[EAS] Earthquake

[JGabb at aol.com]

Bill: The problem at the time with KNBR was that the EAS was activated not following the protocol set up in the local plan. EAS is to alert the public and in the case of an earthquake and also during the 911 attack the event happened and there was no reason to activate EAS. As I recall KNBR activated EAS to ask firemen to report to duty. This was not an alert that involved the public. It was for this reason KNBR lost its LP-1 status. The activation seemed to be a knee jerk reaction that contributed to the public panic and fear.
 
Jim Gabbert
California SECC Chair
 
In a message dated 8/24/2011 8:47:59 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, ruck at lns.com writes:
>Perhaps I can share experience.
 

>I am a native San Franciscan.  Was not around for 1906 but did live
>through the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake.  At that time I worked for
>KNBR, the CPCS-1.

>Some may remember at the following NAB I was asked to take part in a
>panel where I said in front of the FCC and everyone else "There is no
>Emergency Broadcast System in San Francisco".  That was from experience.

>I do know that people on the East Coast make fun of us lefties in the
>People's Republic of California.  We seem to get an earthquake every
>100 years or so.  But they get at least one hurricane a year.  There
>is plenty of warning for a hurricane.

>Earthquakes are self-announcing.

>Although Mr. Rudman may disagree, the general attitude here in the
>People's Republic of California is that the "E" in EBS and now EAS
>stands for "Earthquake".

>Bill Ruck
>Curmudgeon
>San Francisco

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