[EAS] FW: Severe weather drills

[Clay Freinwald]

Mike - 

 You wrote - 
Aren't there avalanche or blizzard warnings in Nevada and Washington as well
as California?  Or Flash Flood warnings?  Every one of those is just as
local in nature, equally devastating, and deadly for those in the path of
the event as a tornado or tidal wave.

I think the EAN test proved that live code testing is the only way you will
find the weak spots.

Yes we have all those warnings - and add to that list TSW.

I don't quite follow your thinking here when you compare it to the EASNT.

On the Federal Side - We are concerned with the distribution and propagation
of EAN's from the PEP's, Affiliated NPR and now Designated Premier
Affiliates.   
The fact is there is no routine method for testing these systems (we've only
had one test).   RMT's and other tests are only -partial - tests ...Leaving
out 
A significant part of the message distribution system.    Even the PEP's
don't send any periodic tests to make sure that those systems down-stream
from 
Them work.   National level EAS does not have RWT's or RMT's (that is being
recommended).    We have an Event Code for testing the National System 
(NPT) but that too has not been used.

On the other hand - FFW and severe weather warning circuits are routinely
tested (or at least they should be) 

It's vital that the distribution systems and circuits be tested periodically
and routinely ...The event code used is not the major issue.   I have a lot
of 
Faith that all the EAS Boxes out there can and will respond to the 'real
-McCoy'  (EAN etc) Where our problems have been is with such antiquated 
Message distribution systems as the 'Daisy-Chain'.

I assume  you are talking Legacy (SAME) EAS messaging here?    Obviously CAP
is a different animal - At least we DO have periodic testing of the 
FEMA/IPAWS system.   Here in Washington we test our 4+ year old CAP System
frequently using RWT's and DMO's initiated by the State and 
Various local governments.   

EAS is not like an air-raid or fire siren system - You don't have to blow
the horn to test the system.

Granted there are other states that view this differently, and perhaps one
day Washington will join them in running a REAL Event Code
 At this point no one has made  convincing argument for doing so.

Regards - 

Clay Freinwald