The author is the former chair of the Nevada State Emergency Communications Committee.
To the Editor:
Have we learned a lesson from the tragedy in Texas? One lesson to consider: It doesn’t matter if you have the best warning system in the world, it’s no good if no one has a way to receive that warning.
People on a weekend getaway or vacation also want to escape their electronics — not just cellphones, the internet and social media, but also TVs and radios. They want to get away from the constant barrage of controversies, catastrophes and yes, even weather reports.
However, Texas is subject to all types of weather disasters, hurricanes, tornadoes, damaging winds, storms and flash floods. And it’s not the only place in the country on the receiving end of bad weather events.
Knowing this, there’s no excuse for the operators of any campground, and especially a children’s campground, to not have a properly programmed and set up NOAA Weather Radio. It’s the only device that can sit quietly on a shelf in “off” mode and still receive alerts from the National Weather Service and make obnoxious noises at oh-dark-hundred to wake you up and save your life and the lives of your campers. Kids should not have to be awakened by water seeping into their sleeping bags and then have to find a way in the dark to escape their flooded cabins.
FEMA and the National Weather Service used to have grant funds available to supply NOAA Weather Radios for schools, hospitals, assisted living homes and other vulnerable facilities. It’s concerning that these funds are no longer available, especially when the radios cost less than $40 each.
People in the Midwest are very familiar with NOAA Weather Radios. They own them and use them, and have them in schools and hospitals and other critical places. And they heed the alerts, and lives are saved.
But NOAA weather Radios aren’t that common outside Tornado Alley.
In fact, the FCC doesn’t require that radio and TV stations have these radios as part of their Emergency Alert System equipment, although many stations do, and rebroadcast certain weather alerts. But we broadcasters seldom mention the ubiquitous NOAA Weather Radio in our coverage of meteorological events. After all, it’s sort of competition for our audience.
It’s time for things to change. While the Texas tragedy is still unfolding on our TVs and radios, broadcasters need to encourage our audiences to lobby Congress to restore grant funds for local National Weather Service offices and local emergency managers to acquire and distribute NOAA Weather Radios to schools, hospitals, assisted living homes, and community facilities like senior centers, and even campgrounds. We raise funds for the Kerrville survivors; we can raise congressional awareness of this gap in the public warning process.
While we’re at it, we broadcasters should work with the National Association of Broadcasters to partner with the National Weather Service and FEMA to develop a public service announcement campaign telling the public about the benefits of owning a NOAA Weather Radio. It may not be the world’s best warning system, but it could save your life!
[Related: “NOAA Weather Radio Disruptions Highlight Need for EAS Backups”]
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