[EAS] [] Daisy Chain

[Alex Hartman]

All i have to say is ask Sprint how that's all working out for them. A
backhoe fade somewhere in Montana took down the entire state of
Washington, parts of the midwest and parts of NYC for a time for all
Sprint customers (Cell, Voice, Data).

It's hard to trust the cell network when stuff like that happens, thus
leaving you with only a few other outlets for IPAWS information. In
the case of forest fires, when the towers melt, the fiber is damaged
in the area, etc, phones are not reliable, didn't 9/11 teach that?

Broadcasters really are the "last line of defense" in that scenario
due to the redundancies we purposefully build into the systems. (most
of the time anyways) Most have separate main and aux sites with backup
power, multiple methods of getting the information out to the public
from any location in the world really (so long as IP and satellite
dishes are intact).

Here in my neck of the woods, where forest fires, tornadoes,
blizzards, etc happen quite often, our entire state is relying on
MPR's relay network from Saint Paul. There's no human being at any of
the sites. My state plan requires me to monitor *both* of their
stations in this county... they're on the same tower, on the same
genset, fed from the same satellite RX. How's that for redundant?

I'd hope that people look at how MN's state plan is designed, and
*not* do it that way.

--
Alex Hartman

On Tue, Oct 16, 2012 at 12:23 PM, Amy Sebring <asebring at emforum.org> wrote:
> __________________________________________________________
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> ___________________________________________________________
>
> My background happens to be local emergency management.  Typically, local emergency managers look to their state emergency management agency (EMA) for guidance; however, this is a catch 22 in the public warning arena.  Although some states have done an excellent job, warnings are not usually issued statewide and the level of interest and capability varies greatly.  When it comes to implementing CAP and IPAWS, many of the states are just now starting to figure it out and few have provided any guidance to local jurisdictions thus far.
>
> Redgy may want to work through his SECC to start with to find out where his state EMA stands, what is being planned in terms of a state network (if any), if/when the state EAS plan will be updated, what outreach and education for local governments is being planned (if any), etc. etc. and go from there.
>
> Regarding the specific issue of dispatcher overload, this is precisely one of the benefits that IPAWS makes possible, i.e., one alert message--multiple dissemination systems.
>
> Regards,
> ajs
>
> Mike McCarthy wrote:
>
>>__________________________________________________________
>>The EAS Forum Discussion List is hosted by the BWWG (Broadcast Warning Working Group). http://eas.radiolists.net
>>Please invite your friends to join our Forum! The sign up is at: http://lists.radiolists.net/mailman/listinfo/eas
>>___________________________________________________________
>
>>How about the Mayor or other elected official at a level and in a position
>>to question the EMA folks choosing to not collaborate?
>
>>MM
>
>>> I think it needs to be approached from outside the broadcast area (or it
>>>will be the same as before) at first so I need to find someone to work
>>>with that is outside broadcast but has some influence with emergency
>>>management to get this started.  Now I need to start working to find that
>>>connection.
>
>>>Redgy
>