By John Raby Associated Press Writer
CHARLESTON,
W.Va. –– An advisory that flashed across television
screens in southern West Virginia on Saturday night was supposed
tell residents about a temporary loss of 911 service.
What TV viewers
saw instead was a civil emergency alert, prompting dozens of phone
calls from curious and panicked residents.
"I think
it was terrible," said Frank Smith of Clendenin. "We
thought it was a chemical leak or something. We didn't know what
to do. It wasn't explained at all on the screen."
The state
Office of Emergency Services activates the Emergency Alert System
in the rare instances of actual emergencies. In this case, it
wanted to inform residents about the lack of 911 service after
a water main break at AT&T's Charleston office. The flood
affected both AT&T and Verizon phone equipment.
However, the
message in white letters on red background sent simultaneously
on WCHS-TV, WOWK-TV and WVAH-TV only said: "A civil emergency
has been issued for the following counties: Entire state of West
Virginia, Boone, Clay, Kanawha, Putnam (counties), until 6:51
p.m."
Clay Carney,
spokesman for the state Office of Emergency Services, admitted
the situation could have been handled better. "It should
have been explained that the 911 center in those counties were
down," he said.
Bill White,
Kanawha County's emergency services director, tried to take a
lighthearted approach to whole situation. "At least we know
people are watching," he said.
Area news
stations reported later in the evening about the message and its
true intent.
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