[EAS] NWS Alerts and messaging

[Dale Lamm]

Lots of good info on this thread. Speaking as an LP-1 radio station, we don't have the luxury of replacing a relayed EAS message with a "live read". Downstream stations are looking for the header bursts from us.

I hear complaints from operations about the length of some messages. Reminders of what to do during a severe storm (take shelter in a lower level, visit a web site, etc) are useful but that verbiage sometimes takes up most of the alert.

Some stations might delay certain EAS messages till on-air staff can integrate them and perhaps add something to them. I'll let the manufacturers comment here, but our experience is that if there's a held EAS message in the queue, it can be overwritten by a subsequent message and lost. Sometimes NWS message volume spikes as the severe weather marches into new counties.

I've never heard a complaint about the number of messages, just their length. We promote ourselves as "Your severe weather station" so relaying EAS messages adds credibility. I also incorporate relayed messages into the quarterly Issues and Programs lists which can be seen on the FCC Public Inspection Files.

Dale Lamm
WHBC AM-FM