[EAS] EAS monitoring sources

[Alan Alsobrook]

On 8/29/2016 1:57 AM, Robertm wrote:
> The third is the Northeast power blackout. That was when we learned
> that cellphones were useless and radio and TV at the time were also
> useless after your batteries ran down.

Luckily, most of us don't live in NYC.

Bottom line EAS can save lives and serve its purpose, unfortunately it 
has turned into a political playtoy for some.

To think that media will be on top of the game when something bad 
happens is a misconception. Yes they will get on their game it may take 
a a few hours depending on the location and time, but not up front when 
it counts.

I've played on both sides of the field. Both in the media and emergency 
response.

When a train derails in small town USA and starts releasing the 
proverbial methyethylreallybadstuff into the air, EAS could get an alert 
out in 5-10 minutes, Media figure an hour or so (if anyone happens to be 
in the news room or answers the phone), to start coverage.  This 
Mythical magical media that knows and immediately covers all doesn't 
exist in the real world. (I'd be willing to bet it doesn't even exist in 
NYC)

Now my real concern is will EAS be able to get the alert out before the 
media is able to react, if not it has failed as it will in most cases.

There have been a few times that I know of locally where it has worked 
well. There have been other emergencies where it was never even thought 
of an it should have.

-- 
Alan Alsobrook CSRE AMD
aalso at bellsouth.net