[EAS] Blue Alerts Are Back

[Adrienne Abbott]

Let's not forget that on 9/11 New York did NOT have an EAS Plan. That was almost five years after the FCC mandate for EAS. There was no way any official could have issued an EAS activation of any kind. And most of the major broadcast stations were disabled in the attack so they would not have been able to carry the activation, had officials been able to decide on a message.  

Fast-forward a few years and we have an internet-compatible EAS which officials can access directly without going through a radio or TV station, as long as the Internet is working. And that activation goes to all stations so if some stations are off the air, others will receive it. 

We have advanced to the point where, theoretically, all states have EAS plans. CAP providers will tell you that most states have access to a CAP tool. 

I guess it's some sign of progress that we're to the point where we can discuss the pros and cons of an additional Event Code. 

Adrienne

> On May 25, 2017, at 8:27 PM, Suzanne Goucher <suzanne at mab.org> wrote:
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> Ah, the good ol' 9/11 EAS argument.  What would the message have been?  Shelter in place?  Evacuate immediately?  Who knew what the hell was going to happen next, or what to do about it?  What would you have told people to do? Because when you issue an EAS alert, you need to tell people what's happening and what to DO about it.
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