[MilCom] Revisit Military Flight Over NYC Scares City -- Where The Real Questions Addressed?

[Ken]

Well here's the story again:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/04/27/2009-04-27_new_yorkers_get_scare_as_fighter_jets_escort_lowflying_airliner__in_harmless_pho.html

Surely they dropped the ball on this one by keeping the flight as official 
use only the the Police Department.  BUT it does bring the entire emergency 
notification issue to the forefront

 Exactly what current system does NYC have to give instructions to people in 
case of an emergency OR to calm them down IF there is no emergency (or a 
limited emergency)?  With the multi millions of Homeland Security funding 
that has gone to NYC, what is the status of the warning/all clear alerting 
system???

As an example of one method used:  Now at most military bases in the United 
States, there is a public address/warning system called "Giant Voice" see 
some examples:
http://www.imlcorp.com/gsaproducts.htm

And other systems such as:
http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=ind_focus.story&STORY=/www/story/04-29-2009/0005015669&EDATE=

Basically the Giant Voice System is an encrypted radio controlled/voice 
accessible loudspeakers placed strategically throughout a military base, 
that will not only provided different alert sounds e.g. sirens,  BUT also 
allows voice announcements to be made.

In conjuction with GIANT VOICE, there's also the capability to send an alert 
messsage via the base computer local area network to all users.  I also 
think there's some Giant Voice receivers in some buildings that activate.

So when the Mayor of NY, opens his political  mouth to complain, perhaps the 
real question back to him should be, what would have been your procedure IF 
it was the real thing to warn those in the city about building evacuation, 
evacuation routes,  etc.?    I noted the press didn't cover that aspect of 
it!!!

It appears that NYC's Emergency Management Department is running some tests 
on notification methods, see: 
http://www.nyc.gov/html/notifynyc/html/home/home.shtml
So basically it looks like it's been over 7 years since that horrific 
national tragedy (9/11/2001) & NYC is STILL ONLY TESTING a mass public 
emergency notification procedure!!!!!


Ken