[EAS] EAS and CMAS

[Clay Freinwald]

Bill Croghan wrote - 

What have you done to impress the on air types with the importance of these
things? Inquiring minds want to know.

Bill - 

What quickly came to mind are those that refused to evacuate as Hurricane
Sandy was heading their way....They were warned and yet they did not
believe.    

There are certain types of people that reject being told what to do - even
when the message is for their own good.    Some Radio Jocks are in that
group.   They are (generally) so wrapped up in their own world that they
don't want to be bothered.     For them, It will take a life-changing event
to turn them around.   

Decisions need to be made by the owners and managers of these broadcast
stations.   Upon the issuance of a CMAS warning for something very
serious....Thousands of people will be scrambling to find out what this
means for them.  Those that are concerned and want to know (perhaps not your
DJ's) how this event might impact them.   (The "CHECK MEDIA" part).    The
question for managers to ask is - Do we want to be a source of this
information - - Or do we want to avoid 'breaking format' and ignore their
obligation to warn their listeners and/or viewers?

Certainly there are broadcasters that would welcome thousands of - TUNE IN'S
- Just are those that don't want to be bothered.    This is similar to what
happens with today's EAS.   There are stations that feel that have a 'moral
obligation' to run EVI's and TOR's .... I honestly believe there are those
stations that are so focused on ratings and money
They  could care less how many people die because they did not receive the
message from their station.   

 These are things that each market will need to examine and sort out.

Clay Freinwald
(Running for cover)