[Hidden-tech] How to get news in a power outage - REPLY FROM WFCR/NEPR

[Helen Barrington]

Hi there,

A few clarifications:

WNNZ FM in Deerfield repeats the programmming on WNNZ AM in Westfield, 
but is fed separately. It has a very small signal pattern, just Franklin 
County (Greenfield, Deerfield, and some in the surrounding town south, 
west and north). It's near Deerfield Academy, as I think you know. It 
came back up before Westfield did (which actually surprised us). The 
generator would be for the Westfield site. The station doesn't own any 
vehicles, so remote broadcasting would not be possible. Plus if there is 
no power at the transmitters, I think we'd still be "offline." Our 
signals cover a huge region, which we have to consider as we think about 
what to do in emergencies: from Brattleboro to Hartford and Worcester to 
Williamstown.

We have regular contact with our colleagues at other public radio 
stations in the 6 New England states (with close daily cooperation with 
WNPR in Hartford: WFCR serves a large number of listeners in northern 
CT) and will be coordinating even more closely, as we go forward.

We're all set on the e-mail front, but thanks. The WFCR e-dresses are 
good for a year, as we make the transition.

All the best,

Helen

On 11/4/2011 9:10 AM, Tom Novelli wrote:
> Marcia/Helen, thanks for bringing this up.  I have a few comments (see below).
>
>> Now that we own WNNZ, we hope to purchase a generator for it (which is also thousands of dollars, a major capital expense), to become our primary broadcast source when WFCR is off. It, too, was the victim until this Wednesday afternoon, of a commercial power failure in Westfield. We're again trying to see if we can get some grants or do some quick fundraising to get generators for both stations (though, once obtained, the weather may impede installing them until spring, but we'll see).
> Hmm.. the WNNZ transmitter is very close to a major power line on
> route 5-10 in Deerfield.  Too bad it can only be used from Westfield,
> apparently.  Would it be possible to broadcast from some place closer
> in emergencies, maybe even from a vehicle at the transmitter site?
> The ham radio community could fill the void in information-gathering.
>
> Also, WAMC-Albany was up and running throughout the storm but wasn't
> really covering the situation here in the valley (not at the times I
> checked... and our kitchen radio has been tuned to 90.3 since Sunday).
>   WFCR staff could coordinate with WAMC (and other overlapping
> stations) next time.  Also, it wouldn't hurt for listeners to call up
> whatever station they can hear to let them know they're needed.
>
>> Please note my new email address: hbarrington at nepr.net
> Hmm... there's no reason why @wfcr.org emails can't work indefinitely.
>   One of us geeks would be happy to set that up if you (WFCR) need
> help!  You're still my favorite radio station. :)
>
> -- Tom Novelli    tnovelli.net


-- 
Helen Barrington
Executive Director for Programming and Content
New England Public Radio/nepr.net
Phone: 413-577-0541
Please note my new email address: hbarrington at nepr.net