[sbe-eas] Subject: Re: PEP Stations

[W2XJ]

I can speak from the experience of both 9-11 and the Northeast blackout 
in NYC that cell phones are useless. In one case a lot of infrastructure 
was lost and the remainder highly overloaded and the other batteries ran 
down after 2 hours. In both cases landlines were also heavily impacted. 
There is a reason Homeland Security has invested heavily in HF capability.

On 2/13/12 10:42 AM, Glenn Little wrote:

> 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.

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