'Frankenstorm' Battering The East Coast, Radio Keeps Listeners Informed

Atlantic City Expected To Be Point Of Landfall

The so-called "Frankenstorm" fueled by HURRICANE SANDY is hammering the highly populated EAST COAST TODAY, with MSNBC reporting that "History-making Hurricane SANDY may bring 11-foot wall of water, two feet of snow,: and that "NOAA's hurricane research division warns the hurricane's surge and wave 'destruction potential' at 5.8 on a 0-to-6 scale."  Radio started preparing as early as late last week to make sure their audiences would be informed.

If the storm remains on its current track, SANDY's center is expected to be near the JERSEY SHORE close to ATLANTIC CITY on MONDAY night, according to THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER. 

Many businesses in MANHATTAN are closing their offices to put the safety of their employees first  -- including the NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, as well as all U.S. stock exchanges, which late SUNDAY decided to completely close, foregoing the earlier outlined option of electronic trading.

And, the NYSE has announced it will remain closed TOMORROW (10/30) and may reopen on WEDNESDAY (10/31).

NEW YORK CITY shut down their train (both city subway and suburban lines) and the bus system at 7p SUNDAY night. Trains in PHILADELPHIA are not running, and AMTRACK has suspended service in the area.

NAB EVP/Media Relations DENNIS WHARTON tells ALL ACCESS that their offices in D.C. are closed as is the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

NAB Pres./CEO GORDON SMITH noted, "I salute the remarkable work of our radio and TV station colleagues now putting themselves in harm's way to keep millions of people safe and informed on the devastation of this deadly storm. As FEMA Administrator CRAIG FUGATE noted this weekend, in times of emergency there is no more reliable source of information than that coming from local broadcasters. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those in the path of Hurricane SANDY."

Radio Is Prepared To Serve

CCM+E VP/Marketing & Communications ANGEL ARISTONE told ALL ACCESS, "We reach more than nine million NEW YORKERS weekly through our stations, and it's a priority for the CLEAR CHANNEL MEDIA + ENTERTAINMENT/NYC cluster to keep its listeners as up-to-date and informed as possible on HURRICANE SANDY.

"Beginning FRIDAY, CLEAR CHANNEL’s NEW YORK stations, including 103.5 KTU, Q104.3, Z100, 106.7 LITE FM and POWER 105.1, have been providing frequent storm updates at least twice an hour 24/7, and will continue to do so. We have staff working around the clock monitoring and tracking HURRICANE SANDY and will increase updates for our listeners as the storm heightens.

"With potential power outages in towns and cities across the EAST COAST, radio will play a critical role as the main source for news ... not only keeping residents aware of developments, but working with local emergency personnel, the RED CROSS and other organizations to solicit important information to communities if need be, so be sure to stay tuned to your local station and stock up on batteries for your radio. Get local weather updates even when the power is out by using a battery powered radio or the free iHEARTRADIO app. Also iHEARTRADIO will continue to provide up-to-the-minute coverage and information via FACEBOOK and TWITTER. iHEARTRADIO is also providing coverage on 24/7 NEWS and breaking news on HURRICANE SANDY can be found here.

"Our listeners can also visit their radio station websites to find the latest tracking details of HURRICANE SANDY and the latest maps, information and emergency contact information in your community."

CUMULUS Hot AC WPLJ AND Talk WABC-A/NEW YORK OM TONY MASCARO told ALL ACCESS, "WABC is into extensive storm coverage from now until the storm ends and then afterwards. We have a full news staff here as well as street reporters in the field. We will be going with non-stop news and information day and night to report on all storm related info including mass transit, shelter areas, emergency areas and we will cover all press conferences from head officials throughout the TRI-STATE AREA. Our staff is either at hotels in the area or camping out in the station. We have our conference room set up with spots for people to sleep and we are well stocked with food and drink. Most people got here SUNDAY night and plan to stay until WEDNESDAY morning."

CUMULUS Hot AC WPLJ/NEW YORK PD JOHN FOXX added, "we've been on it since late last week and took it to the next level all weekend. We've been doing web/social media updates along with hourly updates with meteorologist BILL EVANS from Channel 7 EYEWITNESS NEWS. Yesterday afternoon/night we were full blast with updates. SCOTT and TODD are at the wheels right now; we are informing our audience on everything. We have sister station WABC in the event we need to go wall to wall and simulcast -- that decision has not been made yet."

At CUMULUS Talk WABC-A/NEW YORK, MARK SIMONE is filling in for DON IMUS, and GM STEVE BORNEMAN tells ALL ACCESS that he made the call to make the substitution out of concern for IMUS' staffers, who largely lives in coastal locations, noting that IMUS wanted to go on the air TODAY (SIMONE can walk to the studio).  IMUS' syndicated show is in best-of mode, and SIMONE is hosting that show and local updates.  At 10a, the syndicated GERALDO RIVERA show will offer storm coverage, followed by local updates during the syndicated RUSH LIMBAUGH and SEAN HANNITY shows and wall-to-wall coverage when the storm hits the city.  BORNEMAN added that the coverage will "likely" be simulcast on sister Hot AC WPLJ during the worst of the storm.  Essential personnel have been at the stations all weekend and conference and interior rooms have been prepared as hurricane rooms with air mattresses, food and water, and generators.

CBS RADIO NEW YORK is in regular programming with extensive coverage on News WINS-A and WCBS-A but has secured hotel rooms to keep staff on hand in case of emergency; Sports WFAN-A has added additional traffic reports with sister News WCBS-A reporter CRAIG ALLEN for the duration.

ESPN Sports WEPN-A (ESPN NEW YORK 98.7 FM) and Spanish Sports WEPN-A (ESPN DEPORTES NUEVA YORK 1050 AM)/NEW YORK will be simulcasting corporate sibling ABC O&O WABC-TV (ABC7)'s coverage for the duration of the storm, inserting SPORTSCENTER updates twice an hour.

CCM+E RVP and PHILADELPHIA OM BRIAN CHECK told ALL ACCESS, "PHILADELPHIA is using a combination of our local news and traffic team, our HARRISBURG CCM+E news hub, and our partnership with 6-ABC TV to provide frequent updates.

"WISX will be simulcasting 6ABC's wall-to-wall coverage in the height of the storm, as a service to those without power. And naturally, we have all personnel standing by, with plans to stay overnight as SANDY passes through."

And, sister Top 40 WIOQ (Q102)/PHILADELPHIA is on top of things with an emergency page, featuring the track of HURRICANE SANDY, and local school and business closures, as well as other vital emergency links.

BEASLEY Country WXTU/PHILADELPHIA PD SHELLY EASTON said, "All full-time staff is working throughout the duration of the storm. We have a primary anchor and reporters from THE JERSEY SHORE area and PENNSYLVANIA suburbs reporting each hour. We have built a storm micro site and will use TWITTER and FACEBOOK.

"In the event of a massive power outage, we will join forces with our ABC TV affiliate to simulcast in the interest of public safety. We have also made provisions to broadcast from our transmitter site if necessary. We are doing everything within our power to remain live and local for the duration of the storm and serve our community." 

GREATER MEDIA Adult Hits WBEN/PHILADELPHIA PD CHUCK D'AMICO said, "GREATER MEDIA/PHILADELPHIA stations are partnered with ABC NEWS locally to be able to bring up to the minute news and weather information to our listeners. In extreme situations we are equipped to carry the local ABC NEWS feed live on all of our stations. The four GREATER MEDIA/PHILADELPHIA stations are Rock WMMR, Adult Hits WBEN, Classic Rock WMGK and Sports WPEN."

CCM+E Alternative WWDC (DC101)/WASHINGTON, D.C. and Adult Hits WQSR (102.7 JACK-FM) PD JAMES HOWARD (who also oversees sister Rocker WXTB/TAMPA) said, "It is still early here, no power outages so far. The station is fully staffed with a round-the-clock schedule ready. God bless MCDONALDS for being open this morning (they were the only thing), so we haven't dove head first into our stash of Ramen Noodles, old coffee and eventual warm vodka. With all seriousness, we have a sound plan to deliver all the information that the D.C. area needs to get through this. The reason I got into radio was because of a broadcast on WIOD back in MIAMI in '92 during ANDREW. Radio is at its best in times like these and we plan to be up to the challenge." 

HUBBARD News WTOP/WASHINGTON's JIM FARLEY tells ALL ACCESS that the station's website has already logged over two-million page views on SUNDAY, with 280,000 unique users, and that the station will simulcast on sister News WFED-A (FEDERAL NEWS RADIO)/WASHINGTON and its simulcaster WWFD-A/FREDERICK, MD to offer greater coverage for out-of-market areas like BALTIMORE and MARYLAND's EASTERN SHORE.

TOWNSQUARE MEDIA Talk WKXW (NEW JERSEY 101.5)/TRENTON didn't wait for the storm to arrive, with PD ERIC JOHNSON telling ALL ACCESS that the station dropped the usual weekend Classic Hits format as of SUNDAY at 7p (ET) to go with its weekday Talk format and a heavy dose of news, weather, traffic and storm prep information.  The station will also air a special edition of its "ASK THE GOVERNOR" show with Gov. CHRIS CHRISTIE MONDAY night.
 
Meanwhile, up the road at GREATER MEDIA Talk WCTC-A/NEW BRUNSWICK, the station is airing all-day coverage MONDAY with morning host JACK ELLERY and PD/midday man BERT BARON joined by fill-in hosts TOMMY G and ALAN DAVID STEIN and News Director BRUCE JOHNSON.

GREATER MEDIA AC WJRZ (MAGIC 100.1)/MONMOUTH-OCEAN, NJ PD GLENN KALINA said, "We are on full-throttle alert and have been preparing for a few days now. Generators are charged and fueled, available air staff ready to go, lines of communication have been established with local townships and state agencies, and meteorologists.

"We have several interviews with officials of THE RED CROSS already airing regarding emergency plans and check lists. We started special programming features SATURDAY. Evacuation centers and much more also available on our website on a special page setup for HURRICANE SANDY. We'' make sure to provide FACEBOOK and TWITTER videos and updates of course. This is just the beginning!"

TOWNSQUARE Hot AC WSJO and Country WPUR/ATLANTIC CITY Brand Mgr. JOE KELLY said, "Our ATLANTIC CITY cluster has been into hurricane preparedness mode since FRIDAY. Working with our state wide TOWNSQUARE news network, we've been working to get information out on air, online, and through our texting service to our audience. We've bent our formats on our music stations a lot ... to continuously update our region. We are right now finalizing plans to switch to an all out full hurricane broadcast."

COX Top 40 WBLI/LONG ISLAND PD JEREMY RICE said, "DANA and JEFFREY did an awesome show this morning and are ready to brave it out TOMORROW. Our man on the street JOHN ON LINE did live outdoor updates from LONG ISLAND's SOUTH SHORE on the water, and we had ALL the top politicians, News and Weather people in the market on air all morning. My staff is committed to be LIVE and LOCAL (as always) throughout the storm -- COX MEDIA GROUP/LONG ISLAND staffers are tough! We're going to be 'nuts' on social media and WBLI.COM to be the voice of LONG ISLAND! This is another example on how RADIO can be often imitated but never duplicated!"

CONNOISSEUR/LONG ISLAND's JON DANIELS tells ALL ACCESS, "The winds are really picking-up now, there's lots of coastal flooding and the worst is yet to come. The CONNOISSEUR LONG ISLAND stations AC WKJY (KJOY 98.3), Classic Hits WBZO (B-103), Rock WWSK (94.3 The Shark), and Standards WHLI are live and local with constant local updates, and interviews with local politicians and emergency management personnel making sure that important and lifesaving information reaches listeners. Mandatory evacuations are in place for parts of LONG ISLAND, so local radio is key, and this is where we shine!"

MAIN STREET BROADCASTING Oldies WLNG/SAG HARBOR, NY's BOB ALDRICH said, "WLNG is ready to continue our nearly 50-year tradition of being the 'go-to' station in THE HAMPTONS and THE EAST END of LONG ISLAND whenever it comes to any type of weather. Our entire staff, including our weekend crew, have been working non-stop over the last week to alert our listeners of the magnitude of this storm.

"Currently, we have wall-to-wall coverage, broadcasting up-to-the-minute updates not only from police, fire and power authorities, but from local officials who are coordinating the evacuation of low lying areas. We have full auxiliary power at both our Redwood Causeway studios and our transmitter site. With the unusual characteristics of this storm, though, we are concerned about losing our waterfront studio facility - the envy of many a broadcaster. However, we stand prepared to turn on a dime and relocate our broadcast to higher ground. To hear live and local radio in its finest hour, we invite you to listen in at WLNG 92.1FM or (as long as the internet gods smile on us) worldwide at www.wlng.com."

The three COX MEDIA GROUP properties in CONNECTICUT started heavy news coverage SUNDAY afternoon. The Governor, local mayors, power companies and more have used their airwaves to get the message across to stay off the road and where to find shelters, generators and help.

Both WPLR, WFOX and WEZN (STAR 99.9) are having their morning shows do afternoons as well. Stations are operating full-staff 24-7 and are hunkering down in the building.The cluster  GM is helping answer phones; the promotions assistant is tweeting storm updates, and some part-timers are helping produce for the midday shows.

"After IRENE and last year’s HALLOWEEN snow storm, we are very prepared to handle the coverage of these storms," OM KEITH DAKIN said. "The citizens of CONNECTICUT have started counting on our music stations to be there with news, weather and information in time of crisis. This is what radio is all about." .

ABSOLUTE BROADCASTING Talk WSMN-A/NASHUA, NH and Sports WGAM-A/MANCHESTER, NH-WGHM-A/NASHUA (THE GAME) GM and host MATT PERRAULT tells ALL ACCESS that his stations will all simulcast WSMN's local coverage of the storm if things get bad in the area.

CCM+E/BOSTON OM DYLAN SPRAGUE tells ALL ACCESS that the cluster is on storm watch with "a combination of local live jocks today and tonight, updates from our news hub in ALBANY and updates from our partnership with (HEARST ABC affiliate) WCVB-TV.  We will extend morning shows past 10a TOMORROW if needed and continue with coverage from the news hub and WCVB.  If there are widespread power outages in our area we will offer extended coverage of WCVB on 1200AM (Comedy WXKS-A (MATTY'S COMEDY 1200).

GREATER MEDIA Talk WTKK (NEWS TALK 96.9)/BOSTON is also doing live and local coverage of the storm with hosts JIM BRAUDE, MARGERY EAGAN, DOUG MEEHAN, and MICHAEL GRAHAM and DIAL GLOBAL's MICHAEL SMERCONISH, plus information from NECN, TOTAL TRAFFIC, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, and NBC NEWS.  Special coverage is expected to run through WEDNESDAY (10/31).

"Most area schools have canceled and businesses are following their lead so hopefully everyone will be hunkering down!  But we will offer extended traffic reports across the cluster for those who are headed to/from the office.  If the brunt of the storm spares BOSTON proper we will continue coverage of issues in SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND and NYC."

ENTERCOM Top 40/Rhythmic WNVZ (Z1040/NORFOLK PD MIKE KLEIN checked in and reported to ALL ACCESS, "We are live around the clock with updates on power outages, flooding and offering companionship. I'm personally on the air tonight from 7p to midnight and planning on sleeping at the station."

Meanwhile, ENTERCOM Hot AC WPTE (94.9 THE POINT) PD/MD BARRY McKAY hosted an All-Request Hurricane Party on the station as the hurricane threat died down. Requests rolled for "It's Raining Men," "Rock You Like A Hurricane" and "I'm Only Happy When It Rains!" Callers picked up copies of the latest Callers picked up copies of the latest P!NK and MUMFORD AND SONS CDs.

WAVZ-A/NEW HAVEN and WPOP-A/HARTFORD are simulcasting NBC-CT TV for those without power.
WELI-A and WKCI/NEW HAVEN are simulcasting with each other and providing live coverage of the coastal flooding, hosted by WELI's VINNINE PENN and WCKI DJ ASHLEY.

WAVZ-A/NEW HAVEN and WPOP-A/HARTFORD are simulcasting NBC-CT TV for those without power.
WELI-A and WKCI/NEW HAVEN are simulcasting with each other and providing live coverage of the coastal flooding, hosted by WELI's VINNINE PENN and WCKI DJ ASHLEY.

Many NYC Offices Are Also Closing

SONY MUSIC will be closed due to the impact of HURRICANE SANDY. SONY MUSIC's NEW YORK CITY and LYNDHURST offices will be closed MONDAY and TUESDAY, OCT. 29th-30th. Employees are encouraged to remain at home. Conditions for safe travel to work on TUESDAY will continue to be evaluated throughout the day tomorrow.

Prior to leaving for work on TUESDAY morning, all NEW YORK employees should please call the SONY MUSIC NEW YORK information line at (212) 833-5111 -- or alternately, the SONY CORP. NEW YORK information line at (212) 833-8080 -- for further updates. For those located in the LYNDHURST facility, please call (201) 777-3777.

UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP's NEW YORK offices are closed.  That includes INTERSCOPE/GEFFEN, ISLAND, MOTOWN, and REPUBLIC RECORDS.

UNITED STATIONS home office in NY is officially closed on MONDAY as the safety of our employees always comes first, according to VP/Programming ANDY DENEMARK. "With mass transit closures, anyone who lives outside of MANHATTAN will have no real way to get in to work anyway. Some folks who live close to the office may be in briefly, of course that depends on the weather as well as flooding and power outages.

"Our servers are all backed-up off-site and lots of folks will be able to work from home as long as power and Internet access remains intact, and our satellite distributed shows have off-site backups as well. Also, our offices in L.A., CHICAGO, DC, DALLAS and NASHVILLE should be unaffected.

If you have station or office information about HURRICANE SANDY, please click here to send it to ALL ACCESS, and push play on the video below to stay on top of the storm's progress. (iPhone users, click here).

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