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EAS Tests on Wed 2/22/06

D

danielbritt

Anyone else get redundant EAS Tornado drill tests on Wednesday morning (9:30-9:45)? So far we've relayed three of these via 94.9 FM. We're setup to automatically transmit the alerts--but I wonder if anyone else got these and/or relayed them.

As if the computer voice isn't annoying enough, let's hear it three times in a row!

This isn't the first time something like this has happened. Why is it that the whole EAS system (at least in this area) is so sloppy. The alerts have taken over and "gotten stuck" ... even sometimes where the programming of 94.9 is re-broadcast for a period until the closing tones took effect.

We test and test...yet, when something like 9/11 happens, the system seems useless.
 
> Anyone else get redundant EAS Tornado drill tests on
> Wednesday morning (9:30-9:45)? So far we've relayed three of
> these via 94.9 FM. We're setup to automatically transmit the
> alerts--but I wonder if anyone else got these and/or relayed
> them.
>
> As if the computer voice isn't annoying enough, let's hear
> it three times in a row!
>
> This isn't the first time something like this has happened.
> Why is it that the whole EAS system (at least in this area)
> is so sloppy. The alerts have taken over and "gotten stuck"
> ... even sometimes where the programming of 94.9 is
> re-broadcast for a period until the closing tones took
> effect.
>
> We test and test...yet, when something like 9/11 happens,
> the system seems useless.
>

I can see how hearing the same message 3 times in a row would be irritating. I thought it was strange hearing Toucher announce the "warning" twice (with different ending times for each one)...and he never mentioned that it was a TEST or a DRILL. As dumb as the general public can be at times, I can only imagine that there were quite a few people who thought it was actually real, and that there were about 10 or so counties all having a tornado at the same time! :)
 
> Anyone else get redundant EAS Tornado drill tests on
> Wednesday morning (9:30-9:45)? So far we've relayed three of
> these via 94.9 FM. We're setup to automatically transmit the
> alerts--but I wonder if anyone else got these and/or relayed
> them.
>
> As if the computer voice isn't annoying enough, let's hear
> it three times in a row!
>
The NWS computer is screwed up. Sometimes alerts are transmitted manually. This was the case a few weeks ago during a flooding rainstorm. About 3 years ago, the weather radio system was screwed up so badly that it was down during major tornado outbreaks.

> This isn't the first time something like this has happened.
> Why is it that the whole EAS system (at least in this area)
> is so sloppy. The alerts have taken over and "gotten stuck"
> ... even sometimes where the programming of 94.9 is
> re-broadcast for a period until the closing tones took
> effect.
>

Same issues occured under WSB-FM's (B98.5) watch as State Primary. That is why the Primary station was switched to WLTM (94.9 Lite).

I believe B98.5 still gets everything direct from NWS and GEMA, so they may not have had issues, but everyone else is now suppost to monitor 94.9.

I believe WSTR (Star 94), WVEE (V103), or WABE might have been better choices for State Primary, since they are staffed 24/7. B98.5 and Lite voicetrack most of the time now.

> We test and test...yet, when something like 9/11 happens,
> the system seems useless.

The President did not choose to activate the EAS on 9/11. The national part of the EAS has never been activated, so when it come stime for an alert, I have a feeling the system will not function period.
 
> > Anyone else get redundant EAS Tornado drill tests on
> > Wednesday morning (9:30-9:45)? So far we've relayed three
> of
> > these via 94.9 FM. We're setup to automatically transmit
> the
> > alerts--but I wonder if anyone else got these and/or
> relayed
> > them.
> >
> > As if the computer voice isn't annoying enough, let's hear
>
> > it three times in a row!
> >
> The NWS computer is screwed up. Sometimes alerts are
> transmitted manually. This was the case a few weeks ago
> during a flooding rainstorm. About 3 years ago, the weather
> radio system was screwed up so badly that it was down during
> major tornado outbreaks.
>
> > This isn't the first time something like this has
> happened.
> > Why is it that the whole EAS system (at least in this
> area)
> > is so sloppy. The alerts have taken over and "gotten
> stuck"
> > ... even sometimes where the programming of 94.9 is
> > re-broadcast for a period until the closing tones took
> > effect.
> >
>
> Same issues occured under WSB-FM's (B98.5) watch as State
> Primary. That is why the Primary station was switched to
> WLTM (94.9 Lite).
>
> I believe B98.5 still gets everything direct from NWS and
> GEMA, so they may not have had issues, but everyone else is
> now suppost to monitor 94.9.
>
> I believe WSTR (Star 94), WVEE (V103), or WABE might have
> been better choices for State Primary, since they are
> staffed 24/7. B98.5 and Lite voicetrack most of the time
> now.
>
> > We test and test...yet, when something like 9/11 happens,
> > the system seems useless.
>
> The President did not choose to activate the EAS on 9/11.
> The national part of the EAS has never been activated, so
> when it come stime for an alert, I have a feeling the system
> will not function period.
>
WLTM did NOT originate the tests and so it was not the fault of WLTM. They simply relay the test received, even if it is screwed up.
GEMA and the NWS are the culprits here. But this is exactly why we have tests....and this test shows the system still has bugs.
WSB could not seem to get it together with the monthly tests, which were ALWAYS screwed up, and they didn't seem to care.....so that is why it is done through WLTM.
The system is automated on the station end, so it really does not matter if the station is staffed,or not.
I hope, with IBOC and it's digital text streaming capability, we can finally put an end to this EBS/EAS farce once and for all. If the s**t hits the fan, my station's operators are going to be running down the hallways screaming....they ain't goin' to be operatin' no emergency alert system!
 
> If the s**t hits the fan, my station's
> operators are going to be running down the hallways
> screaming....they ain't goin' to be operatin' no emergency
> alert system!
>

Depends on where the fan is splattering. ;)

Seriously, though, the most frustrating is the Amber Alert/Levi Call/etc. It's frustrating because it is sometimes all but impossible to get info on the actual alert. The printout we get says "Child Abduction Emergency," and that's it. The pre-recorded alert is usually muffled and hard to hear, and the info is not repeated. You have to transcribe at light speed or try to pull it off an aircheck machine. It is getting better, but still needs work.

For what it's worth, GAB had asked stations to capture today's drill and NOT let it broadcast. You saw how well that worked out, what with all the technical snafus and such.
 
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