Call us at (858) 263-7716. UPDATED at 2:16 p.m. CDT on Monday, July 8, 2019 to add that Spann received a certificate in broadcast meteorology from Mississippi State University in the early 1990s. 01.10.23 // Markets & Investing // Webinar. He worries more about the people who don't have the money in place to repair their homes or anywhere to go while their homes are being rebuilt. He and his wife make time for quality talks in the morning before he leaves for the day, and they also eat dinner together after the 6:00 PM newscast (as long as there isn't active weather in the area). "While we lost many trees, the home is intact and we will be not have to 'rebuild'(sic).". Little information is available on his wife, but the pair got hitched on June 6, 1981, and have been married for 40 years. However, times are changing and there is a lot of work currently being done to highlight mental health awareness in our field. The dedicated weather reporter then continued covering the tornado, warning locals of its intended route. And weather phenomenons do not discriminate - seen during meteorologist James Spann's coverage of the deadly conditions. They scared me. He currently works for WBMA-LD (ABC 33/40), Birmingham's ABC affiliate. OK. "So, I left the radio station to go to work for Channel 33. "Even as a kid, I would just stare out the window all the time," he says. He does it five days a week, sometimes visiting two schools a day. In his spare time, James enjoys tennis and amateur radio. And his final criteria is having a servants heart and looking after others more than yourself. An F5 tornado impacted Oak Grove High School before 8:00 p.m. James spoke from a helicopter the next day about the warning and the schools destruction. "But whenever he was there, I felt loved and accepted and I felt secure. Though some might think it's silly for an "older" person to be on these platforms, if he can reach someone there who would never watch them on TV, to let them know that a severe threat is imminent, then it's 100% worth it to him. Look out for the needs of others before your own. "A reasonable overall budget for living in this city is about US$1,100 or US$1,200 per month, including rent of US$500.". The whole world doesn't tune in to the night time newscast anymore, so you have to access and utilize every digital and social platform there isfrom Facebook to Snapchat to Tiktok. In all, James has been a television weather anchor for 32 years. The presenter had been warning viewers about severe weather conditions in Alabama on WBMA-LD. 40 people named James Spann found in Nashville, Chattanooga and 3 other cities. James Spann is an American Emmy Award-winning meteorologist and a podcast host based in Birmingham, Alabama, He presently works for WBMA-LD, ABC 33/40, Birmingham's ABC affiliate. After retiring from the NWS, J.B. joined James at his private weather company and worked there until he passed away seven years ago, though he remains in spirit. Home; Our Practice; Services; What to expect. Spann says. He actually published a book, "All You Can Do Is Pray" on the ten year anniversary in order to preserve the day, including everything from the insides of working in a weather office to the untold stories of the victims. James has served as the Chief Meteorologist for ABC 33/40 for 25 years, and can be seen weeknights at 4, 5, 6, and 10 o'clock. "Thank goodness for these men, these men who stepped up to fill the gap in my life," Spann says. He later shared an image of the damage sustained in his backyard on air, saying, "Ill shoot straight with you guys, thats my backyard. (Photo from James Spann's "Weathering Life"). "What Im trying to do now is trying to memorize the name of every personwho died," he said. And a lot of the older people in there knew me. After 23 years at ABC 33/40, hes not planning on going anywhere else. WTBC was also known as the "15th Street School of Broadcasting" because owner Bert Bank hired so many University of Alabama broadcasting students to work there. In all, James has been a television weather anchor for 44 years. James is the Chairman of the Board of Grandview Medical Center, and is a member of the University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences Board of Visitors. Its bad.". He encourages meteorologists to invest in the people you serve, learn from the people around you, and get to know the families of victims. I watch The Weather Channel, so I feel like I'm an expert.". The couple share two children, James and . Getentrepreneurial.com: Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022. Ginger Zee, Chief Meteorologist for ABC News and one of James' former interns, wrote the forward for the book, while James wrote a science contribution to the end. "You never know why things happened at the time, but later in life, things start to make sense," Spann told The Tuscaloosa News after a recent broadcast at 33/40. But there are some things you might not know about James Spann. Joshua has a BA from Syracuse and a Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. But nothing will ever beat the excitement of that night on that 250-watt radio station. Latest severe weather updates from ABC 3340 Chief Meteorologist James Spann and The Weather Authority:1:46 a.m.The risk of severe weather has ended for Jefferson County.1:39 a.m.Heavier storms are . However, it's clear that day had lifetime impacts on James. The summer after his junior year at Tuscaloosa High School, Spann and a few of his fellow students pooled some of their electronic equipment and started a low-power AM school radio station in the projection room above the school auditorium. He let James come to the NWS office to watch him work, and most importantly, he was always an encourager. It can be a lot of work for the 63-year-old Spann, who says he sleeps only three hours a night. Spann has been in the television and radio weather industry for more than three decades. James referenced his friend, Rick Smith (a Warning Coordination Meteorologist in Norman, Oklahoma), who has done a lot of work to improve mental health in meteorology. Hard-working. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. This is a portrait of James Spann's father, James Max Spann Sr., as a young man. "He moved us into a really nice house in Greenville. Carolyn worked as a secretary at Greenville High School, while his father, Max, was a timber salesman. And yet, the man who says he has never written a work resume or filled out a job application has a modesty that often belies his work and reputation across Alabama. Every time there is a severe weather threat in Alabama, people ask James' least favorite question- "Will it be like April 27, 2011?" In the early 90s, he earned his certificate in broadcast meteorology from Mississippi State University through the schools distance learning program. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The next book should come out next spring and will cover tornadoes. While he was a child, his family relocated to Greenville, Butler County. As James called out communities in north Shelby County where the tornado was passing, he listed his own neighborhood, saying the torando was . He decided to remain at ABC 33/40, informing viewers on the storm. I enjoy the grind of the week and preparing for the game, getting ready for the game just as much as the game itself. However, it was not until after the tornadoes that tore through Tuscaloosa and many parts of Alabama on April 27, 2011, that he decided it was time to write everything down. "You could get on the air and you could communicate with people in other parts of the country and the world with a little wire on your roof," he says. 2023 www.tuscaloosanews.com. Tonight will be clear and cold with a low in the 20s in most spots. But, if Saban ever does decide to retire? He is the news editor at Saturday Down South and across all Saturday Football brands. Spann explained: "A tornado produced damage at our home today. which is such a beautiful legacy for someone to have left behind. Preview: UFC Fight Night 217 'Strickland vs. Imavov'. Because James was dissatisfied with Foxs diet of reality shows and other programming, he joined some of his former WBRC coworkers at ABC 33/40, which was founded by merging Annistons WCFT and WJSU-TV with a new low-power repeater in Birmingham. "One of the guys (from the station) called the high school office and said, 'Is there any kid out there who wants to work bad hours for minimum wage?'" Pam Huff (April 17) is an American News Anchor and Reporter who currently works for News at 4 and News at 5 on ABC 33/40. Kathleen Peddicord. I picked up the phone and as soon as I heard his voice I knew who it was. It turned out that number was way too low, Spann told AL.com in 2013. James was one of the first weather anchors in the nation to earn "Certified Broadcast Meteorologist" status from the American Meteorological Society. Spann explained: "A tornado produced damage at our home today. "I understand them, and they understand me.". James earned the NWA as well as AMS seals of approval upon his graduation. All Filters. (Photo from James Spann's "Weathering Life"). His sole purpose in life is to mitigate loss of life during inclement weather. Even more fortunately - their roof miraculously stayed on their house! Julien Saunders of Rich and Regular talks about how he and his wife give back Episode 2172: When, Why and How We Give by Julien Saunders Julien and Kiersten started rich & REGULAR in 2017 after their stint in real estate investing led them to discover the F.I.R.E movement. He also is a firm believer in reaching everyone in every demographic, and these days that means not relying on solely television broadcasts to get the forecast out. 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