[EAS] Questionable EAS Activation

[Timothy McCoy]

Hi Adrienne,

Kindly let me precede my response with a disclaimer.    I am a retired
Federal employee and member of a state emergency communications committee
(SECC) but not a broadcaster.  So I cannot speak as a member the broadcast
community.   With that said, here are a few suggestions to consider:

I would review your state's Emergency Alert System Plan and/or the Local
(Operational Area) Emergency Alert System Plan.  Before formulating any
actions or guidance, I suggest visiting plan provisions for introducing a
message into the state / Local Operational Area network; who is authorized
to release a message into the state/local network; and, what are the
broadcaster's options for message conveyance.  (Just a point of
clarification in regard to the last point of consideration.   Based on the
event code, some messages are "must carry"; others, may be delay or
ignored.)   Plan provisions may provide you with the information you seek
for developing guidance or taking action.

In specific regard to the specific message contained in your correspondence,
the message originator clearly indicated the message is not an emergency
message.   That indicates to me a more appropriate avenue(s) for
dissemination would be channels used for public service announcements.   

If it is determined the matter is a training or educational issue, FEMA has
Independent Study courses that address several topics which may be
beneficial.   These courses are brief and cover topics to guide public
safety officials with message formulation and using the EAS system.   If it
is a planning issue, now is a good time to address the shortfall.   The FCC
is developing a database for all SECCs to submit their state EAS plans.
Get it done before submitting your state plan into the FCC database.

Respectfully,

Timothy McCoy
CT SECC Member  	 

-----Original Message-----
From: EAS [mailto:eas-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Adrienne Abbott

All--

What would you do if your station received this EAS activation? This was
issued last night and carried by multiple stations. The county name and
station information has been changed to protect the innocent. 

 

Matched filter CDW, Received from CAP. Queued 05/13/20 18:24:36. Automatic
Relay. Alert ready 05/13/20 18:24:39.

 

CAP Text: The Civil Authorities have issued a Civil Danger Warning for
Bullfrog County beginning at 6:24 pm and ending at 6:39 pm (fromcap). Hi,
This is Dr. Stringham with a message about Coronavirus for all residents
Bullfrog County. This is not an emergency, and I apologize for calling you
directly, but we are realizing that some people have not received
information critical to help stop the spread of the virus in our
community.Each of us has the power to end Coronavirus so we can all get back
on with our lives.Most patients are infected by people they know
well-usually by family members and friends.It is critical that you avoid
parties, visits, and other gatherings-because bringing others into close
proximity is dangerous.Coronavirus can be spread by people who have no
symptoms, which is why it's critical to remain at least six feet from all
other people even if they look and feel well.If you live with others, be
sure to remain at least six feet away from them. Children should not be
cared for in places where children from other households will be.Coronavirus
usually causes a cough, fever, and shortness of breath. But it can also
present in other ways-like sinus pressures, nausea, vomiting, dirarrhea or
body aches.If you feel poorly, call the hospital for testing instructions
immediately before anyone else is exposed. If you have any unexplained
symptoms, get tested and stop all contact with others.Please stay at least
six feet from others at all times, wear a mask in public, and wash your
hands before touching your face.

 

It's not an emergency but it's being issued as an EAS activation and now
stations are asking why...what's an EAS Chair to do? 

Adrienne

Adrienne Abbott, W6BCY

Nevada EAS Chair

 

__________________________________________________________
The EAS Forum Discussion List is hosted by the BWWG (Broadcast Warning
Working Group). The Core members of the BWWG are Adrienne Abbott, Clay
Freinwald, Suzanne Goucher, Barry Mishkind, David Ostmo, Darryl Parker,
Richard Rudman, Gary Timm, and Sharon Tinsley. http://eas.radiolists.net
Please invite your friends to join our Forum! The sign up is at:
https://lists.radiolists.net/mailman/listinfo/eas
___________________________________________________________