[EAS] Vermont BLU Blue Alert EAS test - doesn't seem like best practice ...

[Sean Donelan]

On Fri, 23 Aug 2019, Ed Czarnecki wrote:
> While they say it's a TEST three times, I do have voice a concern over 
> including simulated Blue Alert text in the test message.

That is how Vermont (and some other states) conduct EAS exercises. There 
is a catagory of exercise planners that believe in exercises 
need to be "realistic." Its one of those beliefs where you will 
never be able to convince the parties to change.  If asked, I say using
realistic announcements the public might hear are a bad idea, even if you 
say EXERCISE EXERCISE EXERCISE, but gave up fighting about it with 
exercise planners.

Here is last year's Vermont Amber Alert test:

November 20, 2019 - Vermont Amber Alert exercise IPAWS message.

  This is a TEST of the Vermont AMBER Alert notification system. This is a 
TEST of the Vermont AMBER Alert notification system. Only a test. THIS IS 
A TEST OF THE STATE OF VERMONT AMBER ALERT SYSTEM NOTIFICATION. - On 
NOVEMBER 30, 2018 at approximately 11:45 AM 6 year-old JOHN DOE, JR. was 
taken from A B C MARKET LOCATED AT 1 2 3 4 MAIN STREET in the Town of 
LIVERPOOL in WASHINGTON County, Vermont - by AN UNKNOWN MALE SUSPECT in a 
2014 blue Honda Pilot with VERMONT registration 7 8 9 X Y Z. - Victim JOHN 
DOE, JR. is described as a WHITE, MALE, approximately 3 feet, 8 inches 
tall, 42 pounds with BROWN eyes and BROWN hair and was last seen wearing A 
BLUE WINTER PARKA, A BLUE LONGSLEEVE SHIRT, BROWN PANTS, AND BROWN BOOTS. 
- Suspect AN UNKNOWN MALE is described as a WHITE, MALE, approximately 6 
feet, 2 inches tall, 225 pounds with UNKNOWN eyes and BROWN hair and was 
last seen wearing A BLACK PLASTIC FACEMASK, A DARK COLORED BASEBALL HAT, 
BROWN JACKET, DARK COLORED PANTS, AND BLACK BOOTS. - If the victim, 
suspect and or vehicle is encountered DO NOT make contact. Call 9 1 1. - 
THIS IS ONLY A TEST!

The National Weather Service no longer uses "realistic" tornado warning 
scripts for its annual state severe weather week drills.  Instead, NWS 
public drills use scripts which are written more like PSAs.  Schools 
and local officials participating in the state NWS severe weather drills 
know that the PSA script is the exercise.  While the public, which is 
often is not aware even with prior outreach, hears a script sounding like 
a PSA about severe weather awareness.