[EAS] EAS monitoring sources

[Clay Freinwald]

Alex wrote - 

EAS is intended to be an early warning system, not a post-event system. Of
course hams should probably not be involved in it, other than skywarn
reports to NWS, and in that instance, the system is already in place and
works very well. 

INDEED - Out this way we refer to EAS as the 'door-bell'.     

There are a couple of issues with Amateur Radio and EAS, mainly to do with
communicating with each other prior to an event so that plans can be made,
procedures agreed to, contact information exchanged etc.    Our Cascadia
event represented forward progress.  But, as I have stated, there are many
things that Amateur Radio can do that does not involve providing backup
and/or emergency communications.   I'm thinking that our EAS plan needs a
Tab that provides for this - Presently it does not.

You mentioned a 'post- event system' .    The Cascadia event disclosed a
severe lack of consideration of the condition of the electronic media after
a major quake...and the rather complete reliance on the media to perform the
information distribution chores for Emergency Management.   The problem is
that EM is pretty up to speed on their Warning function with a growing
number of tools in their 'warning toolbox' but they are almost totally
dependent on others to perform their 'Informing' function....and when those
others are not able to perform you have a big problem - Specifically -

Lots of information is flowing INTO the EOC's after a disaster - But with
the media crippled - the public is left to wonder about a long list of
things for which there is no (Planned for) system to inform the public.
This caused me to recall the days of EBS whereby we had radio communications
between the EOC and the CPCS facilities in each operational area.   This
systems would allow someone in the EOC to get on the air via the CPCS.
Unfortunately as we moved from EBS to EAS most all of these radio systems
were removed.    In one case (near a Nuke power plant) the EOC had a device
that permitted them to turn on a local AM Station and broadcast directly
from the EOC....Completely bypassing the stations studios.   (Being old and
recalling these systems really is handy).   From this is growing what we
call EPIS.    We already have a system in place in one area whereby
personnel in the EOC can 'turn-on' a local FM station and broadcast public
information direct to the transmitter.    This is just a start of,
hopefully, what will become SOP in this State and - YES - This will be a Tab
in the Washington State EAS Plan.    This process is being led by Phil
Johnson who you see posting items on this Remailer from time to time.

Unfortunately there are too many that don't think outside the box.   The Boy
Scouts have it right when they say 'Be Prepared' ...or another way of
putting it - Expect the un-excpected.

As for WEA - It is a valid and very useful tool in the EM's Public Warning
Toolbox - However - In a major event (Like Cascadia) You'd better use it
quick for it's not going to last long.    In fact the last major quake we
had in this area, called the Nisqually Quake
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_Nisqually_earthquake     provided us we a
great opportunity to fully understand how useless cellular communications
can be after an event like this.    Not only did cellphones not work
-neither did land lines.    Not that their infrastructure was
destroyed...its that their systems were overloaded to the point of being
useless.   Thankfully my ham radio equipment was just fine.

Clay Freinwald