About
Connect with AWARE
Touchstone Consulting Group - An SRA Company
by Randy J. Stine, 02.17.2010
ANCHORAGE, Alaska A test of the Emergency Alert System that included the first planned activation of the Emergency Action Notification event code was likely just the first of several exercises the Federal Emergency Management Agency will take, seeking data to help plug coverage gaps in the planned next-gen EAS.
The EAN is the activation code that would allow the president of the United States to address the nation directly via broadcast radio stations, TV stations and cable outlets during a national emergency.
The Alaskan test in January was observed by a large contingent of FEMA and Federal Communications Commission personnel and was deemed a success by most involved despite a few glitches. The Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Alaska Broadcasters Association, the Federal Communications Commission and FEMA officials coordinated the event.
The Alaska Broadcasters Association provided this image for TV and cable systems to use during the test.
The overall success of the exercise will be measured in part by a statewide followup survey of radio and TV broadcasters by the Alaska Broadcasters Association.
The FCC has since proposed an annual nationwide test of the national alert capability of EAS in a subsequent rulemaking proposal and is asking for comments to EB Docket 04-296 (Radio World, Feb. 1).
For more click here: http://www.radioworld.com/article/94818
By Stephanie Taylor Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, February 15, 2010 at 11:33 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, February 15, 2010 at 11:33 p.m.
TUSCALOOSA | The emergency notification system at the University of Alabama has been activated only for weather warnings, but officials are confident it can be triggered quickly if a bigger tragedy unfolds.
similar system failed at the University of Alabama in Huntsville on Friday after a shooting at the school’s biology building. Some UAH students complained because the emergency alert text messages were sent at 4:42 p.m., 45 minutes after the first 911 call was placed at 3:57 p.m. Some students said in media interviews that they were not notified by the university at all.Professor Amy Bishop has been charged with shooting three faculty members during a meeting. No students were in the area, officials reported.
“The U-Alert was triggered late because the people involved in activating that system were involved in responding to the shooting,” UAH Police Chief Charles Gailes said at a news conference. “We’re going to stop, we’re going to sit down, we’re going to review what happened. All of these actions are going to be learning points, and we’re going to be better for this.”
rreyes@tampatrib.com
Published: February 5, 2010
The Tampa Bay area, the message read, was under an earthquake warning.
“It said to be prepared,” said Brooks, 58. “It put me in a panic attack.”
The tickertape scrawl about the tremors turned out to be a test that only meteorologists should have seen.
“We test it all the time,” said Dan Noah of the National Weather Service in Ruskin, “but it usually isn’t broadcast to the rest of the world. This one made it out of the building.”
Almost immediately, all the phone lines at the weather service and Hillsborough County Emergency Management lit up with concerned callers, officials said.
“We got a few” calls, emergency management spokeswoman Holley Wade said with a laugh.
Noah said that on the radio, the warning was spoken by an automated voice that repeated, “Test, earthquake warning, test.” The alert was broadcast at 1:07 p.m.
Computer engineers are still trying to figure out how the glitch happened.
“Our No. 1 mission is to warn of hazardous weather to protect life and property,” Noah said. “We have to make sure the system works.”
Article at: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/feb/05/na-earthquake-warning-test-shakes-viewers/
Yesterday, FEMA illustrated its G eo-Targeted Alerting System (GTAS) project, a prototype application of plume modeling and high resolution weather models that may eventually be used for alerting the public.
The application is essentially a map-based notification interface, however, it is connected to some very useful data. First, it receives high-resolution weather data and modeling feeds from the National Weather Service. These feeds allow emergency managers to visualize areas in the path of dangerous weather (currently or forecasted) and to select these areas for the issuance of highly targeted public emergency notifications. Further, the app provides built-in collaboration tools so emergency managers can can work with outside experts to clarify the information being presented.
More at: http://www.emergencymgmt.com/emergency-blogs/alerts/FEMA-Shows-Off-its.html
