RadioWorld reports the Federal Emergency Management Agency conducted an IPAWS/EAS test that was to cover a sizable part of the nation: 22 states, two territories and the District of Columbia.
But there were hiccups in the process, and six states were dropped from the test with little to no warning to participants due to concerns about real weather activity.
In Florida, authorities cancelled the participation in the test due to severe weather. A cancellation notification was apparently sent via email to Florida Association of Broadcasters members, said Scott Solko, chief engineer for Powell Broadcasting in Panama City, Fla., “but non-members got no notice,” he said. “It is not posted on the FAB website, and I called, and was told that the FAB has nothing to do with the test. Very scary stuff.”
There was also miscommunication in Alabama, where the anticipated test was not delivered, much to the chagrin of the state association president and several stations.
“Alabama did not get the test,” said Larry Wilkins, contract engineer for the Alabama Broadcasters Association. “We found out that someone with the state asked to have Alabama removed from the list because of weather. The sad thing is nobody let the state EAS committee know. As a result we had stations sitting by their EAS units waiting for it. I can’t seem to find out where the order came from.”
Al Kenyon, the technical lead for IPAWS, confirmed that Florida, North Carolina and Virginia were dropped from the test at the request of the respective state emergency management agencies; and that Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi were dropped upon the recommendation of the National Weather Service due to on-going recovery activities in those states following overnight severe weather.
But apparent miscommunication has led to frustration for more than a few broadcasters.
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