[EAS] concerning the request for new weather Event Codes

[Barry Mishkind]

Dear Weather Bureau associates

Even with the new codes, in essence, the overall effect is an attempt to slightly modify the "one-size-fits-all" nature of both EAS and NWS.

If the NWS would take the lead, not only in polygons, but also in considering that one-size-does-not-fit-all, and feed the broadcast industry alerts that have been deemed useful for broadcast - with all that the word broadcast entails.

Why must all alerts go everywhere in the same mode/form? Clearly the polygon is especially useful for cellphones, for example, to alarm certain areas less frequently (unless users learn how to totally turn the alerts off), while broadcast - yes, that is the word - needs many fewer alerts, but more crafted to the need for wide area alerting.

One size does not fit all.  The only time NWS and the Broadcast industry - not to mention some of the others - will truly be efficient and effective is when alerts are specifically formulated for the users/audience rather than "we have polygons and we think it is the solution."

Can we foster some "outside the polygon" (pun intended) thinking on the part of the NWS?

we thank you in advance for considering the benefits of doing so!