[EAS] San Jose CA midnight evacuation order

[Botterell, Arthur@CalOES]

Uhhh... thanks, Jim!

The big obstacle we face right now is competitiveness.  Given that IPAWS origination software isn't cheap, many local agencies get diverted by sales reps to other commercial offerings.  And once they make that investment, they tend to rely on their "own" systems for which they got funding and presumably get ongoing positive attention. (And that's not to mention the energy that gets syphoned off into trendy "social media" operations.)  Thus, while we have the technology for integration, we tend to undermine the will to adopt it.

A while back I proposed developing an open-source IPAWS input tool, but was counseled that FEMA, and by extension, state and local agencies that get FEMA grants, are forbidden to do that because in the past vendors have lobbied vigorously against what they saw as unfair government competition.

Thus we see the zero-sum ethics of the marketplace overlaid on the public-good focus of government.  Some folks think that's automatically a good thing, of course... apparently the view is that people are entitled to all the warning they can afford.  And how can one argue with logic like that? ;-)

Art

-----Original Message-----
From: EAS [mailto:eas-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of JGabb at aol.com

This gets back to we need a seamless all inclusive warning system that goes from the White House to the local community. There is no reason all possible avenues cannot be used simultaneously. Been advocating this for years...every time I try in California there is always a reason why "we can't do this..... we do not have the authority, etc" Our hope in California lies with Art Botterell!
 
Jim Gabbert
California SECC Chair