In November 2023, I sat in my Jeep, watching a rainstorm through the windshield. It was a mesmerizing sight, the raindrops cascading down the glass, creating a beautiful symphony of nature. The sound of the rain hitting the roof of the car was soothing, almost like a lullaby. As I gazed out at the storm, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace and tranquility. It was as if the rain was washing away all the worries and troubles of the world, leaving behind a fresh start. In that moment, I realized the power and beauty of nature, and how it has the ability to bring us back to ourselves.
As I perused the news about the Kansas House’s resounding vote in support of a nonbinding resolution, I couldn’t help but ponder the implications of their call for automakers to include AM radios in new vehicles.
No, we’re not talking about the wind that blows through the trees or ruffles your hair on a breezy day.
When I say “wind,” I’m referring to the actual weather phenomenon, the kind that generates destructive EF5 tornadoes capable of reaching gusts exceeding 200 mph. Twisters are measured on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which is a measure of destructive potential, with EF5s at the top.
In 2007, Greensburg, Kansas was hit by a devastating tornado that claimed the lives of 11 people. This tornado was classified as an EF5, the most severe category. Similarly, in 2011, Joplin, Missouri was struck by another EF5 tornado, which tragically resulted in the loss of 161 lives. This tornado was the deadliest recorded since the National Weather Service began keeping modern records in 1950. Both of these destructive storms occurred in the month of May, with Greensburg being hit on May 4 and Joplin on May 22. I personally witnessed the aftermath of both of these catastrophic events.
Greensburg lay in ruins, reduced to mere bricks and kindling. Joplin suffered a similar fate, with about a third of the city destroyed. It was heartbreaking to see the house where my grandmother had once lived, which held so many cherished memories from my childhood. The pain ran deep in both communities. I recall the day the storm struck Joplin, as Kim, my now-wife, was there to witness her youngest child’s high school graduation. Without wasting a moment, I hastily packed some belongings into the Jeep and embarked on the three-hour drive from Emporia. Thankfully, Kim and her children were unharmed, having sought refuge in a basement on the Missouri Southern campus along with other graduation attendees. However, as I made my way into Joplin that fateful night, the aftermath was still haunting. The streets were littered with the injured and deceased, sporadic fires burned, and an ominous sky crackled with lightning, hinting at more inclement weather to come.
I spent a few days in Joplin, lending a hand at my former newspaper. Although I’m not sure how much of a help I was to my old newsroom, I felt compelled to do something. Throughout the day, I would engage in reporting. Together with Kim, her children, and a couple of my former journalism students, we sought refuge in her house, which had only sustained a leaking roof. The periodic wailing of storm sirens and the relentless, ominous weather left us shaken, prompting us to tune in to storm updates on a portable radio.
After covering the aftermath of three major storms – Greensburg, Joplin, and Katrina in 2005 – I can attest that depending on everyday conveniences is futile. One’s mind is consumed with thoughts of available water, accessible food, and the daunting task of finding a place to charge a phone, especially when on foot. However, the usefulness of a phone is limited since there is likely no cell coverage. The absence of electricity means no lights, Wi-Fi routers, or internet access. In such situations, one relies on battery-powered radios, particularly a NOAA Weather Radio, or the AM/FM deck in a car, as primary sources of information.
The town of Greensburg was devastated by the May 2007 tornado, leaving behind a landscape of rubble and debris. (Photo by Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)
AM radio often gets a negative reputation in today’s world, as it is considered outdated in comparison to smartphones. Certain car manufacturers, like BMW, Volkswagen, and Tesla, have either eliminated or plan to eliminate the AM radio option. AM radio reception is vulnerable to electrical interference, resulting in static, and consumer demand for it has decreased (with the exception of a specific demographic which we will discuss later). However, it’s worth noting that the AM radio in your vehicle can provide you with accurate weather updates when other devices cannot. Local AM stations, especially in rural areas, often offer live coverage of severe weather events and rely on trained storm spotters. This type of coverage is something that local broadcasters excel at, but it’s easy for us to overlook this essential public service until the next storm season arrives. When combined with a NOAA weather alert radio, live coverage on a local AM station becomes a reliable source of weather information during power outages.
FM radio broadcasts have a limited range, typically reaching around 30 to 40 miles in flat areas like Kansas. On the other hand, AM radio signals can travel much farther, particularly at night, as they can be reflected by the atmosphere and go beyond the horizon. This simplified explanation takes into account various factors that affect radio propagation. FM radio operates on shorter wavelengths compared to AM, and any physical objects in the broadcast path can block the signal. However, FM radio offers a static-free transmission and excellent music reproduction. The drawback is that it sacrifices distance. In contrast, an AM signal can still be understood even if it is weak and accompanied by static. For a more comprehensive understanding of AM (amplitude modulation) and FM (frequency modulation), you can refer to this primer provided by the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering.
Commercial AM radio has a rich history that dates back about 100 years. The pioneering station, KDKA in Pittsburgh, obtained the first federal license in 1920. However, the roots of AM radio can be traced even further back to inventor Reginald Fessenden. In fact, Fessenden may have been the first person to transmit voice and music through the airwaves. This noteworthy event occurred on Christmas Eve in 1906 when Fessenden surprised ship crews in the North Atlantic by playing a violin solo of “O Holy Night” and reading from the Gospel of Luke. These crews were expecting the usual Morse code messages, so Fessenden’s broadcast was truly astonishing. He later recounted this extraordinary experience in a letter written several years later.
In 1901, Marconi successfully transmitted the letter “S” in Morse code, consisting of three dots, across the Atlantic from Cornwall to Newfoundland. This breakthrough led to the widespread adoption of Marconi wireless equipment on ocean-going ships.
In 1910, the introduction of the Wireless Ship Act marked the first federal regulation on radio usage. This act mandated that cruise ships carrying 50 or more individuals or traveling over 200 miles must have radio equipment and an operator. However, it was the tragic sinking of the Titanic in April 1912 that prompted Congress to pass a new law. This law required ships to actively listen for distress signals and have a federally licensed wireless operator on board. Despite the Titanic being equipped with a wireless system and sending out distress signals, the calls for help went unanswered initially. This was due to operators on other ships either being asleep or preoccupied with sending private messages for paying passengers.
In 1927, Congress established the Federal Radio Commission (now known as the Federal Communications Commission) and affirmed the public’s ownership of the airwaves. The FCC, formed in 1934, currently oversees the regulation of broadcasters and technology companies, including internet providers.
The installation of radios in new passenger cars has never been mandated by the FCC or any other federal authority. However, there are indications that Congress is ready to make a change. A bipartisan bill called the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act” was introduced last year, which aims to require automakers to include radios in cars without any additional cost to consumers. Recently, the bill gained enough co-sponsors to guarantee its passage through the U.S. House.
The bill has garnered widespread support due to the vital role AM radio plays in FEMA’s Emergency Alert System, which is crucial during national emergencies. Additionally, conservative talk radio, previously dominated by Rush Limbaugh, holds significant influence within the rural political landscape.
When on long drives to the Rockies, I used to listen to Art Bell’s “Coast to Coast AM” radio program, which attracted a niche audience interested in supernatural topics. Despite not fully believing in everything I heard, I found the show captivating due to its range of content, including ghosts and conspiracy theories. The eerie, distorted sounds of AM radio added to the overall experience, aligning perfectly with the subject matter.
The late Bell, an enthusiastic radio aficionado and a mischievous presence in the world of mainstream entertainment, would probably be delighted to witness the ongoing national discourse on the future of AM radio. This also reveals a significant aspect of our current era – amidst our differences, one of the few issues that garners bipartisan support is the recognition of the necessity for a public platform to disseminate emergency messages, should the need arise.
I must confess that I was taken aback when I found myself in agreement with a decision made by our state lawmakers.
The passing of House Concurrent Resolution 5026 in the Kansas House, with a vote of 109-14, demonstrates bipartisan support for a matter of public safety. Although nonbinding and unlikely to significantly impact federal legislation, this resolution highlights the importance placed on the issue. According to a report by Tim Carpenter from Kansas Reflector, a few individuals opposed the resolution due to concerns about infringing upon free market principles and limiting consumer choice.
If the free market had complete control, we would still be using dangerous Ford Pintos as our mode of transportation and allowing young children to smoke Camels cigarettes.
The devastating tornado that struck Greensburg on May 7, 2007, left a trail of destruction, with one house being completely shredded. The photograph captured by Max McCoy serves as a haunting reminder of the sheer power and devastation caused by the tornado.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict the occurrence of future catastrophes like Greensburg or Joplin. However, what we can do is extract valuable lessons from these natural disasters. Among the many lessons learned, the significance of having a dependable communication system to reach as many individuals as possible during challenging times stands out as the most crucial.
Experiencing the aftermath of an EF5 storm is a daunting and indescribable sight. Witnessing the devastation in Greensburg, it felt as though the entire town had been mercilessly torn apart, leaving behind shattered houses and trees trimmed to just above head height. Similarly, in Joplin, areas that held familiar memories from my childhood were completely pulverized, transforming into a chaotic expanse of debris where even the street names had to be spray-painted on the asphalt.
The devastation witnessed at both locations struck me with a force reminiscent of the haunting images from the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is a fitting comparison, as it was scientist Ted Fujita, renowned for his invention of the Fujita scale, who was sent to study the impact of atomic bomb explosions on trees and structures back in September 1945. His meticulous observations revealed a fascinating phenomenon: while everything around ground zero was flattened, vertical structures remained intact. This revelation became a crucial piece in understanding microbursts and other storm phenomena. Driven by his meticulous and obsessive nature, Fujita went on to develop a method in 1971 to quantify the destructive power of tornadoes. The resulting Enhanced Fujita Scale, implemented since 2007, utilizes estimated wind speed and observed damage to trees and structures as benchmarks.
In today’s world dominated by smartphones and social media, it may seem easy to dismiss the relevance of AM radio, an outdated medium. However, the effectiveness of phones is limited by the strength of their signal, and social media platforms are governed by enigmatic and often unsocial entities that offer little transparency in their actions. Unlike the internet, which is treated as a public utility by the FCC, AM radio operates on the broadcast spectrum and is owned by the public for the greater good, akin to a telephone company.
My conviction regarding the efficacy of AM radio stems from personal encounters in New Orleans and Greensburg, as well as from Kim’s experience. After the devastating Joplin tornado, she relied on the radio in her Ford Focus to gather crucial information.
I have a bit more knowledge about radio than the average person because I am a federally licensed general class amateur radio operator. I obtained my license back when knowing Morse code was still a requirement. Although I am not particularly fast, with a top speed of only around 15 words per minute, I am still able to send and receive Morse code messages. However, the demand for Morse code has significantly decreased over the years. Nowadays, only a dedicated group of radio enthusiasts communicate using this method on the shortwave bands. In fact, even the Coast Guard stopped listening for Morse code back in 1995.
AM radio remains the most reliable means we have at present for reaching people in disaster areas when public utilities fail, although a more advanced technology may emerge in the future.
An AM radio is a must-have feature in every car.
Max McCoy, a renowned author and journalist, has been recognized for his exceptional work. The Kansas Reflector, known for its commitment to representing the perspectives of individuals impacted by public policies or marginalized in public discourse, aims to provide a platform for these voices. For more details, including guidelines on how to submit your own commentary, please visit their website.
AM car radios may seem quaint in today’s world, but when a twister comes barreling through, you’ll be grateful to have that trusty dial.
