[sbe-eas] Subject: Re: PEP Stations

[Glenn Little]

When the disaster hits, and the priorities assigned to the cell phones eliminate the public, will the public still get alerts?

Most people are unaware that the cell phones (radios) have priorities assigned.
Law enforcement and government have higher priorities than does John Q. Public.

Are these priorities for outbound connections or both outbound and inbound?

73
Glenn Little
Engineer WCIV TV
WB4UIV 

-----Original Message-----
From: sbe-eas-bounces at sbe.org [mailto:sbe-eas-bounces at sbe.org] On Behalf Of Adrienne Abbott
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 10:49 AM
To: 'SBE EAS Exchange - a mail list for discussion about the Emergency Alert System and other emergency communication issues.'
Subject: Re: [sbe-eas] Subject: Re: PEP Stations

Lots of people have EAS receivers--they call them TV's and radios and soon they'll call them cell phones. 
Adrienne

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

-----Original Message-----
From: sbe-eas-bounces at sbe.org [mailto:sbe-eas-bounces at sbe.org] On Behalf Of sbe-eas at fetrow.org
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 10:38 PM
To: sbe-eas at sbe.org
Subject: Re: [sbe-eas] Subject: Re: PEP Stations

While I pretty much agree with everything you write, you missed one big -- actually HUGE -- issue.

Who in the public, our customers, have EAS receivers?  The answer is, NONE!

Until there is an EAS receiver in nearly every home, we are just spinning our wheels.

On Feb 10, 2012, at 10:00 AM, sbe-eas-request at sbe.org wrote:


> Message: 1

> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:23:42 -0500 (EST)

> From: Sean Donelan <sean at donelan.com>

> Subject: Re: [sbe-eas] Subject: Re:  PEP Stations

>

> On Sun, 5 Feb 2012, Frank Lucia wrote:

>> Some thoughts on possible EAS problems

>>

>> 1. power outages - large and small

>> 2. generator failures

>> 3. EAS equipment failures

>> 4. emergency management connectivity especially overnight etc.

>

> It depends on what and when people think EAS' role should be.  If EAS 

> is only for "alerting" before predictable events, then you don't need 

> to worry about many of the things that stop working after a disaster.

> If EAS still includes the role of that EBS had before, during and 

> after a disaster, then you need to worry about gaining attention 

> before an event, the impact during the event on the communication 

> systems itself, and speedy post-event recovery of the communication 

> systems.

>

> My assumption is the name change was about the expansion from just 

> broadcasters (EBS) to include cable and other systems (EAS).  The name 

> change was not intended reflect a policy change of limiting the use of 

> the system only for alerts in advance of predictable dangerous events.

>

> Before an event:

>   Training emergency officials how to activate the alert system

>   Public attention is very fragmented before an event, and often

>     not paying attention to any communication channel

>   Automated facilities, manual processes don't work

>   Staffed facilities, automated processes disrupt their work

>   Closed circuit channels are needed within the system to maintain

>     confidence of the operators (when errors happen, when messages 

> aren't

>     clear, when fixing problems, etc)

>   Only some types of disaster events are predictable

>

> During an event:

>   Alert speed is important for unexpected disaster events

>   Public needs to be able quickly recogonize a "real" alert message,

>     confirm it and act on it

>   Systems which aren't normally used, often fail at the time of a 

> crisis

>   Operator error should be expected (originator, aggregator, 

> distributor,

>     receiver, etc)

>   Power failures are common in all types of disasters

>   Communication channel failures are common in all types of disasters

>   Diversity, not just redundancy, is needed

>

> After an event (or a disaster becomes multiple disasters)

>   An event affecting someone else is a news story, an event affecting

>      the broadcaster/cable/satellite/etc itself is a crisis

>   How many communications channels are needed after a disaster?  Does

>      everything need to work, or just a few minimum essential 

> facilities?

>   15 minutes, 8 hours, 72 hours, 30 days, 90 days how long before 

> outside

>      help should be expected

>   Mutual aid and pre-planned sharing of resources including 

> programming

>     sources (i.e. use of EBS/EAS granted automatic re-transmission

> rights)

>   Distributing and integrating post-event official emergency 

> information

>     into multiple communication channels (some wall-to-wall, some 

> still

>     on automation, interactive channels, internet, paper, etc)

>   Not all emergency information needs to go direct to air. After an 

> event,

>     even when traditional communication channels may not be working,

>     government public information officers still want to get the

>     information to reporters wherever they are, continuously, not at 

> just

>     the traditional once a day news conference.

>

> All the time:

>    Nobody has extra money to spend for stuff.


_______________________________________________
sbe-eas mailing list
sbe-eas at sbe.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/sbe-eas

_______________________________________________
sbe-eas mailing list
sbe-eas at sbe.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/sbe-eas