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Country Radio Braces For 'Winter Storm Leon'
January 28, 2014 at 8:35 AM (PT)
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There’s a name for the kind of Arctic weather gripping much of the country TODAY (1/28) -- according to the NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, that name is WINTER Storm LEON.
ALL ACCESS checked in with radio programmers in LEON’s path, to see how they’re covering this once-in-a-generation event.
SUMMIT MEDIA Country WZZK/BIRMINGHAM PD DAVE DUNAWAY reports that many kids in his town have been stuck at school TODAY (1/28), and will have to spend the night at school.
“One thousand cars are off to the side of the road, with temps remaining in the teens tonight, so ice slick spots will stay with us,” said DUNAWAY. “Many office workers are also stuck at work and spending the night in office buildings. WZZK is staffed around the clock until this is over, with some sleeping at the station.”
“Content-wise, we’ll be pretty much information, not entertainment -- bagging contesting once the snow starts falling [this afternoon] until at least midday TOMORROW (1/29), said MAX MEDIA Country WGH/NORFOLK PD MARK MCKAY. “ And we’ve got access to the meteorologists from our ABC affiliate, if need be," he added.
At CURTIS MEDIA/RALEIGH, cluster VP/Programming and Country WQDR PD LISA MCKAY (No relation to MARK) says this winter, morning show co-host MARTY YOUNG has been dispatched to scrape windshields, warm up cars and serve hot chocolate. But with a heavy promotional schedule that includes a Wingbowl, JERROD NIEMANN VALENTINES DAY promotion and Megaticket giveaways, “We are covering the facts and closings,” said MCKAY. “Our listeners always check in with fun stuff about the first flake, so that will be fun too.”
It’s business as usual at ENTERCOM Country WBEE/ROCHESTER, NY according to PD BOB BARNETT. “A bit more focus on weather related traffic problems and closings/delays but WBEE is already a service-oriented product, so we just deliver on the listener expectations. Hearty people in this part of the country, at least when it comes to dealing with ARCTIC winters.”
Meanwhile, L&L BROADCASTING Country WUBB/SAVANNAH, GA “Morning Showgram” host TIM LEARY asked listeners to share how they were dealing with LEON. “This area isn’t really equipped to handle weather like this,” said LEARY. “So things started out with the basics.” When asked the one item they could stock up on, LEARY tells ALL ACCESS, “People might be stuck in their houses for a few days, but they’re going to have fun while they’re in there.”
Here’s the list of (ahem) essentials from WUBB listeners:
- Bacon
- Sweet Tea
- Moon Pies
- Fireball Whiskey
- Propane
- Nutty Bars
- Chewing Tobacco
- Entire DUKES OF HAZZARD Box Set
- Coors Light
- Bolied Peanuts
- Apple Pie Moonshine
- LUKE BRYAN

