Windsor Star Reporter Disgusted With Environment Canada

[DarkSky]

I agree that EC is doing the best job they can with the resources they have. 'Just gotta stop jumping the gun when it comes to releasing warnings. More people will start heeding the warnings when more result in positive events.

Sent from my Motorola Droid using TapaTalk.

[seppi519]

Originally Posted by ParkingLot

We DO have CANWARN (which i'm a volunteer of) so it's not like we have nothing....
However improvements can always be made....

i understand we have canwarn but that is volunteer like you said, and since you are a volunteer then i am also aware you have a real job for income.(i am not trying to be an ass about it) Though i am sure if some one were to have a job reporting on the weather then it would be more up to the minute and lets face it the weather is only going to get worse and it is going to be a matter of time before Ontario or somewhere else in Canada gets hit with another killer tornado and the warning will not be there, i think that the media has to step up and that is including the weather network and put some spotters and chasers out there its the safety of our lives and when it comes down to it i am glad i took this up as a hobby cause to be honest i can protect my loved better then what they can

[SlideShowBob]

I've been a Spotter for EC since 1983 and TWN since around 2000 (Extreme Weather Team). The Weather Network has been working on the All Channel Alert system and was supposed to go online in 2010 http://alerts.pelmorex.com/en/, yet we are still waiting. If any chasers/spotters want to help TWN, call in and identfy yourself as a spotter, or register to be an Extreme Weather Team member. Contact Pelmorex and offer your services. They in turn will alert EC to issue any warnings. That's the only way (right now) that I can think to spearhead this concern.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I don't blame EC for this. Blame the government in general. Write your M.P.'s (after the election, of course) and let's start putting the "heat" on those who make the $$$ decisions to update EC.
Finally, it really is up to the individual to be weather smart. After the 2009 outbreak, the premier of Ontario complained there wasn't enough done to warn everyone. Yet Alberta has a system already in place (thanks to the 1987 Edmonton tornadoes). So, why is Ontario still in the lurch? Why do people still think that tornadoes only occur in the states? One can only guess.

[DarkSky]

Actually we've got a thread located here with a list of phone numbers people can call in if they witness severe weather. EC has a storm spotter line, but it's nice to also have that list to report directly to those who can broadcast the warning. Cheers!

[Derecho]

Originally Posted by SlideShowBob

I've been a Spotter for EC since 1983 and TWN since around 2000 (Extreme Weather Team). The Weather Network has been working on the All Channel Alert system and was supposed to go online in 2010 http://alerts.pelmorex.com/en/, yet we are still waiting.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I don't blame EC for this. Blame the government in general. Write your M.P.'s (after the election, of course) and let's start putting the "heat" on those who make the $$$ decisions to update EC.
Finally, it really is up to the individual to be weather smart. After the 2009 outbreak, the premier of Ontario complained there wasn't enough done to warn everyone. Yet Alberta has a system already in place (thanks to the 1987 Edmonton tornadoes). So, why is Ontario still in the lurch? Why do people still think that tornadoes only occur in the states? One can only guess.

The All Channel Alert is operation and broadcasting emergency messages in Ontario as of last week.

Write your M.P.'s, ABSOLUTELY! But, after the election, yes. The Conservatives gave Environment Canada a $27million funding boast in the 2011 budget, but just our luck Iggy, Layton, and Duceppe struck the budget down and collapsed the government. If the Conservatives get back in, we have to push support for that funding increase. If the Liberals win, it's going to be tough to get them to take action especially since they were the ones that slashed EC's budget in half and closed most of the weather forecast offices.

The Premier and Emergency Management Ontario devised the "Red Alert" system following 2009. EMO issues red alerts when there is danger to the public including tornadoes. EMO will be using the ACA to broadcast red alerts on radio and tv from now on. I personally think red alerts should be for non-meteorological emergencies only. We have the tornado warning system so I don't know why we need a red alert system for a tornado.

Originally Posted by DarkSky

Actually we've got a thread located here with a list of phone numbers people can call in if they witness severe weather. EC has a storm spotter line, but it's nice to also have that list to report directly to those who can broadcast the warning. Cheers!

I have a list of phone numbers to call if I ever spotted severe weather. First call would be to EC, then going down the list is local radio and tv, etc. Best to keep close to those sources who can reach a wide range of people within seconds.

[SlideShowBob]

I'm trying my best (as we all are) to inform our family and friends about how quickly the weather can change. As we all know, by the time an event starts untill the public is warned, there is a gap. At least with technology, things have sped up....better connections plus a "trust" factor and increased number of spotters (and cell phones). However, there is a considerable time gap between EC and the media before the unaware public gets the warning. Hopefully the ACA is accurate enough to win the public's trust.

[TJCams]

I think plain and simple - there are certain areas of Canada/Ontario (especially SW Ontario) that need tornado sirens. Palmorex and the Weather Network warning systems are fine, if you have cable/satellite, and are watching it at the time. Use this past summer as an example. Multiple tornados (4 I believe confirmed) touched down in southern Essex County/Leamington area in the middle of the night. What good does a scrolling warning do if you are in bed?

Being a Windsor resident, I am blessed with having access to Detroit TV broadcasts - which give much better warnings than we could ever except in Windsor from EC. Plus, if you have satellite and it's raining hard enough - you lose the signal anyways.

Invest in a SAME technology weather radio.

[Derecho]

Originally Posted by TJCams

I think plain and simple - there are certain areas of Canada/Ontario (especially SW Ontario) that need tornado sirens. Palmorex and the Weather Network warning systems are fine, if you have cable/satellite, and are watching it at the time. Use this past summer as an example. Multiple tornados (4 I believe confirmed) touched down in southern Essex County/Leamington area in the middle of the night. What good does a scrolling warning do if you are in bed?

Being a Windsor resident, I am blessed with having access to Detroit TV broadcasts - which give much better warnings than we could ever except in Windsor from EC. Plus, if you have satellite and it's raining hard enough - you lose the signal anyways.

Invest in a SAME technology weather radio.

I firmly believe it should be law that all households and businesses should have a weather radio, much like they already have a fire alarm system.

I also firmly believe our government, emergency management agency, weather office, and broadcast media are not doing enough, if anything at all, to advertise and promote weather radios.

But hey, at least we can now finally say we have an emergency warning system in place. Last week I spoke with Windsor EMA and they said they cannot afford to install tornado sirens yet in the city. The money issue tends to repeat itself from municipality to municipality, very few can afford to install a siren system without financial assistance. Too bad our provincial government won't pitch in funds like FEMA does in the USA. Maybe someday that'll change, though. Sirens are definitely needed in city and provincial parks at least. Places were a lot of people are outside and away from tv and radio to receive warnings. Especially in campgrounds.

[TJCams]

It seem though a lot of places selling the good SAME weather radios aren't allowed to ship to Canada. I got my Midland on Amazon, and was lucky that I have a place in Detroit through work I had it shipped to, and then brought it over no problem. Best $30 or so I spent in terms of it going off like crazy all summer after I purchased it. Sure, it's scary kind of when the siren goes off at 3AM, but I'd rather be prepared, and warned. Plus, the SAME technology is standard, so you can input Canadian location codes into the radio.

I don't think you could come up with a law making them mandatory, but it wouldn't hurt to get the word out. They aren't expensive, and are worth the investment.

I wrote my MPs, city officials, county officials, and many were stating the fact the government disabled, and torn down any air raid sirens that existed (from the cold war threat), etc. Vic Toews (Public Safety Minister) wrote me a letter (kind of neat!), and basically stated the Palmorex warning system. Again, this is fine if you are tuned in to something carrying the warning, but otherwise it is totally useless. Again, thank you Chuck Gaidica and WDIV weather team for keeping Windsor informed/warned, and thank you NWS/SPC for having virtually real time tracking available.

Apparently in some parts of Essex County (Amherstburg probably), you can hear the tornado sirens across the river in Michigan when they are sounded.

Wouldn't this be kind of a priority for public safety? Sure it's very regional, but 1 major tornado overnight, or when groups are outside, and fatalities occur - it's worth it??? I can see the future headline now: "Windsor - Essex to install tornado sirens in response to fatal tornado outbreak"

[SlideShowBob]

The whole problem with radios and the warning system is that the general public is still not aware of the potential for tornadic activity here in Canada. Any time a tornado touches down in this province, it still amazes me that the stories I read always has some bumpkin stating, "I thought they only occur in the States." There is a serious lack of awareness in this country, so mandating radios to people who are too dumb to use them will not save them. Look at how many fires have killed people because they disconnected the smoke detectors; or the fire marshal determines the smoke detectors were not functioning due to lack of maintenance/no batteries, etc. Yet it is the "law"; however, technology cannot prevent someone who is not aware to begin with. We all are aware on this board, but are your neighbours/friends/family?
I have stated before, it does not matter how much $$$ you put into a system; someone, somewhere will not get the message because they do not care to be informed. There is nothing we can do for these people...there is no such thing as foolproof. Yet, these same people are the first ones to cry, "The government needs to save us" whenever something happens. Remember the episode of the Simpsons with the "Bear Tax"?
There is a reason why Emergency Preparedness Canada tells us to be self-sufficient for up to 72 hours for anything that happens. If one chooses not to be aware of the weather, with all of the information sources available now (internet, media, phone apps, weatheradio), then nothing else will make them aware.
I bought an ETON FR-600 battery/solar/AC/hand-crank (with flashlight) SW radio with SAME technology at the Source for about $70. Best investment I ever made -even if the power goes out, I have access to information. I do not need a multi-million dollar system that is prone to the cry-wolf syndrome.
Just my 2 cents....