[EAS] The words we use

[Botterell, Arthur@CalOES]

It's also been said that the reason faculty politics at small universities can get so vicious is because so little is at stake.

I'm actually intrigued by what the Canadians have done.  Rather than attempt to have a single government agency take charge of their national "Ready Alert" system, they've set up a non-profit called CanOps (the "Canadian Public Safety Operations Organization") and contracted the task to them. Sort of an operationalized version of the old Partnership for Public Warning.  Given that government these days tends to be discouraged from doing anything but contracting, it's maybe the only way out.

Art
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From: EAS <eas-bounces at radiolists.net> on behalf of Bill Ruck <ruck at lns.com>

I have been known to say "If counties were allowed armies there would
be border wars".  And it has been my observation that "Bad things
don't honor political boundaries".  A flood or a fire or a chemical
spill does not stop at any arbitrary line drawn on the ground.

There is no way to reconcile weather polygons, broadcast station
coverage, and political boundaries.  Exactly why there is a line
between two counties or between two cities in the same county is most
likely a political decision.   My observation is that in politics
reality is not an issue . . .

On one extreme may be New York that wants to target blocks and the
other extreme are many counties that have their population described
as "acres per person".  Is there any system that works both ways?

Add to all of the above "Monday Morning Quarterbacking".  It is
always a lot easier to connect the dots AFTER something happens than
before.  Or, as my old boss used to say, "Woulda Coulda Shoulda".

Unless and until one singular agency can provide systematic
management, guidance, and funding for training for all emergency
warnings universally we are stuck with silos.

Bill Ruck
Curmudgeon
San Francisco