[EAS] Colorado makes the same WEA mistake as Utah - WEA can't target highwway crossings

[Dave Kline]

I certainly agree that someone needs to step in and put a halt to it.
I'm just not convinced that FEMA should be the one doing it.

As I see it, that would be overreach on matters that are under the jurisdictions of more localized entities. There is, IMHO, too much of that already going on in matters related to this pandemic.

I also don't see the need to issue these warnings as being a "My situation is an emergency" or a feeling of being left out. I see the breakdown of this as being caused by a lack of training/understanding on the part of the issuing entity. There may also be a CYA component to it.

It's no secret that in general, EAS/WEA stakeholders who have authority to issue alerts are woefully untrained or undertrained. They do not understand the nature of the alerts and how it impacts the overall alerting system when overused. Just because I own a hammer, doesn't mean it's appropriate to fasten everything together with nails. Just because an entity has an alert system doesn't mean it should be used in every instance where they need or want to provide information to the public.
Likewise, it seems that some warning originators send alerts out of fear of reprisal.
Suppose someone decides to not interrupt programming to relay a tornado warning. Are they to blame if someone listening to their station is killed or injured by that tornado? And who wants to be THAT station that didn't carry an Amber alert, if the abducted child was harmed? 

You are correct in your assessment that someone needs to stop this before it gets further out of hand. But I think that will be most effective, and better received if done through education, enlightenment and understanding by locally established authorities. If FEMA were to step in, they would have to apply a solution that covers everyone, but does little to really address the problem. If these measures are enacted at a more localized source, they have a chance of being better accepted, and it is more likely that the resolution will be a better fit to the problem.

This starts with the SECC and state broadcasting associations. On a more local level, an SBE group might be able to have an impact. If there is an LECC in place, they need to be involved. If there is alerting happening on a local level (other than NWS issued alerts) where an LECC has not been established, and/or is ineffective in training and oversight, then you really have no way to control any of it. It breaks down into a free-for-all either to appear relevant or to CYA as the reasons for issuing alerts. If those are the primary motivations behind issuing alerts, then the whole system has lost it's way. Most efforts at intervention by anyone, but especially by the federal government, will find it has become very difficult to fix.

On Mon, Jul 20, 2020 at 9:56 AM Rick Jesse <rick.jesse at smgnational.com> wrote:
>This whole thing is very disturbing to me.  The local news is the place to notify people.  EAS and WEA are for EMERGENCIES only.  The public is already being desensitized, just because someone thinks that THEIR situation merits an emergency, or feels like they are being left out.

>FEMA needs to step in and put a halt to it.

>R

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>Rick Jesse
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Dave Kline - Solder Jockey
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