RE: Oct. 3, 2018 EAS Presidential Alert test

[Sean Donelan <sean () donelan com>]

On Mon, 8 Oct 2018, bzs () theworld com wrote:
> I suppose since every life is precious one can measure the
> effectiveness based on "land mass" but then one wonders if some sheep
> out in a field in Idaho really care that the US was just invaded...put
> better: You do what you can!

How quickly we forget.  Puerto Rico's catastrophe was only a year ago. 
Per capita fatalities in rural areas are usually higher than cities after 
a disaster.  Telecommunications are even more important in rural areas 
because you have fewer disaster response resources than in cities.
Rural areas receive warnings later, have fewer emergency responders, fewer 
advanced trauma hospitals. There are more neighbors helping neighbors in 
cities, and more potential sources of help in densely populated areas.

Telecommunication providers are less likely to spend money hardening
infrastructure in rural areas, because there is less business.  Its easy 
to find alternative telecommunications in New York City. Its hard to find 
backup telecommunications in Idaho.

A nation-wide WEA and EAS system helps warn people in both cities and 
rural areas. But they still depend on carriers and broadcasters. If there 
are no backup batteries in cell towers, or backup transmitters for 
broadcasters, you end up with communication blackouts like in Puerto Rico 
for months.