[EAS] Cancelling Amber alerts

[Crosby, John]

Phil,

You are right and by definition we should not use the CEM to cancel an alert, I feel the definition is flawed, Why does a message code(CEM) carry higher priority than an emergency code (LAE).

I stand corrected. :) We should not use an emergency code (CEM) for cancelation.

John F. Crosby | Warning Systems Manager | Sedgwick County Department of Emergency Management
p: (316) 660-5967 | f: (316) 660-4966 | john.crosby at sedgwick.gov 
714 N. Main | Wichita, KS 67203 | www.sedgwickcounty.org | Facebook | Twitter

-----Original Message-----
From: eas-bounces at radiolists.net [mailto:eas-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Phil Johnson

I don't believe use of the CEM event code is at all appropriate for this purpose.  Here's the definition:

= = = =

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. If cancellation of a CEM is needed, use the ADR event code.

= = = =

I believe that using an emergency code meant to inform the public of an "in-progress or imminent significant threat" -- when there IS no threat -- is a really bad idea and is bound to backfire.

Phil Johnson, Member
Washington State SECC

-----Original Message-----
From: eas-bounces at radiolists.net [mailto:eas-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Crosby, John

Dave,

In my opinion depending on the number of public resources actively searching I would lean towards using Civil Emergency Message (CEM) to make sure the word got out over public media. That is if the alert had not already expired.

Otherwise I would use the Administrative Message (ADM) so that all of the media got the notice at the same time and let them go on air with their own breaking news if they so desire.

John F. Crosby | Warning Systems Manager | Sedgwick County Department of Emergency Management
p: (316) 660-5967 | f: (316) 660-4966 | john.crosby at sedgwick.gov
714 N. Main | Wichita, KS 67203 | www.sedgwickcounty.org | Facebook | Twitter

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