Oklahoma tornadoes: TV stations make extensive plans for tornado coverage

Tuesday, KWTV-9 employed nine storm chasers, KOCO-5 seven and KOKH-25 three, the stations said. KOKH has an agreement with IMap to provide storm chasing video. KFOR declined to divulge the number of employees from its 35-person contingent Tuesday that were used for storm chasing.

After being alerted last Friday to the tornado threat, Hensley said his station made extensive plans early in the week.

“We were talking about this storm three or four days ago,” Hensley said. “Technology allows us to do that now.”

Krier said KWTV chief meteorologist Gary England issued a “priority one” early in the week, gathering all storm chasers and meteorologists for a meeting.

“He (England) tries to position the crews where he thinks the storms will form,” Krier said. “They've got to get them out west before they form because you can't send anyone out there once that line starts. We have to be on the other side and follow it in.”

The TV stations had to decide whether to stick with storm coverage throughout the evening or return to network programming. KOKH returned with the next-to-last “American Idol” episode at 7 p.m. and KOCO showed the “Dancing With the Stars” finale at 8 p.m. Both stations provided weather coverage during commercial breaks.