In early March, a heavy, wet snow covered Allegany County (and beyond). The storm caused widespread power outages that impacted the village of Wellsville. For twenty-four hours and ten minutes, Allegany County's largest village went dark. There was no power...which also sent three radio stations that claim to exist in Wellsville, into total silence and static. Unless you had a generator, there was no internet, no wifi and no local radio. Residents were in an information 'dead zone.' It's difficult to imagine that in 2018, public broadcasters don't have access to auxiliary power sources. The public need was stated clearly during a recent county legislature public safety committee meeting when the Sheriff said (he) "and Mr. Luckey did issue a traffic advisory early in the morning, but without phones, internet, and radio stations, he is not sure it got out to those who needed to see it."
I'm a radio guy and always have back up plans A-F, which include having batteries. I attempted to tune in to 'local' radio stations for news and official information...nothing but static. Apparently, the 'corporate owners' like the ad revenue, but aren't too concerned with giving the public emergency information. I also know that for most of these stations, the local workers were crushed. They wanted to inform the public...but had no voice.
In 1972 when a major flood wiped out the region, WLSV-AM 790 in Wellsville managed to secure power to do an amazing job. - non-stop broadcasting. In the early 1990's, WJQZ-FM in Wellsville relied on the kindness of L.C. Whitford to provide generators to provide juice during a major ice storm (downtown studio's and the tower site). Around the clock, these stations provided vital information.
In 2018, I can't believe that 'local' radio station's choose profits over public service. It is time these station's remembered their roots...and provide a public service...
