Greensburg Tornado Notes I

Well it seems as if the coverage will go on well through the early morning hours, and I think I am going to give the old TV a rest. Interesting coverage on the 3 stations. Once again it seemed as if KSN had to start as the underdog, but eventually pulled even with the other 3 and then past them with the first video. I should dub them the "Little Engine that could." As a comment to an earlier post noted, KSN had severe layoffs awhile back and thought KSN had smaller resources than the others.
KAKE and KWCH had their weather spotters describing the details in the early moments after the storm. The SAT cams that proved real helpful last week, didn't provide the pictures as they have had in the past. That could be due to communication issues all 3 had problems with in that area. I think KAKE's Lanny Dean provided the first phoned in reports from the area, but the scope of the storm became apparent as cell phone service was very sketchy, and he said he was using a SAT phone. News organizations reported the difficulty of getting a phone call completed to Greensburg being near impossible. Reporters eventually arrived in the area. KSN had the first video of survivors telling their tales. A little hard to hear at times, but it was good to hear the tales they told. This coverage, no doubt, will continue throughout the weekend and into next week. As far as the three, KAKE did well with their storm chasers and seemed to be ahead of information early in the game. KAKE had some real nice pictures of the wide tornado from their storm spotter later into the early morning hours. Their video, although late, was better than the early stuff KSN showed. KWCH had the tools but no proof of damage into 2 AM, and seemed rather conservative (like normal). I know the main anchors on KWCH needed a break, but I think they pulled them to early and let the Fox anchor take over. Not as strong as Cindy by a long shot and as the crews arrived and the video, Cindy needed to deliver it or some one stronger than their Fox anchor. KSN had good reports on the phone from Chanda Brown and video. One downside to KSN coverage, was Anita chatting with Dave in front of radar screens on the same shot. This could be a result of staffing levels, I dont know, but Anita being on the desk would have appeared a little more polished, than holding a microphone next to Dave. But I think KSN rebounded very well and in the early morning hours on Saturday had pulled even and maybe even ahead. -Hal
UPDATE 2:35AM: Although others heard that someone told someone that there were fatalities, KSN was first to have a confirmation from officials of a fatality.
Update 2:40AM: KAKE had an unfortunate situation as they ran an interview from tape from a guy who said "Fu--ing scarry." Susan immediately apologized for the profanity slipping through.
Update 3:15AM:KAKE was first to cut away from coverage around 3AM and KSN followed around 3:15AM. KWCH must of thought it could make up for a lack of good coverage early on and a conservative approach throughout the evening and morning by giving quantity of coverage and stayed on the air. By 3:15AM ,everything that was to say was already said and I think it was a good time to bow out and recollect on things and recharge for the day ahead. Once again Rebecca Gannon is absolutely terrible with live coverage on KWCH. If KWCH was to go on through morning, then its OK to blow your least talented on set anchor at this time. Not a bad choice, if that is their choice. I would have stayed with Cindy to at least 3AM. Nearly 40 minutes after it was first broken on another station, KWCH finally confirmed a fatality. -Hal