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

[Helen Barrington]

We were here starting Sunday afternoon updating the website with 
information from calls and the wires. And then, when the full staff was 
here, for the balance of the week.
We have had a number of personnel tragedies here in the last few months 
and were between webmasters when this happened (we have just a 1/2 time 
person now, we're in the process of hiring someone full time). We have a 
tiny staff, which I don't think is widely known. We're doing a lot with 
not a lot of people.
We have been roundly criticized for even suggesting people go online for 
any information, due to power outages and cell tower disruptions, but we 
plan to be live on our streams in the future. Because so many cell 
towers were down (at least where I live), a lot of people could not have 
accessed the streams either.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to get to the large pile of work on my 
desk, but delighted you're all interested in this. Best, Helen

On 11/4/2011 9:43 AM, Don Lesser wrote:
> And update the web pages. Given the number of smart phones that were a major
> source of communications, it should be easier to do. Since the websites
> never went down, I assume wherever they are hosted was OK and getting some
> info on the site shouldn't have been that difficult. On Sunday, no TV or
> radio station or MassLive/GazetteNet had anything of use. Most had Friday's
> news pages up.
>
> Don Lesser
> Pioneer Training, Inc.
> 139B Damon Road, Ste 8
> Northampton, MA 01060
> (413) 387-1040
> (413) 586-0545 (fax)
> dlesser at ptraining.com
> www.ptraining.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
> [mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net] On Behalf Of Tom
> Novelli
> Sent: Friday, November 04, 2011 9:10 AM
> To: Marcia Yudkin
> Cc: hbarrington at nepr.net; Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
> Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] How to get news in a power outage - REPLY FROM
> WFCR/NEPR
>
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>     ** If you did, we all thank you.
>
>
> 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
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-- 
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