[EAS] EAS monitoring sources

[Phil Johnson]

"Do exercises and studies take into account that with inoperable
infrastructure, those we are getting the alerts to have no way to receive
them?"

Generally speaking, no.  This is a huge gap, both in exercises and in
real-world planning.  There are several ways to attack the problem. 

1. Direct RF links from EOCs to broadcasters, especially radio stations.
One such system is already operating in one Western Washington county.
2. Use of existing Local Repeater Networks (LRNs).  We have one in the
Central Puget Sound area, which is and can be used to relay EAS
transmissions from EOCs to broadcasters.
3.  Use of ham radio operators to provide transmission paths not only among
EOCs and other authorities, but DIRECTLY FROM EOCs TO BROADCASTERS.  There's
nothing illegal about this, so long as the information is necessary to
preserve life and property, and other means of communication are not
available.
4.  FM chips in cell phones, and other means no one has yet mentioned -- or
perhaps thought of.

Closing this major communications gap is something that Clay Freinwald, I,
and others have been working on for some months now in Washington State.
The players first need to understand that the problem is a major threat to
public safety, then work together to mitigate it.  This won't happen
quickly, but I believe we're making progress. 

Phil Johnson