating the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) and providing contact information to obtain emergency Special Temporary Authorizations (STAs) but the real street cred goes to the stations that formed the WWL Entercom Hurricane Coverage Network covering most of the gulf area from Alabama to Louisiana (KANE, KZMZ (FM), WMXI (FM), KMLB, WQFX, WAML, WCOA and KVPI).  Clear Channel and Citadel also went to a full- hurricane coverage format and Sirius and XM had emergency channels set up to help too.  Fortunately New Orleans and most of the Gulf area escaped pretty much unscathed as the hurricane quickly wound down once it hit land but congratulations to Radio for really serving their communities when they needed it most…

The special radio coverage brought to mind the first and last time I volunteered for Hurricane coverage.  I had just arrived to do afternoon drive at WKKO in Central Florida when one of the most devastating hurricanes in history - Donna - which would take 364 lives and last for 9 days, worked its way through Florida before a final landfall across Long Island.  It hit the Brevard County - Cape Canaveral area on a weekend and I said sure, I’ll check in with some reports.  This was a big mistake…

I was about 30 seconds into my first report when I got hit by flying palm fronds and retreated to the biggest still-standing palm tree I could find.  I don’t advise shielding yourself behind a tree but this tree held long enough for me to find shelter at a service station.  My first report became my last report.  To this day, Donna holds the record for retaining “major hurricane” status (category 3 or greater) in the Atlantic Basin for the longest period of time on record.  Donna was so devastating that it affected every state on the East Coast and she also had her name retired.  There will never be another Hurricane Donna…

Which leads to this bit of advice - don’t ever volunteer for hurricane coverage…

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1789] Start printing the money: The U.S. Treasury Department  is established…
2. 1901] The big stick: Vice President Theodore Roosevelt  offers this advice: “Speak softly and carry a big stick” in a speech at the Minnesota State Fair…
3. 1935] Keys get hammered: A hurricane slams into the Florida Keys killing 423…
4. 1945] Flying the white flag: Japan formally surrenders in ceremonies aboard the U.S. Missouri, ending World War II…
5. 1963] Bend and stretch: The CBS Evening News is expanded from 15 minutes to 30 minutes…
6. 1969] Not so “Happy Trails”: North Vietnamese president Ho Chi Minh  dies from multiple health problems at 79…
7. 1983] O Solo Mio: Tom Brokaw  becomes sole anchor of NBC’s “Nightly News” (his final broadcast comes on Dec. 1, 2004 when he is succeeded by Brian Williams)…
8. 1987] Human Rights Tour: The Amnesty International Tour starts in London, starring Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Peter Gabriel and Tracy Chapman (Amnesty International was formed to protect human rights)…
9. 1992] Space oddity: The U.S. agrees to build a space station  with Russia…
10. 1997] Tribute to the Princess: U2 pays tribute to the late Princess Diana before starting their show in Scotland.  Here’s a clip of U2 performing the same year…

Music Memories:

• 1963] Angels soar: The Angels become the first white female group to have a number one record with “My Boyfriend’s Back“…
• 1965] The Stones mock America’s favorite couple: The Rolling Stones mock Sonny & Cher on Britain’s “Ready, Steady, Go” as Mick Jagger and producer Andrew Loog Oldham parody the group doing “I Got You Babe”.  This  is the actual video clip...
• 1995] Rocking the Hall: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame holds a 7-hour concert starring Jerry Lee Lewis, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan and others as part of the Hall’s official opening.  Seen here are Johnny Cash with John Mellencamp…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”…

Salma Hayek (42), Lennox Lewis (43), Keanu Reeves (44), Jimmy Connors (56), Mark Harmon(57), Football Hall of Famer/Actor Terry Bradshaw (60), Joe Simon (65), Jimmy Clanton (68) and Former Baseball Commissioner Peter Ueberroth (71)…

Timeline Countdown: 2 days until the NFL Opener (Washington @ NYG), 26 days until the end of the regular MLB season and 28 days before the MLB playoffs…

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