Mott, Max 1970
Max Mott, News Manager of Lubbock radio station KFYO, reviews events prior to, during, and after the Lubbock tornado of May 11, 1970, and his involvement in the emergency. He then discusses precautionary measures to prevent communications breakdowns in such disasters.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Max Mott
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: 1970
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Stan Valcik
Length: 1 hour 10 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Recollection given of highlights of events prior to May 11, 1970,
Attended Fire Department dinner for news media at 7:00 p.m.,
Bad weather conditions developed and funnel was reported,
Returned to Emergency Operations Center at KFYO,
Recalls the appearance of storms on radar,
Reviews discussion with his wife on conditions,
KCBD’s weather equipment shown on cable TV was described,
Mentions hail storms reported in city,
Direction and length of storm recalled,
Traces the course of the storm.
Tape 1, Side 2: Storm moved from Jones Stadium to downtown,
Relates controversy over sirens being sounded or not,
Damages to city buildings cited,
Reveals effects of storm on station,
Communication connections were broken,
Discusses broadcasting procedures in bad weather,
Occurrence of the storm and its damage at City Hall was reported,
Post broadcasting began with emergency power at station,
First broadcast after storm reviewed,
Reveals public reaction to storm and resulting water shortage.
Tape 2, Side 1: Discusses precautions to prevent communications breakdown in future disasters,
Applauds ability of people to get things done when necessary.
Tape 2, Side 2: Blank
Range Dates: 1970
Bulk Dates: 1970
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.
