[EAS] Weather Channel goes to reruns during tornado outbreak

[Sean Donelan]

Its not 24x7.

As more people spend more time watching satellite TV and streaming 
entertainment services, those services don't provide 24x7 local emergency 
alerts.  The lobbyists talk a big game, but what's the reality?

The Weather Channel went to reruns overnight, while the tornado outbreak 
was occuring across multiple states.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/12/16/weather-channel-tornado/

Satellite TV and audio services "pass through" alerts only if you 
are watching specific local channels.  Satellite TV and Satellite audio 
doesn't notify people watching other entertainment or national channels.

If you've "cut the cord" and using streaming services, streaming services 
don't provide local emergency alert services.

Amazon Alexa has "opt-in" severe weather alerts.  But only if the user has 
enabled it. There are a variety of weather Apps, but only if the user has 
taken the inititive to procure them. Past surveys found a small percentage 
of people proactively procure emergency alerting products (weather radios, 
weather apps, etc).

Wireless emergency alerts on smart cell phones was mentioned in several 
interviews of survivors of the tornado outbreak.