Public Service Announcement: Valuable new service from Channel 42 - Birmingham (tornado, costs)

[Bravo35223]

As all of the 'regulars' here know: I am an executive recruiter and am not afiliated with any TV station in Alabama. I am posting this as a public service for the safety of our participants on CityData.

Last night, the Channel 42 weatherperson announced a new tornado alert service....I registered promptly.

For $6 (six dollars) per Year, you can subscribe to their service.

You may register three telephone numbers and three email addresses.

Here is how it works from their website:

The WeatherCall™ system continuously monitors the National Weather Service’s NOAA weatherwire. Using GIS (computerized mapping), the system compares a subscriber's specific location to the location of the warning area. When a severe weather warning includes your location, you will receive a phone call from Chief Meteorologist David Sawyer 24 hours a day. Or, if you prefer, you can receive an SMS text message to your mobile phone that severe weather is in your IMMEDIATE area. If you register an email address, the alert is sent which contains a link to a localized map with the warning area displayed on it.

[SIZE=2]WeatherCall is a subscription-based service that costs $6 dollars per year. When you register, the system attempts to assign a precise latitude and longitude value to your location. If you enter a street address the system recognizes, your service BEGINS IMMEDIATELY. If there is a problem determining your location (for instance, a new housing development), there are easy steps to follow for you to locate yourself and send your information to WeatherCall Customer Care who will enter you into the system. [/SIZE]

We have many out-of-region new residents who have posted concerns here about severe weather and rightfully so. Long time Alabama residents explain that Early Warning Technology is the best way to insure your safety.

I like this service - it's simple. If I am dead asleep in the middle of the night - it's gonna call my phone at my bedside and wake me up. If in the middle of the day, one is approaching, it's gonna call my cell and send me an email.

And - importantly - if the tornado is already past me - it will NOT call. The new technology developed in the past five years, projects the storm path down to the street level. It's not going to alert you regarding a storm that is 50 miles due south, north of east of you. These are not a danger to you....it is the accuracy of the new GIS technology that will prevent false alarms and contact only when there is a real threat...

Best regards,

bravo

Worth the money in my view....

[cpg35223]

That's nice, but I'd much rather be tuning into James Spann and 33/40. Compared to 33/40, Channel 42 reminds me of shadow puppets or something. "Look, there's a butterfly! There's a wolf! There's a tornado!"

We have a saying in our family: If it's hitting the fan, watch James Spann.

[Crestwood Top]

WIAT-42's service is state of the art & invaluable.

It seems that the previous poster is missing the point when he says he'd rather be tuning in to Spann:

The subscriber is called, texted, or emailed when weather threatens. You don't have to tune in -- & how would you know to tune in if you're asleep (or if you've turned off your NORAD radio because of how it goes off in the middle of the night even if it's just thunderstorms 40 miles away).

I have no affiliation with anyone at 42, but their weather reports were great this spring. They have everything except the photos that Spann's devotees flood him with.

Someday, local governments might all provide the service 42 is offering now.