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Montgomery, Alabama (November 17, 2006) -
Alfa Insurance and WAKA, CBS 8, today announced a partnership
to create one of the most unique developments in local weather
coverage in recent history.
Beginning in early 2007, the two companies will establish
a remote camera system in several area communities that will
allow live views of weather any time of day, any day of the
year. CBS 8 is one of the first TV stations nationwide to
provide this cutting edge technology to its viewers. Internet
users can access the live cameras by logging on to CBS 8’s
website: www.waka.com.
Current weather conditions for each location, like temperature
and rainfall, will also be available.
“As we’ve seen just in the past few days, weather
can have a profound effect on all of us in Alabama,”
said Jerry Newby, Alfa President and CEO. “This service
will keep us better informed about conditions that could threaten
our homes, affect driving conditions, alter farming decisions
or just impact our routine activities. This will be a real
benefit for all of us in this region.”
“This is a step above anything most people have ever
seen on a local weathercast,” said Chris Bailey, CBS
8 Chief Meteorologist. “Most stations show you radar
or satellite when the weather is bad. This camera system will
show live video from in the communities. A lot of times radar
or satellite will show conditions after they’ve occurred
or moved on. Our skycam network will show you exactly what’s
going on, what people right there are experiencing on the
ground, at that exact moment in time.”
The live cameras will be located in Montgomery, Prattville,
Wetumpka, Selma, Troy, Greenville and Andalusia. However,
there’s a strong probability that other cameras in additional
towns will be added soon after the initial startup.
“Our goal is to eventually have cameras in all major
cities in our viewing area as well as provide additional coverage
in frequently visited areas like the Gulf Coast,” said
Jim Caruthers, CBS-8 General Manager.
The entire system, provided by StratusStation of Hamilton,
Ala., should be operational in the first quarter of 2007.
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