[EAS] WEA used in NYC bombings

[Dave Kline]

I agree Clay,
But what event code would that, or should that be then?

Terrorism has been front and center for 15 years now.
Why don't we have a terrorism event code?
Nothing else I see on the list really speaks to that in a way that will get peoples attention.
We can rush through a new non-tornado, non-huricane related 115 mph wind warning event code, but where is the TER event code or whatever it should be called.

I know you and others have been working miracles in this field for a long time and providing leadership in public warning where the fed has serious fallen face down in the mud. 
I also agree that it was a clever use of the system, but was this something worked out ahead of time or was it more of a shoot from the hip decision? That's all I was asking at the time.

Hopefully you know that I believe in the importance of good warning systems.
But a lot of it especially coming out of FEMA recently feels like ready, fire, aim.
The last couple of week's experiences with everything related to the upcoming national test has left me feeling like we're over-thinking the whole thing.

It seems we never get the basics working right before we move to the next shiny object.

Again, I would like to emphasize that we would be in a much worse situation if it were not for your work and leadership and that of others. It just doesn't seem like it should be so complicated to do what needs to be done. You've made it work, others have made it work. And I believe that has to do with you and the other warning leadership doing the things that make sense and then you get those things working before moving on.

Several years ago there was a loud faction in our area crying and wining that EAS was broken. I defended the system and suggested that the only thing wrong with EAS was that there are too many people who treated it like something they had to do. Instead if they just put forth a small amount of effort it could work for them instead of thinking it worked against them. 

The fed seems bent on forcing us all into a "one size fits all" warning system. How does this not drive folks like you crazy?

Sorry about going into full-on rant mode, but I really needed to get this off my chest. It has certainly been driving me crazy. This should not have to be a continual exercise in frustration like it has been over the past several weeks.

That being said, thank you and thanks to all of the others who have made our warning systems better than they would have been.

Dave

----------------------------------------
Dave Kline   UNO-TV/Mav Radio/KVNO
University of Nebraska at Omaha
6001 Dodge St. Omaha, NE  68182  CPACS 200
----------------------------------------

On Sep 20, 2016, at 1:05 PM, Clay Freinwald wrote:

>Dave Kline wrote -

>I too found it strange that an alerting system that is supposed to "ring the
>bell" in case of an emergency was used, as someone else phrased it, a wanted
>poster.  I'm just curious to know where this is all heading.  

>Dave, I suspect that terrorism was not in the minds of those that came up
>with the present library of Event Codes...or when the FCC gave birth to EAS.
>As a public warning system the system should be able to be used to warn the
>public about something that they are concern with.   I suspect that
>terrorism is pretty high on the list these days.     

>My $02

>Clay Freinwald

>__________________________________________________________
>The EAS Forum Discussion List is hosted by the BWWG (Broadcast Warning Working Group). http://eas.radiolists.net
>Please invite your friends to join our Forum! The sign up is at: http://lists.radiolists.net/mailman/listinfo/eas
>___________________________________________________________