[EAS] IPAWS EAS Feed unscheduled outage 0825-0922 EDT

[ray at electronicstheory.com]

KWDK received and forwarded a CEM on the 14th of March.
It received the Civil EMERGENCY Message from MYSTATE.

The EMERGENCY message read:
"this is only a systems test - once a quarter if I need it or not this is only a
systems test - once a quarter if I need it or not"

"Civil Emergency Message (CEM). An emergency message regarding an in-progress or
imminent significant threat(s) to public safety and/or property. The CEM is a
higher priority message than the Local Area Emergency (LAE), but the hazard is
less specific then the Civil Danger Warning (CDW). For example, the CEM could be
used to describe a change in the Homeland Security Alert System level in
response to a terrorist threat."

Could someone explain to the folks that originated the "EMERGENCY" that there
are codes for tests, and codes for emergencies, and never the twain shall meet?

Perhaps an ADR or RMT might have been more appropriate?  Something non-emergency
related, more test related.

I know we are still trying to get the kinks out, and how the state/locals get
involved is certainly a priority. Yes I get that EAS was "designed" for National
emergencies only - but certainly a hazardous chlorine gas leak from a local
train (or similar emergency) that required immediate evacuation would be more
important (and frequent) than the once-in-a-lifetime nuclear attack that
CONALRAD/EBS/EAS was originally designed to address.

Possible suggestion:  Could we possibly re-arrange and organize our Monthly test
schedule to allow, say, once a quarter, for the state /locals to use the RMT
system?

Ray Dall
Radio Frequency Engineer