[EAS] Humans thwart disaster alerts - - URL

[Botterell, Arthur@CalOES]

Didn't mean to put words in your mouth, Barry.  Still, I think broadcasters have come to assume that the public warning world revolves around them and that it's up to warning issuers to meet the broadcasters' every need.  I'm questioning whether that's realistic anymore.

I've had several conversations with NOAA folk where the broadcast-specific-product idea came up.  Apparently NOAA is trying to reduce the number of different products it creates, partly  I think because of forecaster workloads during active weather.  They aren't ignoring the idea, they just have other constraints.

And when you say "the broadcasters' ability has not changed," I'm afraid you're putting your finger on the button.  This isn't 1963 anymore, nor even 1974.  Times change and new methods are required.  We don't tell broadcasters how to broadcast traffic or weather.  In fact the only place officialdom dictates how to present something on air is in EAS... and the complaining about that never stops!

Funny how people feel entitled to snipe at government all day long... but when we invite them to solve their own problems, a sudden silence falls.  C'mon, folks, let's see a bit of creativity here!

Art
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From: EAS <eas-bounces at radiolists.net> on behalf of Barry Mishkind <barry at oldradio.com>

        Art, I have *NEVER* said targeting is wrong,
        What I have said is that it is not the sole responsibility
        of broadcasters to "reach out" to agencies that are
        not very interested in talking, so that their product
        meets the needs (didn't someone talk about needs
        earlier today?) of on-air announcements.

        One concept that was advanced got nearly 0
        attention from NWS was issuing an EAS customized
        for broadcast, perhaps using a different code, perhaps
        using "first in line in a time period" ... or some other
        way to run the alert and then not run message flooding.

        The broadcasters' ability has not changed. But by
        working together, broadcasters and agencies can make
        the most of each others abilities.

        One suggestion I've written about for over a decade:
        let's get rid of county operational areas and relate
        to the audience the storm is 75 miles East of (Art's House),
        or serving is to the "area within 50 miles of Los Angeles"

        No driver from several states away will understand
        the tornado warning for Shoehorn County... They
        need to know the risk is 35 miles North of Capital City.

        Do these things and EAS will be much more welcome
        in the broadcast arena.

        Unlike the cell companies which mostly do not pass WEAk
        alerts.