MIAMI—As vacationers and residents of southern coast states evacuated to avoid 2017’s mega-storms Harvey and Irma, crews of journalists poured into locations they expected to take direct hits from the hurricanes. They joined local news crews who stayed behind to tell their absent viewers what they were missing out on.

A vital tool that played a large role in reporting live out of those disaster zones was cellular liveshot gear, which provided portability and reliability. Some of the credit for that reliability goes to the cellular liveshot equipment makers, but certainly some must go to the cellular network operators.

NO ‘BATTLE FOR BANDWIDTH’
Scripps used TV U’s Grid platform to route its signal from Detroit to Ft. Myers, Fla.“The LTE networks remained strong,” said Ray Thurber, vice president of engineering at station group E.W. Scripps. “Because so many people had evacuated the area, there wasn’t that battle for bandwidth that could be there on a normal day.”

In addition to the local south Florida news crews who stayed in place, Scripps sent 60 news employees from its stations not in a hurricane’s path to augment storm coverage and provide reporting to other stations by familiar correspondents. They used TVU and LiveU liveshot gear, and also had success with a Sony system that integrates a cellular stick into the camera. They also incorporated satellite and microwave equipment into their live-shots.

Independent news photographer Larry Collins was contacted by CNN and sent, along with a producer and reporter, to the Tampa Bay area. They did their first day of the storm reporting from a hotel across the street from the airport. “I think we had gusts of up to 110, 120 miles an hour,” Collins said.

The hotel’s covered check-in drive-through had large supporting columns that Collins put to use. “I had my HMI lights cinched up to them, illuminating the background of the parking lot,” he said. “And I could stay behind another column, which broke the wind and let me stay in place.” He said if he’d moved out of the windbreak the column provided, he’d have been blown across the drive. His reporter could stand out in the rain some of the time, and then duck behind the column where he could answer questions from the CNN news anchors. “We couldn’t have done the shot with a satellite truck.”

Collins said he had a great signal through his LiveU gear, except for one brief period. “We were getting ready to go live with a robust signal, and then everything disappeared, all the bandwidth went away. And it lasted about four minutes and then came back. I don’t know if there was a reboot somewhere or what.”

Since the hotel’s Wi-Fi and internet access was still working during the storm, Collins had an ace in the hole that he didn’t have to use. “You can utilize that through the LiveU,” he said. “We didn’t have to use that, but some friends of mine doing news reports from Puerto Rico told me that because cellular service was down, Wi-Fi was the only way they could get out.”

Independent news photographer Larry Collins used LiveU’s bonded cellular technology to cover a Coast Guard buoy inspection on CNN , 15 miles offshore.

CROSS-COUNTRY ROUTE
On day three of his storm coverage, Collins’ producer arranged for them to ride aboard a Coast Guard vessel that was inspecting Tampa Bay for new hazards and mislocated buoys before allowing large ships, carrying vital supplies such as gasoline, to deliver their cargo. “We were 10, maybe 15 miles off shore and still able to get live signals back to CNN’s various networks and platforms.”

Scripps’ Thurber said a large part of the success the company had with its disaster coverage was due to their preparations. “We have an Enterprise Response Team for situations like hurricanes, and we mobilized it early,” he said. “The individual stations in the affected markets have hurricane plans as well.”

Thurber added that Scripps used TVU’s Grid platform to “relocate” the newsroom from WFTX-TV’s Fort Myers, Fla. facility to Detroit, allowing them to route a control room around the country. They sent digital platform material over to Indianapolis and routed the news coverage back down to Florida where it was broadcast over the Fox affiliate.

In years past, cellular liveshot gear was used by news journalists with intermittent success. As the liveshot equipment and the cellular networks themselves have become ever more reliable, it’s become a tool that can be counted on.

WASHINGTON & NEW YORK—Efforts by local television broadcasters across the U.S. have brought in at least $45.1 million in relief funds to support the victims of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, according to NAB and TVB.

In response to the hurricanes in Florida and Texas, broadcast TV and radio stations organized a number of outreach efforts, including telethons and other fundraisers, and collecting food, water bottle, clothing, hygiene products and other supplies. A number of stations have also made direct donations to relief efforts.

The major networks have also contributed in the recovery efforts, airing the “Hand to Hand” telethon on Sept. 12, which raised $14.5 million during the live broadcast and $55 million in total.

These estimates do not include fundraising totals for Hurricane Maria relief efforts, as most telethons and charitable events are in the planning stage.

“Local broadcasters served as ‘first informers’ and saved countless lives as Harvey and Irma tore through Texas, Louisiana, Florida and the Southeast,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “Now, our attention turns to the long recovery ahead. I’m so proud of the generosity and compassion shown by broadcasters who are helping rebuild and restore hurricane-ravaged communities.”

The total funds were announced at the annual TVB Forward Conference in New York.

The 2017 hurricane season has been especially lethal with Harvey and Irma wreaking havoc of historic proportions across wide swaths of the U.S. most notably in Texas and Florida.

As devastating as the loss of life and destruction of personal property has been, there have been countless inspiring human interest stories amid the tragedy. We’ve seen and heard tales of sacrifice, heroism, and valor among ordinary citizens and first responders to these storms. As is always the case when hardship hits the U.S., the best in our fellow citizens comes out in spades.

Our traditional first responders—police, fire, National Guard, EMT’s, doctors and nurses—rose to the occasion for the victims of Harvey and Irma. These heroes put the safety and well-being of the community ahead of everything else, including their own families. These brave and selfless men and women not only deserve our recognition, they demand our respect.

Another critically important group that unites our communities during natural disasters are the local broadcasters of the U.S. In the case of Harvey and Irma, it was the local radio and TV broadcasters in Texas and Florida, who were there for the local markets when the storms unleashed their fury.

When the people of Texas and Florida needed credible information on Harvey and Irma, local broadcasters stepped up to the plate to provide it in a way no one-person blog or non-local search engine could ever accomplish. The technology provided by local broadcasters during Harvey and Irma enabled millions of residents to find safe havens and clearly saved lives in the process. Only local broadcasters and local meteorologists were able to talk to the specific neighborhoods and towns in harm’s way to lead people to safety.

The local broadcasters were at the forefront to educate, inform, comfort, console and most importantly, protect the public before, during, and after Harvey and Irma. Their free, over-the-air signals were the epicenter of crucial news and information to help lead people to safety. When their communities needed them most, local broadcasters responded with bi-lingual, commercial free and around the clock coverage on their linear, digital and social platforms.

Local broadcasters trumped anything the national news media could provide because these storms were, in essence, local stories. Trusted TV and Radio brands and personalities were what people needed and the local broadcasters of Texas and Florida were there for them at every turn. Perhaps most importantly, local broadcasters stayed behind in the markets they serve when the cable news networks folded up their tents and left town. Local broadcasters across the U.S. are there for their communities for the long haul.

It’s inevitable that we will face future natural (and unnatural) disasters. Wherever and whenever they might happen, our local TV and radio broadcasting groups will be ready with their free, over-the-air, streaming, digital and social platforms to provide the most comprehensive coverage for the local community and the nation.

Paul Curran is market VP for Cox Media Group Orlando consisting of WFTV TV (ABC), WRDQ TV (Ind), News 96.5 WDBO, K92.3, Star 94.5, Power 96.5, WMMO 98.9, ESPN 580, Solo Exidos 107.3, and Cox Events.

Mark Krieschen is VP & market manager for Cox Media Group Houston: KKBQ (93Q), Country Legends 97.1, The Eagle 106.9 &107.5, and CMG Local Digital Solutions.

This story originally appeared on TVT's sister publication B&C.

WASHINGTON—The damages caused by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma have affected a number of broadcasters, in response, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has granted $630,000 in emergency relief to 14 stations impacted by the storms.

The latest batch of grants was given to 10 stations in Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands following Hurricane Irma. They are:

WDNA-FM, Miami - $30,000 
WLRN-TV/FM , Miami - $60,000
WPBT-TV, Miami - $30,000
WGCU-TV/FM, Fort Myers, Fla. - $60,000
WJCT-TV/FM, Jacksonville, Fla. - $60,000
WUFT-TV/FM, Gainsville, Fla. - $60,000
WIPR-TV/FM, San Juan, Puerto Rico - $60,000
WRTU-FM, San Juan - $30,000
WMTJ-TV - Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico - $30,000
WTJX-TV, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands - $30,000

The grants are meant to help stations address increased operating costs and allow them to continue to operate and provide news and information to their communities.

After Hurricane Harvey, CPB also provided emergency grants to four stations in Texas: $60,000 to KEDT-TV/FM in Corpus Christi and KUHT-TV/FM in Houston; and $30,000 to KTSU-FM in Houston and KVLU-FM in Beaumont.

“Public media stations demonstrated their vital role keeping their communities informed as our country faced back-to-back hurricanes of epic proportions,” said Pat Harrison, CPB president and CEO. “CPB is making these emergency grants to support stations’ immediate needs and is making a long-term commitment to their ability to serve their communities throughout the recovery.”

WASHINGTON—The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is providing $500,000 in emergency funds to stations in Texas and Louisiana that were affected by Hurricane Harvey. The grants are to help stations with increased costs due to “extraordinary storm damage.”

The full story is available on TVT’s sister publication B&C.

WASHINGTON—The Federal Aviation Administration is doing what it can to support the recovery efforts in Houston following the effects of Hurricane Harvey, by issuing a number of unmanned aircraft system authorizations for drone operators.

As of Aug. 31, the FAA had issued 43 authorizations to cover a range of activities by local, state and federal officials who are conducting damage assessments of critical infrastructures, homes and businesses to help with recovery efforts. Authorizations have also been provided to media companies reporting on the event.

Among those granted authorizations have been a local fire department and county emergency management officials; state environmental quality officials; insurance companies; a railroad company; and oil and energy companies.

To apply for drone operation in direct support of Hurricane Harvey response and recovery in an area covered by Temporary Flight Restriction, you must contact the FAA’s System Operation Security Center at 202-267-8276.

WASHINGTON—The latest data report from the FCC on the status of communications in the wake of Harvey is decidedly mixed. Cell sites and TV stations are showing fewer stations off the air, but more radio stations are out of service and cable/broadband subscribers are also without service.

Read the full story on TVT’s sister publication B&C.

WASHINGTON—The FCC said Wednesday, Aug. 30, that three TV stations are now off the air in Texas, KUQI, KFDM and KBTV. That is up from one station the day before, KUQI.

That information comes in the FCC's latest update of communications in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, based on its Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS), which is a voluntary industry self-reporting system.

To find out more, read the full story on TVT's sister publication B&C. 

HOUSTON—As national and local broadcasters prepared and made their way down to Texas prior to Hurricane Harvey making landfall, some drone crews from Measure made the trek to provide their services in covering of the historic storm. Enlisted by a national network and a local Houston station, Measure helped provide the public with visuals of what is going on and what areas may or may not be safe.

The Measure crews consist of two employees, a pilot and a visual observer/camera operator, equipped with a primary and backup drone; for this event the crews have the DJI Inspire 2 with a Zenmuse X5S 4/3 camera with interchangeable lenses. To date, Measure has assisted in three live broadcasts during Harvey, transmitted via LiveU packs, according to Jon Ollwerther, Measure’s vice president of media.

“Right now the service we’re providing is a public service, we’re letting the public know what is going on,” Ollwerther told TV Technology.

While drones are becoming a more common tool for newsrooms, drone services like what Measure provides can be helpful in situations that call for operators more experienced with drones.

“Some networks and some stations want the ability to fly drones themselves,” Ollwerther explains. “But when a natural disaster like this occurs, the scope and scale is just too huge and the story too large for their news crews to be focusing on shooting a story from the ground and from the air. So what we do is really absorb that overflow demand.”

In the past, Measure has provided its drone services to networks like Fox, ABC and CNN. But Measure’s drones won’t be limited to helping broadcaster’s coverage of Harvey, the drones will also provide additional services to the affected areas. Ollwerther indicates that Measure has contracts with telecommunications, engineering and energy companies to use drones for vital infrastructure inspections during and after the storm.

Ollwerther also says that Measure is expecting to provide additional drone services the impacted areas in Louisiana, though said that nothing is confirmed as of publication.

WASHINGTON—As people and broadcasters in Texas are still recovering from Hurricane Harvey, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced that he will visit Texas Tuesday, Sept. 5, to inspect the damage and meet with those working on the recovery efforts.

“Working in close coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, the FCC will do everything it can to help restore communications services after this terrible storm,” Pai said in the FCC’s official statement. “I look forward to meeting those on the ground in Texas and seeing firsthand what needs to be done to make sure that those affected can get back on their feet as quickly as possible.”

Additional details on the Chairman’s visit will be announced closer to the trip.

WASHINGTON—U.S. radio and TV stations were supposed to have filled out a particular form by now in advance of September’s national EAS test. But the FCC is extending the deadline because of Harvey.

“We are aware that some EAS Participants are currently responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey,” the commission posted on its EAS Test Reporting System web page.

“Please know we will continue to accept Form One filings that are submitted in ETRS after the August 28 deadline. We ask all EAS Participants to file Form One as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation.”

To review: The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in collaboration with the FCC, will conduct its third nationwide test of the on Sept. 27 at 2:20 p.m. EDT. If weather or other conditions that require rescheduling, the backup is Oct. 4.

All EAS participants, which includes most broadcast stations, were supposed to complete the 2017 ETRS Form One by this past Monday for each of its EAS decoders, encoders or combo boxes., and should do so as soon as possible.

On test day, you must then file “day of test” info on Form Two; and the Form Three needs to be completed by Nov. 13.

This story first appeared on TVT's sister publication Radio World. 

MCLEAN, VA.—Tegna is lending a hand to those affected by Hurricane Harvey with the launch of its Texas Cares initiative. The effort will seek to raise money for the victims of the hurricane, with all money raised donated to the Red Cross Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund; Tegna has said it will match the first $100,000 of donations.

All 46 Tegna stations in 38 markets are calling on their communities to raise money for the Texas Cares initiative, running stations on-air and on social media with information on how to help. Each station also has a dedicated donation page on their website.

KHOU in Houston is a Tegna station, and despite flooding that occurred in the building, has stayed on the air to provide coverage to local residents across all of its platforms.

“I am incredibly proud of the work our stations are doing to keep their communities informed and safe while providing help and relief to those who need it most,” said Dave Lougee, president and CEO of Tegna.

More information can be found at www.tegna.com.

WASHINGTON—After counties in Texas and Louisiana were hit by Hurricane Harvey over the weekend, which has since been reclassified as Tropical Storm Harvey, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has issued a statement providing an update on the FCC’s involvement:

“Over the last three days, the Federal Communications Commission has been working in close coordination with the Department of Homeland Security to monitor the status of communications networks in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Harvey and to support relief and restoration efforts.”

“To date, the storm has most severely impacted communications networks near where Harvey made landfall. In Aransas, Calhoun and Refugio Counties, for instance, most wireless cell sites are currently out of operation. We are also keeping close tabs on the effect that widespread flooding could have on communications networks in Harris County and surrounding areas in the hours and days to come.”

Pai would go on to praise the work of FCC public safety and enforcement staff and the efforts of broadcast networks that have helped provide emergency information to residents.

“Everyone who is pitching in deserves our gratitude and support,” he said.

NEW YORK—The Broadcasters Foundation of America is offering a helping hand to broadcasters that have been hit by Hurricane Harvey. Broadcasters looking for relief can apply for an emergency grant of $1,000 on BFA’s website.

The BFA’s emergency relief program distributes one-time grants of $1,000 to broadcast stations after events like hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, floods or other disasters. The emergency grant application process is streamlined to provide assistance as quickly as possible.

The Texas and Louisiana Broadcasters Associations have already been contacted and are working with BFA to inform broadcasters about the process.

WASHINGTON—The FCC is offering its support to the communities affected by Hurricane Harvey by having its Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau activate the Disaster Information Reporting System. DIRS is a voluntary, web-based system that communication providers can use to report communications infrastructure status and situational awareness information during crises.

Communication providers in Louisiana and Texas—broadcasters, cable operators, wireless and wireline telecommunication providers—are being asked to submit and update information through DIRS regarding the status of their communications equipment, restoration efforts and power. The information can be submitted through www.fcc.gov/nors/disaster. Daily reports are requested at 10 a.m. until DIRS is deactivated. Providers who haven’t previously submitted to DIRS must provide contact information and obtain a user ID to access DIRS.

Louisiana counties where DIRS has been activated include: Acadia, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne and Vermilion.

Texas counties include: Aransas, Atascosa, Bee, Brazoria, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Colorado, DeWitt, Duval, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Harris, Hidalgo, Jackson, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kenedy, Kleberg, Lavaca, Liberty, Live Oak, Matagorda, McMullen, Nueces, Orange, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, Wharton, Willacy and Wilson.

HOUSTON—Hurricane Harvey swept through Texas this past weekend, causing flooding and more damages. As a result, Logitek has announced that its Houston office will be closed on Monday, Aug. 28, with the possibility of staying closed longer if flooding persists.

“Everyone at Logitek is safe and sound, but they are unable to get to the office due to the flooding in the area,” the company stated in its announcement. Logitek will provide updates via its Facebook page.

Logitek’s sales office, which is located in Philadelphia, is unaffected and remains open.