[sbe-eas] National FIPS Code

[Chriss Scherer]

The five-digit FIPS codes have two digits for the state and three digits for the county. If I recall, each county can further be subdivided into nine sections by adding an additional digit.

Online searches provide little info on this, and I don't know if current EAS units would recognize the longer codes.

This is one document I found.
http://support.radioshack.com/support_meters/doc41/41299.htm





On 11/27/11, Adrienne  Abbott  <nevadaeas at charter.net> wrote:

> 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. 

> 

> ...FIPS codes are an outmoded, outdated, old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






> Don Heppelmann wrote:

> 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.