1/1/13 - I'm running your radio app on my android phone and look forward to the weather app when it is released.  I would also like to commend you on your dedication to Scottsboro and especially Scottsboro sports. (James Dawson, Scottsboro AL)

1/4/13 - We just wanted you to know how much we appreciate your Birthday and Anniversary Club.  It is something to look forward to.  We won the anniversary today.  Thank you.  (M.C. and Pearline Kimbrough, Woodville AL)

The following are comments from listeners regarding WWIC's coverage of the April 2011 Tornadoes:  

“Most of us had very limited communication (many had none) with what was going on while the power was out.  I was very impressed with WWIC Radio.  Greg Bell and his staff never left the air and were extremely helpful in getting word out to everyone listening.  They are to be commended for the wonderful and very useful job they did during those days”.  Penny Green

  "Thank you so much for without local radio, we wouldn't have had any information from the outside world. I felt so disconnected and really didnt know who all had been affected. I'll never be without a battery operated radio again. Thank you for your dedication and to all those who had to leave their families at home to serve the public, a big thank you ! When you signed off at 6pm in the evenings, it brought tears to my eyes"  Kim Tubbs

 "never listened to you before...listened the whole time power was off and your station was great. I am now your biggest fan. thank you so, so much."  Janice Wilkerson

 Greg,  I don't want to make you cry, so I will just tell you by e-mail how much I appreciated all you did for the City of Scottsboro and for myself.  What would we have done without you?   Please  know we thanked God for you at church yesterday.   Thanks again and please get some rest now!!!!  Eloise Maynor

 "Greg thank you so much for all the time you put in and the concern you show for this entire community, it means alot to me and my family knowing we can tune to your radio station when a crisis hits and be informed like we were , thanks again to you and your family for all you do !!"  Wes Tidwell

 "We appreciate your excellent work on the radio in keeping us informed...May God bless you & your family immensely!"  David Brewer

  "Thank you Greg to you and your family for keeping everyone updated on whats going on during these hard days...you have done an excellent job and we appreciate everything you have done..."  Kim McCrary

 "WWIC  is the best, I have depended on you all week for information on gas, food etc. and passed the info on to family & co-workers, keep the GREAT work up, your the best Greg!"  Ann Gant

 "thank Greg and Angie for all you have done in the last 4 days. You have been the ONLY RADIO ON THE AIR. Your sources are immaculate and your timing and dedication impeccable during this horrific time. Folks, if you are going to advertise on the radio, make sure it is with Greg and Angie with WWIC Radio. They are head and shoulders above the rest. Thank Greg and Angie!"  Tony Ferguson

 "Greg I would like to say thank you for all you have done the past few days, if not for you me and lots of other people would have been lost. The info from WWIC was all we had. I just got power at my house so if you need help at the station saturday call me for me and others there is only one radio station in Scottsboro AM 1050 WWIC Thanks again!!!!"  Rodney Hancock

 "Thank you so very much for all the information. You are providing an incredible service to this community. Thank you again!"  Regina R. McGee

(This is a summary of our coverage of the April tornadoes as filed with the Alabama Broadcasters Association)

At around 5:15pm on April 27^th, electricity was lost at the WWIC studio’s.  Not knowing that a tornado around Athens had destroyed several large TVA towers, we waited for the power to be restored so that we could resume our severe weather coverage to Scottsboro and Jackson County.  At around 10:00pm, we learned through the Scottsboro Electric Power Board of the situation with the electricity.  We then formed a plan to begin broadcasting with a generator system.

At 5:00am on the morning of April 28^th, WWIC resumed broadcasting with a generator system, running only the necessary equipment to be on the air.  At this time, we still did not know of most of the destruction that had occurred in our county.  While Greg Bell was on the air, our support team gathered information via telephone and conducted interviews with local officials (EMA, Sheriff, Mayor, Police Chief, Utility managers) on the air regarding the situation.  We also took phone calls on the air from those that had cell phones in areas where the tornadoes had caused damages. 

At this time, WWIC was the only radio station in Jackson County that was on the air and we continued as the only on-air station in Scottsboro/Jackson County until late in the evening of Friday April 29^th. 

Throughout our coverage, we provided information regarding emergency assistance for those affected by the storms, locations that had gasoline and was able to pump for customers, food, batteries, generators and supplies needed during this time.  WWIC provided a large amount of free advertising for local businesses, even those businesses that do not advertise with us, nor will ever have intentions of advertising with us. 

On Friday April 29^th, our local power utility was able to provide rolling power to rotating locations throughout Scottsboro.  Through a Twitter account, we were able to get this information quickly and alert listeners about power restoration for their specific areas. 

We continued to stay in contact with local officials and listeners/victims and provided on-air interviews/conversations so that others would know of the situation.  During this time, efforts were made to gather supplies for storm victims to be delivered to disaster assistance locations throughout our area. 

On Saturday April 30^th, we provided live on-location reports from across the Sand Mountain area of Jackson and DeKalb counties.  These reports contained information regarding damage reports, assistance needs and interviews with aid workers.  WWIC was the only station in Scottsboro/Jackson County with on-location reports from these areas directly affected by the tornadoes.  These reports continued on Sunday April 31^st and through the week of June 1^st with our Sand Mountain correspondent. 

WWIC did have listeners provide gasoline to us for the generator, but because of the limitations of gas, we did leave the air each evening between 6-7pm for the overnight hours.  Looking back, I do feel this was a mistake and as owner of the station, we should have kept the station on the air during the overnight hours.  We felt that we needed to conserve the gasoline for the generator and also provide much needed rest for our broadcast staff since curfews were imposed through the city and county during the overnight hours. 

WWIC Radio was able to remain on the air because of our studio/transmitter/antenna all being at one central location in Scottsboro.

Greg Bell

Owner, WWIC Radio

Scottsboro Alabama