[EAS] The EAS SPW issue and EPI: Time for a national discussion?

[Otto, Ken]

Dave Kline said the following along with many other eloquent words today:

"... there is nothing inherently wrong with the Emergency Alert System.
The problem lies with how the system is handled by those in charge of doing so."
Dave Kline   UNO-TV / KVNO

I whole heartedly agree.  It is the use of the system that is the biggest problem with it.  The messages should be concise, detailed and understandable by all.  It likely should be our broadcast community that educates the local, state and federal government on how best to use this medium.  And then we should educate the public on what the new or existing messages mean.

I believe that there may have been a decision made to not use EAS for the Shelter in Place warning in the Boston area because the media was already telling the public what the public needed to know.  There is however the concern for those not watching a media station.  For instance, I could imagine a Public Broadcast Station or Independent that does not have a news department might not have been broadcasting any such information about Shelter in Place.  But sometimes I can imagine the public at home with small children seeking a place that is not alarming their children 24/7 with the latest terrorist news.  I remember my child did not want to watch this coverage on weekend following 9-11-2001.  And I suspect that is true for a large percentage of families despite the success of the 24/7 news channels.  Sometimes there has to be a place where children can retain their sanctuary from the world at large.

Kenneth Otto WBCC-TV
Broadcast Operations Engineer
Cocoa, Florida