Weather radio idiocy at it again (buy, tornadoes, codes)

[harry chickpea]

Originally Posted by DaninEGF

as a NWS forecaster....dont quite understand why dont you purchase a new SAME one for a few dollars and you can have your tornado alerts only and nothing else.....

Honestly, the way the system is so messed up now, I wouldn't invest another dime in it. We live in the northwest corner of a county that 30 to 40 miles away has regular tornadoes in the southeast corner. When the weather radio goes off and the sirens go off, I have learned to ignore them. What I have to do instead is watch the radars on tv and the internet when there are storms in the area. When those sources of info go out because of satellite rain fade, only then do I have to rely on the weather radio or a local radio station. We don't get reliable cell phone coverage, and even the land line sometimes goes out, which eliminates some other suggestions.

Even if I thought it might help, I would have to think long and hard. The last tornado in the immediate area was a small one in 1952. We chose an area outside of the major tracks when buying property.

I still stand by my statements that the misuse of the system for such amber alerts should be a felony offense. An hour's flight in a small plane could put a fleeing person from Memphis near Atlanta. Should Atlanta metro be constantly interrupted with Amber alerts from such a distance?

Put it another way. I buy a car that is defective and has an annoying squeal. Should I have to buy another car rather than tell the dealer to fix the squeal?

I am sorry, but your defense of misuse of the system is untenable.

[Christina311]

These type of alerts DO NOT belong with weather alerts, or on the emergency broadcast system on TV. There's no need to try to panic the public for something that is NOT an emergency putting several lives in danger. Like someone else in here said, it will only make people disable their weather radios and other alert systems because they don't like being woken up at 4am, then when a tornado hits in the middle of the night, they're screwed.

[Kamsack]

Originally Posted by Flowing Mindspin

These type of alerts DO NOT belong with weather alerts, or on the emergency broadcast system on TV. There's no need to try to panic the public for something that is NOT an emergency putting several lives in danger. Like someone else in here said, it will only make people disable their weather radios and other alert systems because they don't like being woken up at 4am, then when a tornado hits in the middle of the night, they're screwed.

The OP has his right to his opinion and decisions. But one can easily obtain a radio that will only sound with a warning you want to hear. I still dont know if folks understand that or not. If you only want your radio to go off for a tornado warning for your county....there are many units there (avg cost 30-40 dollars) that are easy to set up to do just that. You will not get any amber alerts, or other civil emergency bulletins.

Most of the SAME alarms that are generated on the weather radio console units at NWS offices triggers a response at area media markets for info. For the amber alerts and other such non-weather events that was what was intended when developed by the emergency response community. A fast way to spread info to the media. For the individual at home....there are ways to pick and choose what to get.

The system is what it is and was changed a while back to include all hazards (non weather and weather) to faster release of info to the media (radio/TV). There is a big push to integrate the requests of the emergency management community with weather bulletins from the NWS.

Hope everyone has a safe spring and summer down there. We get a fair number of tornadoes in our region with our main storm season mid June to mid August.

[harry chickpea]

"The system is what it is and was changed a while back to include all hazards (non weather and weather) to faster release of info to the media (radio/TV). There is a big push to integrate the requests of the emergency management community with weather bulletins from the NWS."

I hear (read) what you are saying, but that is so bogus. Back in 1956 I remember being with my dad at the radio station where he worked and hearing the teletype bells going off giving different levels of alerts. Faster release of info? I don't think so. The three wire services were almost instantaneous, even back then. It is a system that others want to latch onto, and it is being allowed - to the detriment of the original intent. Besides, tv and the media can't afford an internet connection??? Go ahead, pull the other one.

[rainroosty]

Midland WR 120 Weather Alert Trillingual w Alarm Clock WR 120 | eBay

[cdcdguy]

Dan, I think the problem many have, is the title of your orginization- National WEATHER Service. I dislike the Amber Alerts on the radio and website as well. I do understand times are changing and you are under pressure from higher ups to do this. BUT, I think it dilutes the weather service. And as far as platform informing, I don't want these on my cell phone either. I think the best use of this type service is when they put the alerts on signs on the highway. Often, that is where the perp is anyway. I don't have to worry about my weather radio going off for amber alerts. It is a radio shack model from 1985. No alerts unless the radio is on. Still works like a charm. And I do understnad I can get one with an alarm choice. That is great, and it's only 30 bucks. But do you see how some are ticked, because you say they just have to spend 30 dollars to upgrade the radio so they can turn off the Amber alert on their weather radio? I also think people being upset over this also indicates how important the National Weather Service is to them.

Originally Posted by DaninEGF

The OP has his right to his opinion and decisions. But one can easily obtain a radio that will only sound with a warning you want to hear. I still dont know if folks understand that or not. If you only want your radio to go off for a tornado warning for your county....there are many units there (avg cost 30-40 dollars) that are easy to set up to do just that. You will not get any amber alerts, or other civil emergency bulletins.

Most of the SAME alarms that are generated on the weather radio console units at NWS offices triggers a response at area media markets for info. For the amber alerts and other such non-weather events that was what was intended when developed by the emergency response community. A fast way to spread info to the media. For the individual at home....there are ways to pick and choose what to get.

The system is what it is and was changed a while back to include all hazards (non weather and weather) to faster release of info to the media (radio/TV). There is a big push to integrate the requests of the emergency management community with weather bulletins from the NWS.

Hope everyone has a safe spring and summer down there. We get a fair number of tornadoes in our region with our main storm season mid June to mid August.

[Kamsack]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

"The system is what it is and was changed a while back to include all hazards (non weather and weather) to faster release of info to the media (radio/TV). There is a big push to integrate the requests of the emergency management community with weather bulletins from the NWS."

I hear (read) what you are saying, but that is so bogus. Back in 1956 I remember being with my dad at the radio station where he worked and hearing the teletype bells going off giving different levels of alerts. Faster release of info? I don't think so. The three wire services were almost instantaneous, even back then. It is a system that others want to latch onto, and it is being allowed - to the detriment of the original intent. Besides, tv and the media can't afford an internet connection??? Go ahead, pull the other one.

What it is....the alerts are allowed to interrupt regular broadcast and then be put automatically over the air without a DJ intervention. Same with severe weather and winter weather warnings.... we used to have to get the warning and manually press the tone alerts and such and then read it over the air. Nowadays...weather radio is all automated so as soon as we hit the button it goes out and saves on average about a 1 min in sending out weather alerts.

The integration of weather with other hazards on NWR is something as you understand beyond any local office control. We control when to issue the weather hazards...and are requested by other authorities to issue the rest when they deems it necessary to warn the public. Us mets dont have much choice.

I do thank you for your passion on the subject..


Dan

[harry chickpea]

I think we have hashed the real issues down to the core ones. I find nothing factual to disagree with on your last post, and I find the pressure from commercial radio and outside forces to be despicable. I wonder if the media would like to cover an event where those of us disgusted with their dilution of the system use our old radios for skeet practice? Somehow, I doubt they would want to stand up and admit their part in the mess.

[drfranklin]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

So, after a night of the weather radio sounding alarms, and the local siren going off, what happens the following morning at 7:30 am, just when some of us are trying to catch up on much needed sleep, fending off the last of flu, and so on??? The lovely sound of the weather radio alarm, which sounds like somebody wobbling the testicles of a paranoid robotic computer, and the announcement that "this is an amber alert, the biological father of a 17" black baby boy in Memphis has absconded with it..." about that time I mashed the off switch.

LMAO - this should be nominated for post of the year.

I'm a Birmingham native - currently live in the Upstate of SC - thankfully, we are much less tornadic prone than middle AL. My weather alert radio went off (for the first time in 6 months - maybe longer) for a tornado warning in the past week - I've forgotten "wobbling the testicles of a paranoid robotic computer" voice (LOL again) - I'd much rather have a soothing, female voice (but I may have been lulled back to sleep).

As for the description above: "17" black baby boy" - what? why in the world would a description of a young infant include its height? how about any identifying birthmarks? what about the description of the biological father? jeez...

[Christina311]

A weather radio should receive weather alerts. You shouldn't have to buy a special version to block the non weather related alerts. That makes a weather radio no longer a weather radio. It should be the opposite. A weather radio with an option to receive non weather alerts, for those willing to pay more for the unit.

And then there's the emergency broadcast system on TV. The alerts go off 10x louder than regular programming. Then if they don't immediately say it's only a test, many people that grew up during the cold war era will freak out and imagine scenes from the movie The Day After. That's not good. The generations are getting older and this may trigger cardiac arrest. Then you end up with a missing kid, and someone laying on their floor after a heart attack - fallen and they can't get up.


The Day After (Attack Segment) - YouTube