[EAS] EAS monitoring sources

[Mike McCarthy]

This goes to the heart of my prior comment about the vast majority of EMS
managers mindset were they have (correctly) concluded anything EAS they
might send would not reach the intended recipients....the public.

When I refer to "send", the time and effort needed to craft the message
and it's content as well as the decision to release...or "send" is
included. All that gets mixed into the overall scenario decision
structure. It is an easy no-go if the EAS send efforts would be wasted and
time better spent on other pressing public distribution tasks.

There is a giant perception all broadcast intended messages need to come
through the LP1/2 stations. This is an incorrect assumption. But one which
prevails never the less. Especially in larger metro's where 9x% of the
LP's do not forward non-compulsory messages and there is no other
distribution structure.

As others have opined, and I agree fully, all emergencies are local to
every local AHJ. The state structure and LP's are a wonderful thing for
state and national events. But they do nothing for a local station wanting
to be integrated with their local municipal or county EOC which may or may
not have distribution resources available for EAS messaging outside of
their own (busy) network.

Back to the small market scenario, Robert is on target here. With as much
red tape needed to craft a local plan and integrate local media into EAS,
and no one having the time resource available, let alone funding for
dedicated distribution equipment, this "back of mind" environment will
continue and perpetuate.

In part, this is where Part 97 relay could alleviate or fill the void of
local or even unified regional message relay...and system testing. And
those resources are quintessentially available around the country if given
the opportunity.

MM

On Wed, August 31, 2016 6:45 am, Robertm wrote:
> Unfortunately, I think in smaller
> markets the Minot effect will continue forever. A lot of emergency
> management is either back of mind or non-existent.
>