[EAS] WEA used in NYC bombings

[Clay Freinwald]

In response to Dave Klines question - 

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

What about LEW or LAE ?     I don't see them used a great deal.  In this
application requesting the publics help in finding a terrorist is a law
enforcement activity.

There are a lot of events in human history that have been shaped by
emergency situations ....(Think MacGyver) where you had to do the best you
could with what you had on hand.  Others noticed and from that grew a new
use for an old tool etc.    The premise behind MacGyver was problem solving
by thinking outside the box!

Before we had CAE we were finding, and saving the lives of abducted children
with EAS...This is something similar.    This was all based on solving a
problem by being willing to use a tool for a different purpose.    We should
be applauding anyone that finds  a new use for EAS or WEA  or whatever.

You wrote - 

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?

I don't agree with this totally -  Let's look at the history of these
systems - Conelrad  was replaced with EBS and now EAS.   These were federal
systems with the goal of having a system whereby the president could address
the country in the event of war.   Over time these systems were made use of
by state and/or local governments.     In the last 20 years EAS has grown -
on it's own - to the point that we really have a couple of systems that
happen to share a language and hardware.   The Feds have introduced IPAWS
and CAP and, in the latest NPRM, more fully embrace the use of these systems
for all manner of public warnings.    Being rigid and inflexible is not
helpful.

One of the problems we have today is the term EAS Plan.   To the FCC this is
a document, prepared by an SECC, that describes how presidential messages
propagate to all their licensees within a state.    To the SECC this could
well be a document that describes that states various public warning
systems.   A classic example of that is the Washington State EAS Plan - It's
a comprehensive and constantly evolving device that goes well beyond the
requirements of Part 11.    Now we have a couple definitions of EAS Plan.
A matter that needs to be resolved (Read the comments of the WaState SECC to
the EAS NPRM on this topic for greater detail) 

Another example is Social Media - All of these systems are tools that can
and should be used for the public good.    These systems must evolve and
those groups that oversee them must evolve as well.....IF...They are going
to keep up with the pace of change.     EAS is just one tool ...Today's
complicated events require a tool box full of them and a willingness to
think outside the box.

Clay