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.

TALLAHASSEE, FLA.—About three weeks after Hurricane Irma struck Florida things are largely back to normal for broadcasters in the state, but the memory of the storm remains fresh.

“It was the most massive storm we have ever seen across the entire state. Now things like Hurricane Andrew [August 1992] in one specific market –South Dade County—was a lot worse.

Photo by Kenneth Wilsey

“But this one, the power outage was incredible,” says Pat Roberts, president and CEO of the Florida Association of Broadcasters.

Broadcasters in the state were on generator power longer than Roberts has ever seen, he says.

“Working with FEMA [the Federal Emergency Management Administration], [Department of] Homeland Security and the FCC, we were able to get fuel to everybody before they ran out. It was not easy, but we got it there,” says Roberts.

Eight of Florida’s 10 TV markets during the storm were under a hurricane warning or watch and one other was under a tropical storm warning. Only the Pensacola market was unaffected, says Roberts.

In the Florida Keys, which was the state’s hardest hit area, a single radio station, WWUS 104.1 FM Radio US1, managed to stay on the air during Hurricane Irma while cell phone towers and emergency communications were taken out, says Roberts.

“The sheriff lost communications with his deputies when their law enforcement radio system went down” he says. “He went to the radio station to tell his deputies over the air where they needed to go. It was a very strange occurrence to say the least.”

For more than a decade, radio and TV broadcasters in Florida have created informal partnerships to keep the public informed during hurricanes, says Roberts.

The idea is that when viewers lose power, they will tune in their battery-powered radios for storm bulletins and information. TV stations, which typically have larger newsrooms, can provide their coverage to their radio partners for rebroadcast. “These partnerships in almost every county really worked well,” says Roberts.

“Representing them, I could not be prouder of our industry and what we did for the people,” he says.

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.

NEWARK, N.J.—While Hurricane Irma was raging and causing serve damage to Florida, Orlando-based ABC affiliate WFTV was able to keep providing critical news to its viewers with the help of Panasonic’s P2 Cast cloud-based news production system.

Courtesy of WFTV

The P2 Cast system works with Panasonic’s P2 HD AVC-ULTRA camcorders, integrating their network capabilities so content uploaded to the cloud is available for reviewing and editing on the web. P2 Cast expedites the delivery of news to air, while also expanding the editing function of any device connected to the internet. The system has the ability to move low bit rate, high-quality proxy video from the field through the cloud to create a video sequence of desired clips and have them be accessible by the newsroom.

WFTV was able to use the P2 Cast system to stay active during the heaviest parts of the storm. Using the system allowed crews to wrap up and protect their equipment from water, which might have happened if cards had to be removed. WFTV also said that P2 Cast served as its primary method of distributing video during the storm’s peak hours because its satellites and microwave dishes were shut down. It also assisted the station with the distribution of content to social media platforms.

According to Dave Sirak, director of news technology at WFTV’s parent company Cox Media Group, WFTV was also able to use the P2 Cast to share footage with its sister station, WSB, in Houston.

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—Hurricane Irma took its toll on TV and radio broadcasters in Florida and the Caribbean with nine television and 51 radio stations being knocked off air, according to a Sept. 12 running total from the FCC’s Disaster Information Reporting System.

Spanish-language WVFW, the Liberman Broadcasting-owned low-power station in Miami; public broadcaster WGCU, licensed to Fort Myers, Fla.; and WSBS, the Spanish Broadcasting System-owned flagship station in Key West, Fla., as well as four stations in Puerto Rico –WOST, WMEI, WQQZ and WWKQ– and two U.S. Virgin Island stations –WTJX-TV and W05AWD– are off air as of Sept. 12 taken off air as a result of the storm, the FCC said.

About 7.2 million cable TV subscribers also are without service in the wake of Hurricane Irma, the FCC said.

Nearly one-quarter of cellular phone sites were out of service throughout Florida as of publication of the Sept. 12 FCC tally. In Puerto Rico, 14.5 percent of the sites were down, and in the U.S. Virgin Islands 53.8 percent of cell sites were out.

Florida counties where cell phone sites are hardest hit include: Collier, 72.6 percent knocked out; Hendry, 78.3 percent; Highlands, 53.8 percent; Monroe, 82.4 percent; and Union, 53.8 percent as of Sept. 12, the report said.

The FCC has been releasing updated figures daily. The numbers reported here represent the situation as of 11 a.m. ET on Sept. 12.

It should also be noted that the situation is fluid. Stations and other communications providers drop off the list and new ones are added as more information becomes available.

FT. MEYERS & NAPLES FLA.—Two-hundred-thirty-six people, 26 dogs, numerous cats, assorted reptiles an even a colorful Macaw aren’t the typical TV staffing compliment, but Sunday, Sept. 10, was no typical day at WZVN, the Montclair Communications-owned ABC affiliate, and WBBH, the Waterman Broadcasting-owned NBC affiliate, serving Fort Myers and Naples, Fla. That’s the day Hurricane Irma came to the west coast of Florida and the stations became a refuge for the families and pets of station staff.

“Hurricane Irma wasn’t our first rodeo,” says WZVN/WBBH EVP and GM Steve Pontius. “We tell our staff to expect to be here during a hurricane but to bring a loved one.” The stations, which Waterman runs under a Local Marketing Agreement (LMA), took full advantage of the offer. “Our guests ranged in age from 87 years-old to two weeks. We had people sleeping in mechanical rooms, the conference room and hallways, and served hundreds and hundreds of meals,” he says.

The eye of the hurricane passed directly over both the studios and transmitter site of the stations, and aside from a large tree that snapped and took out a parked car and a broken water main, the building and its temporary residents emerged unscathed, says Pontius. To cover the storm, WZVN and WBBH began a local simulcast of hurricane coverage and relocated ABC and NBC network programming on their digital subchannels. The move proved to be fortuitous because both stations suffered minor service outages at different times during the storm, says Pontius. But simulcasting ensured uninterrupted local coverage.

The stations relied on the combined newsroom staffs of 110 people, including eight meteorologists, working 12 hours on and 12 hours off to provide viewers with 65 hours of continuous hurricane coverage, he said. While the studios, collocated master control rooms and newsrooms remained whole, minor problems occurred at the transmitter site when the air pressure of the storm forced open double doors and water blew into the transmitter room.

Steve Pontius

The stations rely on a primary fiber STL loop with microwave backup to transport their signals to the transmitter site. Security cameras at the site are tied in to the loop back to the station, so Pontius and the station’s engineers could see the doors as they blew open and water entered the building. Station engineers responded quickly and restored service. The stations’ over-the-air signal served as an important lifeline for area residents as millions of Floridians lost cable and satellite TV service, he adds. Viewers also turned to the stations’ streaming coverage online with their websites receiving nearly 3 million page views per day.

“We had comments from those watching our online coverage from every state, Sydney, Australia, and even Venice, Italy,” says Pontius. “I couldn’t be prouder of our staff,” he says. “This is what local broadcasting and serving the local community is all about.”

As for the swollen ranks of people at the station, the broken water main, lack of air conditioning and passage of Hurricane Irma gave everyone the encouragement they needed to return to their homes and begin picking up the pieces, he says. “I love all of the people we had as guests,” says Pontius. “But nothing cleans out a station faster than having no bathroom and no coffee the morning after.”

(Editor’s note: TV Technology reached out to several broadcasters and the Florida Association of Broadcasters for their perspective on picking up the pieces after Hurricane Irma. More coverage will be forthcoming as things return to normal.)

WASHINGTON—UPDATE 9/11: After Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida over the weekend, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the FCC has extended the Disaster Information Reporting System to all counties in Florida, in addition to the previously announced—and some new—counties in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

DIRS is a voluntary, web-based system that allows communications providers to report communications infrastructure status and situational awareness information during times of crisis. For communications providers that are in the activated area, the FCC requests that information be submitted and updated regarding status of communication equipment, restoration efforts and power. The information can be submitted at www.fcc.gov/nors/disaster/.

DIRS has been activated for the following counties:

Florida: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Desoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, Washington

Puerto Rico: Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco

Virgin Islands: St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas.

Communications providers that take part in DIRS are requested to submit reports at 10 a.m. daily until DIRS is deactivated.