Photo credit: www.cbsnews.com
Challenges in Emergency Alerts During Hurricane Helene’s Aftermath
The community of Swannanoa, North Carolina, faced severe devastation when remnants of Hurricane Helene resulted in catastrophic flooding. Residents like Zoe Dadian experienced harrowing scenes as homes floated by, with people clinging to rooftops, calling out for help.
In the aftermath of the disaster, discussions emerged regarding the effectiveness of emergency alert systems. Although the National Weather Service issues severe weather alerts, the responsibility for evacuation orders falls on local authorities.
Buncombe County, where Dadian resides, issued a mandatory evacuation order through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) at 6:15 a.m. on September 27. Dadian stated that she did not receive the alert on her cellphone until approximately 1 p.m., long after the situation had turned critical.
“At that point, the landslide had occurred. We were digging bodies out of rubble, and there was nowhere to evacuate,” Dadian recalled. Buncombe County officials acknowledged that many cell towers were rendered inoperable due to the flooding, potentially delaying critical transmissions.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell emphasized the importance of cell towers, noting their role in disseminating timely alerts during emergencies. “We need to keep learning on how we can better warn people even if we don’t know exactly where the flash flooding’s going to happen,” she stated.
A review conducted by CBS News highlighted discrepancies in alert deployment among counties impacted by Helene. Out of 43 counties where fatalities occurred, 29 failed to issue any IPAWS alerts. Brian Toolan, a former emergency operations chief in Connecticut, pointed out that smaller counties may struggle with overwhelming situations, impacting their ability to respond promptly.
The analysis also noted that during a separate event, Hurricane Milton, 14 counties across Florida successfully sent out at least 46 alerts, including evacuation notices, during a week of heightened risk.
For notifications to be effective, residents must ensure their devices are configured to receive them. If emergency notifications are disabled, individuals won’t receive updates sent via IPAWS. Additionally, some areas utilize separate alert systems that require prior enrollment, limiting the reach of warnings to those who have opted in.
Dadian expressed her frustration, wishing she had been better informed ahead of the flooding. “Never in a million years did I imagine that it was going to be something that we weren’t going to be able to weather,” she remarked.
The Need for Improved Emergency Communication
The calamity experienced in Swannanoa and the surrounding regions underscores the critical need for enhancing emergency alert frameworks. Ongoing discussions stress the importance of robust communication systems that can effectively reach all residents, even amidst catastrophic conditions.
Source
www.cbsnews.com