[EAS] [] Daisy Chain

[Clay Freinwald]

Redgy  - 

My responses are embedded below - (Please, others, chime in here) 

Clay,

I do not want to just complain and not get something done, also do not want
to discredit those that are trying, but would like some ideas how to
progress.

CF - My first inclination is to call a meeting of ALL  of the stakeholder
and present two things - 

1 - An explanation of the present situation 
2 - A recommended course of action for resolution.   (Probably want to line
up some key allies along the way) 

We do have a LECC and SECC.  The state seems to be trying harder.  At the
local level the broadcasters and cable were and are on board but have been
discouraged so just don't feel like doing much with it.

CF - There are a couple of things to consider ---

1  - How difficult is it (presently) to initiate an EAS message for the
Emergency Managers?   Do they have endecs in their EOC or what.    In
Washington we had Sage Endecs in all message source locations.   Generally
these boxes were disliked and viewed as hard to operate and confusing.   How
much effort has been expended to determine the source of their objections?

2 - How much effort have been made on training?  You can't just say here you
go ...use this when you want to get the word out.    Training is vital and
must be on-going.

3 - We starting populating our State CAP System 2 years ago.   EM's gave it
a quick thumbs up for several reasons (Easy to use, computer based, messages
can be sent from any PC located anywhere).    Does your area use CAP?....Do
you have an existing CAP system?   Are you waiting for FEMA IPAWS?  What are
the CAP plans for your area?

4 - Is Broadcasting a reliable tool in your area?    EM's want to know if
they send the message that broadcasters will indeed put the message on their
air and not play rock and roll or old movies instead.   For Broadcast EAS to
be viable, broadcasters must step up and demonstrate that they are a
reliable method of distribution.  To demonstrate this, broadcasters will
have to really step up and be willing to put their air-time where their
mouth is.

5- It could be that, in the past, they did put out a message using EAS and
only found a couple of stations participating and the rest were unwilling to
'break format' etc...This type of experience can sour EAS for years in a
local area.

At the last local meeting the main thing that came up was between the
different entities that issue alerts - what they can not do or do not want
to do, because it may make to much work for there dispatch centers, or
insinuating (That is my turf and the other agency's better not step on it)

CF - There is often a lot of turf wars between local governmental sheikdoms
...The State can usually deal with this effectively.  

It seemed that whatever the broadcasts brought up that we could do, they did
not want to.  It does not take long before the broadcasters just say, if you
don't want it we are not going to care about it.  If you ask what they want
to do you just get ignored.

CF - This could be great fodder for a news paper article or an investigative
piece by a powerful TV station.   Exposing a segment of government for not
doing what's right for the public will turn a lot of heads....Remember
Katrina etc?

I have asked to be part of the planning and training, but that is also
ignored, never comes about, or we forgot to include you.

CF - Time to ramp up and get some allies.

How do you get the local people that should originate messages to be part of
the system.

CF - Mission is to convince them that EAS is another tool in the public
warning tool box that should be used.  Point out examples of where the EAS
has been used etc.

Example - last summer there was a forest fire - people were calling our
station to find out about it and if people were being evacuated.  They would
not provide us with any information, or announcements telling us that -  we
will call peoples cell phones if we need to alert them - and that was all we
would get.  If asked about other people or a general announcement the answer
was it is not important for them to know, they are not directly affected.

CF - There are times that EM's are convinced that their favorite system is
the one that should be used.    Time to explain IPAWS and the concept that
Public Warnings should not be restricted to one method at the exclusion of
the others.    The terms - By all available means - Is important.

Redgy