[EAS] Oroville Dame Evacuation

[Larry Wood]

We actually just built a new transmitter site and included a room for an emergency studio. It would be very frustration to lose the main studio, or have a transmitter problem and be refused access. Jim Gabbert's story may be repeated. I am usually fairly good at BSing past security guards to get to equipment I need to service, but police and sheriffs deputies are good at listening and then saying no.

Cheers,

Larry Wood, CPBE
KQED-FM

-----Original Message-----
From: EAS [mailto:eas-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Botterell, Arthur at CalOES

Right, Larry, as our esteemed State EAS Chair Mr. Gabbert noted, this is a long-time, somewhat chronic issue.  It's not helped by the relatively high turnover and shrinking numbers of broadcast engineers.  Keeping track of who's active and who needs to turn in their ID is a somewhat daunting prospect... although perhaps a state Broadcasters' Association might be willing to take on that administration part.  I suspect another factor may be just the traditional dogs-v-cats mistrust between government and media folks.

I'd note, however, that at least here in CA any jurisdiction can swear in volunteers as State Disaster Services Workers, which could provide a basis for badging them and also mean they'd be covered by State worker's comp if they get hurt while responding.  Not sure what equivalent mechanism other states might have.