[sbe-eas] National FIPS Code

[Adrienne Abbott]

Would it be so hard for FEMA or White House Com Agency to, find out all the
various "national" FIPS codes, i.e. 00000, 99999, etc. and just enter them
all into the alert? Just wondering. 
Don Heppelmann

Don--
The problem is that no one recognizes the "National" FIPS code, including
the National Weather Service, the largest "consumer" of FIPS codes, as well
as FEMA, the FCC and some manufacturers of EAS equipment...Entering multiple
versions of something that doesn't officially exist won't make things any
better. 

The search for a "National" code notwithstanding, when it comes to
identifying a disaster location, FIPS codes are an outmoded, outdated, old
technology. FIPS codes identify counties and they don't do you much good
here in the West where some counties are bigger than entire eastern states.
Years ago manufacturers and programmers of emergency management equipment
started using postal zip codes as a way to identify disaster locations. And
now as a result of better mapping technology, the tool of choice is the more
flexible "polygon".  

The point is, we need to move EAS completely out of the Cold War mentality.
CAP gives us a way to do that as long as we don't keep it anchored to old
technology. 
Adrienne

"Radio burps, it cries, it needs to be fed all the time, it requires
constant attention, but we love it." Jim Aaron WGLN