Posted by Jeremy Andrews on July 19, 2015 at 18:46:24:
In Reply to: Local Radio Dead in Racine posted by Country Boy on July 18, 2015 at 15:49:58:
I know Country Boy will not agree with me, but let's be honest about WRJN.
I cannot remember hearing anything other than an EAS activation either after hours or weekends. Even during the tornado warnings that went thru Racine County in the past. Trust me, that was a place I checked. They were running the regular syndicated talk programming.
When Janet Hoff was at work (She's on with news weekday afternoons to this very day) on a weekday afternoon when a tornado warning was issued, both stations simulcast with information. I have an aircheck of it.
As for WIIL, they have a guy on staff. His name is Stu. Night guy. He was hired back when 104-7 The Wolf was still around. Stu, and a friend who is a weather enthusiast are very dedicated. They will go into work (The weather guy usually on the phone) and report the severe weather information, regardless. Their EAS box relays everything the NOAA Weather Radio stations put out.
WIIL had the best coverage in the area. I didn't know the weekender Jennifer Marr was live. She was. And she was on the phone with the weather expert. All music stopped. Then the PD came in and took over for her and they continued the coverage until the warnings were over. I highly recommend WIIL during severe weather. They have a long history of quality severe weather coverage.
The only other options (except EAS) are TV and WTMJ-AM. If it's during the week, and people are in the building sometimes the iHeart stations will switch to a simulcast of WITI's audio. This is common in several iHeartMedia markets.
By the way, WVCY-FM and TV are also reliable EAS sources. They have everything set automatically. Always have. They even let the EAS go off for Special Marine Warnings, which are usually never heard on the radio.