Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
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It was 20 after 7:00 this morning when the text message board on my computer started filling with these messages:
"Did you feel an earthquake? I was in the woodland towers and the building started swaying."
"Earthquake in west jordan?"
"Earthquake? Our home in west jordan just shook for 10 to 15 seconds"
"Did you fill that?"
"Was there a small earthquake in Northern Utah just now? Was that an earthquake?"
"Just felt an earthquake in roy. House shook for about ten seconds."
"Was there just an earthquake?"
"Did we just have an earthquake?"
"did we just have an earthquake? Brigham City"
Tim and I interrupted programming with breaking news before we could confirm it because we knew SOMETHING had happened. Our editor, Adam Thomas, took and made calls at staggering speed for the next 2 hours. We talked with truck drivers who had just driven through Wells, Nevada, where the earthquake occurred. We talked to people who worked in Wells and in Wendover. We talked with people who called us from around Utah and the West to tell us what they experienced.
We got one text that said this:
"As someone who is involved with Emergency Management in a Utah Community, I feel your newscast is hindering more than helping!"
I was surprised by that comment, so I texted back. "How so? Isn't it helpful to know what's going on?"
The texter responded:
"You are trying to call people in Wells, and the resources you are taking could be used by them. There are only so many phone lines, etc. Take time to get facts before you put out info."
It's an interesting argument. I know it must be frustrating for him or her - someone who works with emergency situations - to have the media asking questions and calling on the phone. (Although I should clarify that most of the calls we put on the air this morning were from people who called us.) We assume that if you're too busy to talk to us, you won't. We're not the least bit offended when people say they can't talk or just hang up. By all means, do what you have to do. But you should know that the reason we call is so 300,000 people can hear what you have to say - so you won't have to handle the thousands of phone calls from individuals.
What I take away from this morning is this amazing connection I feel to everyone when we share our experiences over the radio in a time of uncertainty. I remember being on the air in the middle of the night when the first Gulf War started and taking calls from Utahns all through the night. I remember listening to Tim talk to people through the night just hours after President Hinckley died. And this morning, you called from everywhere to say "the chandelier moved" and "I felt frightened - what's going on?" We don't always know, but we keep asking and calling and listening until we find out - and I believe that is one of the best and most important things KSL does.
Thank you for your trust and your input this morning. Our best thoughts are with the people of Wells.
