[EAS] Flash Food Warning Problems

[Mike McCarthy]

I don't believe it's a limitation of their technology. It's a result of
political silo's which can't be bridged in Washington...DC that is.  NWR
as an all hazard alerting tool has been discussed on and off for as long
as EAS.  The challenge, IIRC, is staffing to handle all-hazard alerting
(as well as the increased number of transmitters to be maintained) on top
of what might be a busy office during a significant weather event. What
comes first?  The TOR or an EVI? Both are critical call to action
messages.

Keep in mind too, a FFW can already include custom verbiage. So while the
warning product states a flood is immediately imminent (not an inaccurate
message either), the embedded verbal message can say "The Big Dam is
failing, Small County officials are ordering an immediate evacuation of
the area down stream from the dam. Move to higher ground now!"  The
warning can then repeat over and over on the NWR for those who missed it
the first time.

But that is unlikely to happen given the limitations placed on operating
staff and the inherent "disconnect" between local and various federal
agency silo's.

This is different than a Tsunami Warning which is generated by NOAA based
on  USGS analysis of a quake. Such warning can say the same thing
(Evacuate the shoreline to higher ground now!). However, there is no local
agency involvement directing issuance of the warning product. It's all
done at the federal level.

Make sense....?

MM

On Tue, February 21, 2017 9:23 pm, Adrienne Abbott wrote:
> An example of the limitations inherent in the National Weather Service
> technology.
>
> Flash Flood Warning Canceled: