An Arizonan EAS mess

[Sammi Brie]

1. I live in Phoenix.

2. Our Cox system takes a monthly EAS test from KNST (and it is NOT for Maricopa County - it only listed Pima and Santa Cruz). Why would it take an EAS test from Tucson? (I'm thinking it's related to connection between the Phoenix and Tucson systems.)

3. KNST gets to make up for it with a Charlie Van Dyke voiceover for their "This is a test" tape. (CVD has a good Arizona track record, too - KPNX flagship VO since 1988 and KVOA voice in the 1990s during their last "Eyewitness News" years.)

 

[The Beave]

There is a problem with Arizona's EAS system... especially in Tucson, as The National Weather Service SAME alert tests are supposed to happen weekly on a 8 day rotation odd months at night, even months during the day.

I have a TFT-911 in my home that was rescued from a flooded station in Iowa (never seen water or been wet for any reason) and rarely see those alerts come across on schedule. in the last 2 months I have not received more than 2 tests from any of the Tucson monitoring sources. For a "Storm Ready" metro it's sure a disaster waiting to happen. Kinda reminds me of what happened in Minot ND with unattended stations. (some at cc will know about that one).

Needless to say AZ needs to fix the system and use it. It may be the desert. But what will happen when a wall of water comes rushing down Mt. Lemmon without a whole lot of notice at 2 am? And where was radio?

My point exactly.

 

[landtuna]

But what will happen when a wall of water comes rushing down Mt. Lemmon without a whole lot of notice at 2 am?

2AM? Probably nothing. Sabino Canyon would be empty at that hour and that is the most dangerous place in the Catalina's for flash floods.

Normally dry road crossings are probably the biggest danger in flash flood prone desert areas and those seem to be covered pretty well by the local law enforcement agencies and TV updates.

 

[Sammi Brie]

Well, I've seen Phoenix stations originate the test. This is the first one sent from Tucson, though.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

I hope one of the big stick FMs on Tower Peak is also a
primary EAS for metro Tucson. Cloud 95 maybe?

KNST's signal (5 kw-D, 500 w-N, DA-1) leaves something
to be desired, especially at night in the NW metro.

This has been a test of the Emergency Broadcast System.
If this had been an actual emergency, you'd be on your
own 'cause we'd be outa here! ;D

 

[The Beave]

But what will happen when a wall of water comes rushing down Mt. Lemmon without a whole lot of notice at 2 am?

2AM? Probably nothing. Sabino Canyon would be empty at that hour and that is the most dangerous place in the Catalina's for flash floods.

Normally dry road crossings are probably the biggest danger in flash flood prone desert areas and those seem to be covered pretty well by the local law enforcement agencies and TV updates.

I know that tuna, BUT do those summer campers know that.. plus our local rivers would be full in a big hurry. (sounds like a scenario for a Weather Channel episode of "It Could Happen Tomorrow")

 

[w9wi]

But what will happen when a wall of water comes rushing down Mt. Lemmon without a whole lot of notice at 2 am? And where was radio?

IMHO not as big of a deal as it may sound. (for the same reason, I don't think the Minot event was nearly as serious as many seem to think) If radio *IS* on the ball, it will still be notifying almost nobody. What are the audience figures at 2am?

IMHO for first notice of this kind of emergency, we need to rely on something that will alert people 24/7. And I'm thinking of the NOAA 162.x system.

Radio may fill in the details after the fact but at that hour, people will first learn of the disaster from some other source.

 

[The Beave]

But what will happen when a wall of water comes rushing down Mt. Lemmon without a whole lot of notice at 2 am? And where was radio?

IMHO not as big of a deal as it may sound. (for the same reason, I don't think the Minot event was nearly as serious as many seem to think) If radio *IS* on the ball, it will still be notifying almost nobody. What are the audience figures at 2am?

IMHO for first notice of this kind of emergency, we need to rely on something that will alert people 24/7. And I'm thinking of the NOAA 162.x system.

Radio may fill in the details after the fact but at that hour, people will first learn of the disaster from some other source.

As much as I respect the Tucson Weather Service office (as I am a spotter) the 162.400 metro frequency is actually in need of some service as when the last warnings were issued they never showed up on the wx radio nor the EAS. Tones were issued but the signal was so weak most could not re-transmit them.

 

[caveman-97]

Might as well clear up any misconceptions. The primary EAS station for Tucson is KRQQ. KNST is classified as the LP-2 which also may be monitored.

The primary EAS station for the State of Arizona is KTAR. I think that Clear Channel Tucson monitors KTAR to get statewide emergency information.

At times I've heard the air talent at KRQ really screw up monthly tests by leaving out tones or failing to turn off the music. Clear Channel purposely schedules the monthly tests in the middle of the night so as not to lose listeners

The system, though adored by the FCC, is of very little value in informing the public. For one thing, it is a daisy chain of one station rebroadcasting another one. Any weak link and the system falls apart.
You transmit digital tones but it's nearly impossible to know if you are sending information about a blizzard or an earthquake. The person who is getting music from his Ipod gets no warning. Ditto someone who is sleeping.

In the event of an actual emergency, each station is required to have a handbook that's about 50 pages long to tell the operator what to do. After he reads the handbook, the bombs or tornado will already have destroyed the radio station.

 

[The Beave]

The primary EAS station for the State of Arizona is KTAR. I think that Clear Channel Tucson monitors KTAR to get statewide emergency information.

True, The EAS Systems are legally supposed to be wired as such as to interrupt all programming in the audio chain when activated or tested. Meaning it's supposed to be "the last in line" in the audio chain before the Studio-Transmitter Link (STL).

At times I've heard the air talent at KRQ really screw up monthly tests by leaving out tones or failing to turn off the music. Clear Channel purposely schedules the monthly tests in the middle of the night so as not to lose listeners

I wonder where they got that authorization to only test at night... Especially when the L-1 is KRQQ?
Leaving the tones out could cost CC some serious bucks in Fines. Another reason why The EAS unit is supposed to override programming.

The system, though adored by the FCC, is of very little value in informing the public. For one thing, it is a daisy chain of one station rebroadcasting another one. Any weak ]

Same reason that Tucson took out their Civil Defense Siren system. Apparently it's not important that the
Tucson metro may be wiped off of the face of the earth, with those paid to keep the public safe by their negligence.

In the event of an actual emergency, each station is required to have a handbook that's about 50 pages long to tell the operator what to do. After he reads the handbook, the bombs or tornado will already have destroyed the radio station.

That's why they are supposed to be trained how to use the system in advance, as well as activate it, and test it. I don't think there has been a station outside Tucson where The EAS/EBS system usage was not part of the OJT for any programming position I ever held.

 

[landtuna]

Same reason that Tucson took out their Civil Defense Siren system. Apparently it's not important that the
Tucson metro may be wiped off of the face of the earth, with those paid to keep the public safe by their negligence.

I remember seeing those yellow sirens and hearing the test every month in the 50's. To tell the truth they wouldn't have been very effective since their range wasn't anywhere near the entire span of the city by the late 60's.

And remember.....Tucson was once the site of a SAC air base and had several Titan missile silo's in the near proximity. That would have made it a priority target for the bad guys. Today D-M AFB is a training base and the missile silos are tourist attractions or filled with dirt.

 

[The Beave]

And remember.....Tucson was once the site of a SAC air base and had several Titan missile silo's in the near proximity. That would have made it a priority target for the bad guys. Today D-M AFB is a training base and the missile silos are tourist attractions or filled with dirt.

Not Counting the Museum... There is still 1 active Titan II south of the Museum location not all of them have been deactivated yet.