[EAS] Joplin

[Alan Kline]

Yes, the Internet and cell phones would have been working before the 
first tornado event. But, it's not uncommon for several such storms to 
hit the same area in a short time. In Joplin, rescue efforts were 
hindered by adverse weather, which could easily have become tornadic 
again. What then? There's no electricity, Internet, or cell service in 
Joplin right now. Broadcast EAS would be the only way to warn that 
community of another such event. Joplin proves the case for redundant 
paths for EAS/CAP traffic.

Obviously, broadcast radio and TV will be important to that community in 
the days to come. But that isn't important to the money changers in DC, 
who want to put broadcast TV out of business and don't care a rat's 
behind about radio... </rant>

Alan

On 5/23/2011 8:48 PM, Lowell Kiesow wrote:
> The question is>when<  the Internet/cell phones went
> down.  Obviously, they would have failed during the tornado, after
> warning is too late.  Those systems would have been functioning in
> advance of the storm when the warning message has value.  Most EAS
> alerts are going to be sent in advance of a hazard, not following
> it.  If a tornado were to hit my community, I don't need EAS to tell
> me what happened after the fact because I can look and see for
> myself.  What I do need is for it to warn me in advance.  In the
> aftermath of an event, normal press channels can and should work
> better than EAS.