WBAP, KLIF, The Ticket, The Wolf and Severe Weather

[wpb1999]

The Cumulus/ABC coverage this afternoon and evening was excellent.  It was, for a time, simulcasted on all of the CloudNetwork's stations.  Brad Barton and Mark Davis led coverage, with Brad breaking away to present EAS/Texas NN bulletins.  It was really impressive.  Luckily I was traveling, but I did listen to WBAP on the trusty iPhone.  I did not get a chance to listen to KRLD, but I am sure they were just as bad as always.

[LibertyNT]

I can confirm, the coverage was GREAT!

[Triple Fake Jerry]

Mark Watkins, not Mark Davis.

Mark and Brad did a great job. But why couldn't the Ticket use the FM feed? They apparently simulcast rebroadcasting the AM signal, with resultant sound quality.

The Hardline is back on and talking weather, which is what makes the Ticket awesome.

[dfaulkner]

Thought BAP's coverage was outstanding, as always. Liked what I heard on KRLD as well. Had them both on for a time. If I'm at home, I often have Channel 5 on muted & listen to Brad Barton (for years on 1080, now on BAP.) Sometimes I leave the sound up on TV & radio.     

[milton77]

WBAP & KLIF are staying local after 7pm, with Kris Croc. No doubt whatsoever that Cumulus did a phenomenal job, and I am sure KRLD did as well. I didn't get around to listening to other stations and clusters, how good/bad were they?

[Lancer]

I listened to WBAP & coverage was excellent.  

During bad weather I'll listen to whatever station Brad Barton is on.  End of story.

[tested]

The decision to simulcast on all the Cumulus stations was incredibly smart.
Only other thing they could have done would be to get the talent from all the stations involved in the coverage.  (not that I really want life-or-death information from The Hardline, but we do hear so many "eyewitness accounts" from unknown listeners during things like this that any of the regular talent would have some credibility)

[tubetop1]

The Cumulus/ABC coverage this afternoon and evening was excellent.  It was, for a time, simulcasted on all of the CloudNetwork's stations.  Brad Barton and Mark Davis led coverage, with Brad breaking away to present EAS/Texas NN bulletins.  It was really impressive.  Luckily I was traveling, but I did listen to WBAP on the trusty iPhone.  I did not get a chance to listen to KRLD, but I am sure they were just as bad as always.

I just saw this initial post and almost spit tea on the screen.  If I understand this poster, he only had a iphone and was listening to WBAP but he somehow knows the entire Cumulus group did a good job.  Nice try pal.  I'm sure your GSM appreciates your efforts.  I didn't have a chance to hear much radio coverage because I was watching unbelievable pictures on TV.  I am sure WBAP did a good job because they always do, but I couldn't let this sales pitch go unanswered.  This smacks of a Cumulus employee.

[wpb1999]

The Cumulus/ABC coverage this afternoon and evening was excellent.  It was, for a time, simulcasted on all of the CloudNetwork's stations.  Brad Barton and Mark Davis led coverage, with Brad breaking away to present EAS/Texas NN bulletins.  It was really impressive.  Luckily I was traveling, but I did listen to WBAP on the trusty iPhone.  I did not get a chance to listen to KRLD, but I am sure they were just as bad as always.

I just saw this initial post and almost spit tea on the screen.  If I understand this poster, he only had a iphone and was listening to WBAP but he somehow knows the entire Cumulus group did a good job.  Nice try pal.  I'm sure your GSM appreciates your efforts.  I didn't have a chance to hear much radio coverage because I was watching unbelievable pictures on TV.  I am sure WBAP did a good job because they always do, but I couldn't let this sales pitch go unanswered.  This smacks of a Cumulus employee.

I don't work for Cumulus, just read my signature below......

[grantchester]

Yes, Kudos to the news talk stations that provided wall to wall news coverage. That is as it should be. Having teams of reporters anchors and meteorologists on duty during such a disaster was a great service.
Unfortunately, I was not well served.
I kept up with conditions at the NOAA website, but the first warning I got of the approaching tornado was a facebook post by Steve McCauley, showing the radar and the circulation indication over Kennedale. I went outside, and heard the sound of the freight train, then the sirens. I got the wife into the 'safe place', and stayed there til the sirens quit. The first indication that there had been a touchdown was seeing insulation, tar paper and roofing material in the yard. The first indication that there was serious damage was seeing the Channel 8 helicopter hovering over the neighborhood. The power was out, so I cranked up the emergency radio.
First thing I heard was how hail was falling in Coppell, and how some people might be able to get a new roof out of it.
I heard about the tornado in Lancaster, and the tornado in Forney, but only brief mention of the tornado in Arlington. I wanted to know when power might come back on, and what was going on at Martin High (1/4 mile from the path) but heard nothing. The anchor called in the reporter to tell how many homes were without power, and the reporter said he didn't know, and couldn't find out.
Driving up Little road, seeing the damage, stuck in traffic, I heard very little about my side of town.
As I turned off Arkansas onto Green Oaks, I heard how Green Oaks was closed at Arkansas. Not quite. A little while later while stuck in huge backups on Little Road, I heard the traffic pitch to Tarrant county... and the only report was that I-35 was running smoothly.

Later on, I heard Mike Rogers compelling report on Forney, then the anchor said we'll take a look at Arlington after Traffic and Weather.
I heard a reporter's interview with a woman who rode out the storm in her bathroom, then mention that trees along Green Oaks were up-rooted. Nothing about the hundred homes damaged, or the half-dozen destroyed.
At 11pm, unable to sleep, I turned it on again. Only brief newscasts, nothing on whether there would be school at Martin, nothing on when power might be restored. I did hear the Batchelor show come on, and on another station, there was a 20 minute interview with the meteorologist, about how much he knows about North Texas Weather. Good for him. He's a beloved and knowlegeable fellow, but I knew that. I needed to know where the shelter was, when power would be back, if classes would be held, but... didn't.


You may be thinking this is just the ranting of a former radio newsman, but I gotta tell ya, despite how exciting it is to hear how people saw the tornado and narrowly escaped, I needed INFORMATION, and didn't get it.

here's the kicker... I called Mom in San Antonio to tell her we were al right. She went on line, and told me about the the damage along I-20 and Kelly Ellliot, described pictures of the tornado in Lancaster, and gave me more information than I ever got from local radio.