2017 Hurricane Season Begins – New EAS Event Codes in Place

posted on 6.05.2017

The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season began June 1 and weather researchers are warning of a higher than average number of storms due to warmer North Atlantic and Gulf sea surface temperatures.

NOAA is expecting 11 to 17 named storms before the season ends Nov. 30.

Researchers at Colorado State University are expecting 14 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes this season.

No matter whose research one trusts, the Texas coast is long overdue for a major hurricane.

The last two serious storms to hit the Texas coast were Hurricanes Ike and Rita in 2005 and 2008 which devastated the Galveston, Houston and Port Arthur areas. The region remains dangerously unprepared.

While some stations may view hurricanes as a coastal problem, broadcasters further inland can attest that serious weather issues can caused by such storms.

Rapid flooding and high winds plagued East Texas, for example, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

The FCC has added three new Emergency Alert System Event Codes for the 2017 hurricane season.

While the FCC “will allow EAS Participants to upgrade their existing equipment to include the new event codes” on a voluntary basis, TAB strongly encourages broadcasters to update station EAS endecs with the three new codes which are:

Extreme Wind Warning Event Code (EWW)

The Extreme Wind Warning (EWW) is issued for advance notice of sustained surface wind speeds of 115 miles per hour or greater in association with major hurricanes.

Extreme Wind Warnings are issued by all coastal National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) in Southern Region and Eastern Region, including WFO San Juan, and the following inland WFOs: Albany (NY), Atlanta, Birmingham, Blacksburg, Columbia, Fort Worth, Greenville-Spartanburg, Jackson (MS), Raleigh, San Antonio and Shreveport.

Storm Surge Watch Event Code (SSA)

For the Gulf and East coasts, the NWS will issue the Storm Surge Watch (SSA) for the possibility of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland within the specified area, generally within 48 hours, associated with a tropical, subtropical, or post-tropical cyclone.

The NWS may issue this watch earlier when conditions, such as tropical storm-force winds, could reduce the time available for protective actions, such as evacuations.

The NWS also may issue a watch for locations not expected to receive life-threatening inundation but could potentially be isolated by inundation in adjacent areas.

Weather Forecast Offices may request EAS activation for the Storm Surge Watch when this has been incorporated into state and local EAS plans.

Storm Surge Warning Event Code (SSW)

For the Gulf and East coasts, the NWS will issue the Storm Surge Warning (SSW) for the danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland within the specified area, generally within 36 hours, associated with a tropical, subtropical or post-tropical cyclone.

The NWS may issue a warning early when other conditions, such as the onset of tropical storm-force winds, are expected to reduce the time available to take protective actions, such as evacuations.

The NWS may also issue this warning for locations not expected to receive life-threatening inundation but could potentially be isolated by inundation in adjacent areas.

WFOs will request EAS activation using the SSW Event Code.

Updating Your EAS Endec

In most cases, broadcasters only need to obtain and implement the manufacturer-provided software update to ensure reception of the new EAS event codes.

If EAS equipment is not updated and the WFO requests EAS activation using the new EAS Event Codes, the EAS encoder/decoder equipment will usually decode the information received as an “UNKNOWN” Event Code and the EAS will not automatically activate.

The following information was provided to the NWS by the EAS encoder/decoder manufacturers on March 15.

Gorman-Redlich

The company completed installing the three new codes in the E-prom for EAS units for TV and will have the E-prom for EAS units for radio in another week.

Monroe Electronics/Digital Alert System

DASDEC and R190 One-Net software version 3.0 already supports the three event codes. 

If system users are running older versions, they are strongly encouraged to complete an upgrade to version 3.0. 

Once version 3.0 is in place, no further action is needed, aside from selecting the codes from the drop-down menu.

Sage Alerting System

Their latest version of software, 89.30, should have been installed by clients prior to September 2016. 

This software added the new Event Codes. 

Trilithic

EASyCAP customers running the current firmware (2.17.6) have the event codes available to them.

The direct download link for the latest broadcast firmware is available here.

Inside that “.zip” file is the upgrade along with instruction on how to install it.

To enable the event codes the operator simply needs to navigate in our system to:  Configuration->EAS Events then browse the list of EAS event and “enable” then events they wish to pass/forward.

There are no plans to update the EASyCast Platform. 

This platform has reached the end of its service, so unless a large number of users request an update, one will not be released.

TFT

The manufacturer is no longer in business. 

This EAS equipment is now 18 years old and users of this equipment are encouraged to seek replacements with newer equipment. 

More information about weather-related EAS event codes and hurricane preparedness in general may be found here as well as the following websites:

NWS Home Page 
National Hurricane Center
NHC Frequently Asked Questions
NWR Home Page
NWS EAS Information

Questions?  Contact TAB's Michael Schneider or call (512) 322-9944.

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