EAS Has Limitations, Development of a New Integrated System Will Be Challenging

CURRENT EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM HAS LIMITATIONS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW INTEGRATED SYSTEM WILL BE CHALLENGING
[SOURCE: Government Accountability Office 3/30]
During emergencies, the public needs accurate and timely information. Through the Emergency Alert System (EAS), the media play a pivotal role, assisting emergency management personnel in communicating to the public. GAO reviewed 1) the media’s ability to meet federal requirements for participating in EAS, 2) stakeholder views on the challenges facing EAS and potential changes to it, and 3) the progress made toward developing an integrated alert system. GAO reviewed the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed rulemaking on EAS and interviewed media outlets, state emergency management officials, and federal agencies responsible for EAS, including FCC and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), within the Department of Homeland Security. To improve the media’s ability to issue emergency alerts, GAO recommends that DHS and FCC develop a plan to verify 1) the dependability and effectiveness of the EAS relay system, and 2) that EAS participants have the training to issue effective EAS alerts. Also, DHS and FCC should establish a forum for stakeholders to address the challenges of implementing an integrated alert system. (GAO-07-411)
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07411high.pdf
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07411.pdf