Tornado Warnings, TV, & Complainers – Problems That Must Be Addressed

Hello all! It has been awhile. I feel like I have been saying that quite often when starting off my recent blog posts…mostly because I haven’t been as active as I should be. Things have gotten really busy, but as I said previously, I do plan to dedicate time to make sure that I continue to build this blog and all my channels. I’m taking personal responsibility to make sure that it happens as well as get everything else done that needs to be done (work or otherwise).

Personal responsibility is a good segue into today’s post too. This is a post that I have been wanting to write for awhile. It could kind of fall in line with everything going on with the COVID-19 crisis even. Note, that today’s blog posts will specifically discuss how news stations deal with tornado warnings and some responses from their local markets that are completely uncalled for. This may trigger some people who react in such a way (and I really hope that there is more of a minority than a majority in that case). If you are one that does, know that I am not targeting you, blaming you or anything of the sort. Just please read and learn about the requirements. Also, remember that there are other people in the viewing area besides you. Lastly, remember that TV meteorologists are also human beings.

I had an idea to write a post about this for awhile. I actually think about it quite often and manage to post about it on Facebook every now and then. What really pushed me to do this was because a friend of mine (who I actually met through airshows) is a meteorologist at WCYB out of the Tri-Cities in Tennessee. This friend is a terrific meteorologist and a person I have the utmost respect for. Earlier this week, he was covering the area during Hurricane/Tropical Storm Isaias, this included numerous tornado warnings. Now, we have never specifically discussed him getting messages or posts from people in his viewing area complaining about him or his station breaking in to “regular scheduled programming” to cover a tornado warning, but I am sure that it has happened to him. Not just to him, but probably to a majority of your local news station meteorologists (at least in areas where we are prone to severe weather).

That brings me to my first discussion point…interrupting regular scheduled programming for tornado warnings. To introduce this discussion point, watch this video below.

Pretty upsetting right? Hearing someone complain because a TV show was being interrupted while a life-threatening situation was underway. Nowadays, we have on-demand options that may help with that (this recording is from 10+ years ago, on-demand options were around back then but it is unknown if this lady had the option or not, but that doesn’t really matter). This recording was also from pre-2011 Super Outbreak and Joplin, when you think people would really pay attention to the weather more. For awhile, it worked, but then it subsided and the complaints picked back up.

First, we’ll put the big one out there first. Per FCC (Federal Communications Commission) Regulations, stations MUST interrupt regular scheduled programming and remain on the air if there is a tornado warning or any major emergency. This means, if a station does NOT interrupt, they could lose their license. That’s kind of a big deal for every news station (remember, local stations are on Public Airwaves and aren’t like the Disney Channel or anything where you pay for it, an antenna could reach them) But, it goes beyond business. If you have ever heard any popular meteorologist talk (James Spann, Gary England, Tom Skilling etc…) they care a lot more about the people in their viewing area than the licensing. These meteorologists are there to help save lives and keep people safe. That’s their order of business and that’s why they went into this line of business. In fact, you can hear it in meteorologists voices when they’re covering warnings. In fact, check out this video of McCall Vrydraghs, Chief Meteorologist at WHIO-TV in Dayton getting emotional as a large tornado approaches the City of Dayton, Ohio during the Memorial Day 2019 Outbreak. This outbreak produced more tornadoes in a single 24 hour period than any other outbreak in Ohio history, including an EF4 that struck near the City of Dayton (the one being reported on in this video). Thankfully, due to McCall and other meteorologists covering these storms, which struck under the cover of darkness, only one tornado related fatality occurred.

Meteorologists are human. Meteorologists have emotions. This proves it. They would definitely rather let you enjoy your program than have a major tornado hit, but they are there to protect citizens. They are there to protect you! They aren’t interrupting to piss you off, they interrupt to warn people that are in the path of the dangerous storm. Before we move on, make sure you read McCall’s letter to the Miami Valley region following that night, it will help hit a lot of these points home.

Now, going back to the initial video of the angry phone call. The woman in said call keeps talking about how the storm was nowhere near here and she “didn’t care”, she just wanted to watch Criminal Minds! That brings me to my next point…just because the storm isn’t happening in your backyard doesn’t mean that people aren’t in danger. Viewing areas are rather large, sometimes covering hundreds of square miles. News stations have an obligation to cover said markets. Just because it is happening 45 minutes away doesn’t make it any less dangerous. They can’t just break in to one county…this isn’t a tornado siren. They are warning people in another county that a storm is moving their way and that it could be dangerous. A human life in that county is a lot more important than a TV show. Show some compassion, some people, at that very moment that you are complaining, could be losing everything. Oh, and just because it is happening 45 minutes away doesn’t mean that a storm won’t form and hit you. Will you sit there and yell at the TV that your regular program isn’t on as a large tornado approaches?

Let’s move on to another example, people thinking meteorologists are being “over-dramatic” or out there to “scare people”. A lot more people think this than should, but, truthfully, meteorologists aren’t out there to “scare” anyone. They want people to be aware and have a plan in place, “just in case”. You may see their energy really pick up when they know a tornado is on the ground, and at that point they aren’t being over-dramatic, their adrenaline is up just like anyones would be. They are then trying their best to warn you, and yes, at that point, they will use words such as “catastrophic damage” and “damaging tornado” among others. That isn’t being over-dramatic, that is letting you know that something serious is going on and you have to take it seriously. Some stations have the luxury of being able to show tornadoes live via SkyCam or LiveEye networks, but you don’t have that option under the cover of darkness. People have a better change of listening if they see those tornadoes live, but using eye/ear-catching phrases such as the ones I mentioned above, also increase citizens chance of listening (and thus, survival). Once again, they are there to warn you, not scare you. Going back to the Dayton tornado mentioned above (which occurred under the cover of darkness), local meteorologists knew that a tornado was on the ground because one was reported by spotters AND a debris ball was visible on radar (this is literally where the radar shows that debris is being thrown in the air). These are all signs that a major tornado is occurring. Even with these tell-tale signs and the use of the phrases “damaging tornado”, “tornado emergency” and “catastrophic damage” (phrases that were put in place by the local National Weather Service office to hit the point home that this was a dangerous storm that was occurring), former local meteorologist Jamie Simpson from ABC 22/FOX 45 got called “over-dramatic”. Thankfully, he wasn’t having it and his reaction can be seen below:

You want to know what’s crazy? Videos of the above incident were uploaded numerous times on YouTube. Most people agreeing that the tornadoes take precedence over a reality TV show. However, one video I found, had some nasty comments. One comment falsely claimed that they are required to “report” the warnings but don’t have to interrupt. Beyond that, there were several comments attacking the news station, the State and more! I have a feeling they’d be singing a different tune if they were in the path.

Now, I get that TV time is YOUR time. But we have to put lives ahead of television. I also get that not all TV events can be watched via re-runs or on demand. Take The Masters for example. Here we talk about meteorologists, who we have discussed above don’t like over-sensationalizing things and also established are humans, go from trying to save lives to receiving death threats themselves. That’s right, a meteorologist in Atlanta received death threats as she did her job and warned viewers about tornadoes in the area during The Masters in 2019. This was when Tiger Woods was chasing history (and eventually won) and The Masters had concluded before the storms rolled into Augusta. But, go ahead and read the article above, and read some of the tweets. I expect you to have some sort of reaction to it. They even split-screen coverage for tornado warnings at that point and would’ve taken it full if a confirmed tornado occurred (and one did that day). Once again, beyond wanting to save lives and warn people, she was just doing her job and the station was doing what they were REQUIRED to do per the FCC…break into programming!

As we move towards this conclusion, I want to lay this out for everyone in the simplest of terms using my evidence above. These are the reasons why meteorologists will interrupt programming (and maybe even your favorite show or sporting event):

1. They are required to per FCC regulations because it is in the best interest for the public. Not doing so may cause them to lose their license.
2. They have studied meteorology and know how to cover it on television. They do their jobs to keep people informed of the weather, this includes tornado warnings.
3. These meteorologists are also members of your local community. They care about the viewing area. They want everyone to be safe!

Now, here are the reasons that you should be happy that meteorologists interrupt your TV:

1. Not all tornado warnings produce tornadoes. But it truly is better safe than sorry!
2. Live Television Coverage of tornadoes and tornado warnings are proven to save lives. Citizens prefer a two-step system. Tornado sirens only help so much and many people rely on local news for updates. Live TV coverage showing tornadoes LIVE saved numerous lives on April 27th, 2011 (and also saved numerous other lives over the last decade or so). The main goal of these meteorologists is to protect you. Someone thanked James Spann live on air after the April 8th, 1998 F5 that affected areas near Birmingham, Alabama. The guy told Mr. Spann that he literally saved his life, in which James got emotional on air. They are there to protect you!
3. Them preempting broadcasting could save your life or the life of your family and friends.

Now, here is why you should never get mad at a meteorologist for interrupting your programming:

1. They are just doing their job!
2. They are the experts and are listening to what other experts are seeing (National Weather Service, Storm Prediction Center, National Hurricane Center etc…)
3. They are HUMAN! They care! They want to do their best to make sure no one gets hurt.

Here are three other articles that also discuss this. Just so you aren’t getting the information from me, go ahead and get it here too:

–WSLS 10: “Why TV Meteorologists Interrupt Any and All Shows During a Tornado Warning”
–Forbes Science: “News Stations Won’t Stop Covering a Tornado Because You’re Missing Your Favorite TV Show”
–The Vane/Gawker: “Networks Are Obligated to Preempt Your TV Shows During a Tornado”

Any questions?

Adventure Brett (Forecaster Brett)

Universe of Adventures

P.S. WOOD-TV out of Grand Rapids, Michigan interrupted programming during the Late June storms in Southwest Michigan. A tornado warning wasn’t even issued at that point but they had seen rotation and wanted to make sure people were warned. It was originally just a quick interruption as they were live on Facebook, but as the storm appeared to grow more dangerous, they stayed on air. This was a good call as they were live on air as their radar showed the grim picture of a very severe storm pushing eastward. Moments after they saw it on radar, the National Weather Service issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Kalamazoo County for really dangerous winds exceeding 85 mph. If you want to learn more about this event, read my blog posts about it here & here.

This graphic below shows the difference between a Watch and a Warning for those that get them confused.