Re: Oct. 3, 2018 EAS Presidential Alert test

[Tom Beecher <beecher () beecher cc>]

It's likely worth noting that this specific test was of IPAWS (Integrated
Public Alert and Warning System), a system designed to integrate the
Emergency Alert System, National Warning System, Wireless Emergency Alerts,
and NOAA Weather Alerts.

It's not intended to be cell phone only or replace anything; it's intended
to unify all the pre-existing methods together. This was just the first
time cell phones were included in a nationwide test.

On Wed, Oct 10, 2018 at 11:15 AM Naslund, Steve <SNaslund () medline com>
wrote:

> I agree 100% and also have noticed that severe weather systems tend to
> more severe in rural areas due to either open spaces (the plains) or trees
> (forested areas) doing more damage.  I can tell you from living the in
> Midwest that the storms in Iowa and Nebraska are way worse than the ones
> that hit Chicago.  A weather guy I know told me it has something to do with
> convective heat rising from major cities which is why you rarely see
> tornados hitting downtown Chicago and New York.  I have noticed that for
> some reason local weather alerts seem to be more reliable than the national
> level tests on cellular.  Don't know if it has to do with shear volume or
> what.  Also, like I said earlier in rural areas you are less likely to run
> into a bystander that knows what is going on.
>
> Steven Naslund
> Chicago IL
>
>
> > How quickly we forget.  Puerto Rico's catastrophe was only a year ago.
> > Per capita fatalities in rural areas are usually higher than cities after
> > a disaster.  Telecommunications are even more important in rural areas
> > because you have fewer disaster response resources than in cities.
> > Rural areas receive warnings later, have fewer emergency responders,
> fewer
> > advanced trauma hospitals. There are more neighbors helping neighbors in
> > cities, and more potential sources of help in densely populated areas.
> >
> > Telecommunication providers are less likely to spend money hardening
> > infrastructure in rural areas, because there is less business.  Its easy
> > to find alternative telecommunications in New York City. Its hard to find
> > backup telecommunications in Idaho.
> >
> > A nation-wide WEA and EAS system helps warn people in both cities and
> > rural areas. But they still depend on carriers and broadcasters. If there
> > are no backup batteries in cell towers, or backup transmitters for
> > broadcasters, you end up with communication blackouts like in Puerto Rico
> > for months.