11

HAZCollectspeeding emergency messages to the public

National Weather Service (NWS)National Weather Service (NWS)

22

What is HAZCollect

What HAZCollect can do

How HAZCollect does it

Preparing to use HAZCollect

Using HAZCollect for an incident

HAZCollect Conclusion - Q&A

Today’s HAZCollect Agenda

33

HAZCollectHAZCollect was developed by the National Weather Service, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA.

44

HAZCollectWhat is HAZCollect ?

HAZCollect is a system whereby emergency personnel through a FEMA website can access the resources of the National Weather Service NOAA Weather Radio system to disseminate emergency messages directly to the public and to local radio and TV stations for broadcast automatically through the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

NWS calls these messages Non-Weather Emergency Messages (NWEM).

55

HAZCollectHAZCollect Terminology

The term “NWEM” (Non-Weather Emergency Messages) will be used throughout this presentation. NWEM simply refers to the messages created by emergency personnel using the HAZCollect software outlined in this presentation.

66

HAZCollect (general concept)

Message Posted via

DMIS

Message in HAZCollect

Message thru NWS

Broadcast over all NWS comms

systems

Incident occurs

Message Prepared

77

HAZCollectBefore we get into HAZCollect………..

…let’s talk about the what happens when there is a non-weather related emergency such as a chemical spill on I-94, or a large industrial explosion that could result in a significant loss of life and/or property.

88

Local EmergencyLocal Emergency•Incident Commander coordinates efforts to minimize the loss of life and/or property, and control the scene.

• There may be an evacuation, or a shelter in place, or blocked roads. Incident Commander determines what method is used to alert the affected population.

• The communication of the emergency to the affected population could take time.

99

Historical Distribution of NWEMHistorical Distribution of NWEM(Non-wx emergency message)(Non-wx emergency message)

Message may have been sent to a local Message may have been sent to a local radio or TV station, or on occasions to a radio or TV station, or on occasions to a NWS office via fax, or verbal on phone.NWS office via fax, or verbal on phone.

Due to possible delays & mistakes in Due to possible delays & mistakes in getting message broadcast, the target getting message broadcast, the target audience did not always get the message.audience did not always get the message.

Incident Commanders, 911, and EM’s Incident Commanders, 911, and EM’s were not always aware of distribution were not always aware of distribution capabilities.capabilities.

1010

Historical Distribution of NWEMHistorical Distribution of NWEM In Wisconsin, emergency responder had little interaction In Wisconsin, emergency responder had little interaction

with NWS in terms of distributing non-weather related with NWS in terms of distributing non-weather related emergency messages on to the NWS’s 24/7 comms emergency messages on to the NWS’s 24/7 comms systems.systems.

In Milwaukee/Sullivan county warning area in southern In Milwaukee/Sullivan county warning area in southern Wisconsin…in the past 30 years or so, only one 911 Wisconsin…in the past 30 years or so, only one 911 Telephone Outage emergency message has been Telephone Outage emergency message has been relayed to the NWS office and broadcast on the weather relayed to the NWS office and broadcast on the weather radio system with tone-alerts. radio system with tone-alerts.

There could have been more NWEM’s relayed to the There could have been more NWEM’s relayed to the National Weather Service in the past, however the National Weather Service in the past, however the broadcast capabilities were not well-known to broadcast capabilities were not well-known to emergency responders.emergency responders.

1111

Manual process

Non-standard

Slow & limited

Prone to errors

NWEM Distribution Past/Today:

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CollectHAZWhat HAZCollect is…

…in general and for Wisconsin

1313

HAZCollectAll Hazards Emergency Message

Software Collection System

Purpose: to give emergency responders a vehicle to more efficiently distribute information and instructions to an affected population in the event of an emergency. In the end, HAZCollect gives one the ability for faster and wider public distribution of emergency information.

Eg. -Hazardous Material Warning, Evacuation Warning, Fire Warning

1414

Streamlined

Standard process

Speedy

Errors eliminated

Greater distribution of critical information to many local and national emergency message distributors such as CNN, The Weather Channel, various wire services, pagers, etc.

NWEM with HAZCollect:

1515

What the NWS Can ProvideWhat the NWS Can Provide The NWS is a Federal agency operating on a 24-7 The NWS is a Federal agency operating on a 24-7

basis (Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic & basis (Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration)Atmospheric Administration)

The NWS has the only national, warning, alert The NWS has the only national, warning, alert system that can reach about 97% of the U.S. system that can reach about 97% of the U.S. population - NOAA Weather Radio All Hazardspopulation - NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards

The NWS has a national computer satellite delivery The NWS has a national computer satellite delivery system that can send emergency messages to all system that can send emergency messages to all media outlets –media outlets –

NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS)NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS)

1616

CollectHAZWhat HAZCollect can do, and how it does it

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CollectImagine if you could sit down at a PC, send an emergency message to a website, and have it relayed as an EAS (Emergency Alert System) alert to your local TV and radio stations in 2 minutes?

…as well as directly to the public via NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards alert receivers.

That is what HAZCollect can do… and more!

HAZ

1818

WFOAWIPS

HAZHAZCollectCollect SystemSystem

HAZCollectDMIS

NWSTelecomGateway

(TG)

NOAAWeather Wire

Service(NWWS)

Internet

Internet

WFOAWIPSAWIPS

NOAAWEATHER

RADIOAll Hazards

NWEM(CEM)Format

NWEM(CEM)Format

CAPFormat

911 Shift Supervisor

DMIS EMToolkit

Other UserSystems

(DisasterHelp.gov,State EMAs, etc.)

NWSFEMANWS

WFOs

Backup Process (Voice Phone/Fax)

EAS

EMWIN other

Future

All-Hazards Emergency Messages

To Re-distributors & Public Consumers

Other UserInterfaces

(E-SPONDER, etc.)

Future

1919

HAZCollect…HAZCollect Terminology

• DMIS, Disaster Management Interoperability Services, is a FEMA incident management website, similar to Wisconsin’s new E-SPONDER program.

• DMIS is the website which provides access to HAZCollect. In the future, access to HAZCollect will be possible directly from programs such as E-SPONDER.

• Currently however, HAZCollect can be accessed only through DMIS.

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NOAA Weather Radio All HazardsNOAA Weather Radio All Hazards

Over 900 NWS transmitters nationwide

…only existing nationwide, 24/7, warning, alarm system

All Hazards device!

Message broadcast on appropriate NWR

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NOAA Weather Radio All HazardsNOAA Weather Radio All Hazards(NWR)(NWR)

The NWR system gives the NWS an “entry” The NWR system gives the NWS an “entry” into the automated EAS (Emergency Alert into the automated EAS (Emergency Alert System) “web” that exists among the System) “web” that exists among the broadcast media.broadcast media.

This “entry” point allows for quick relaying of This “entry” point allows for quick relaying of both weather and non-weather emergency both weather and non-weather emergency messages (NWEM) to all media outlets.messages (NWEM) to all media outlets.

2222

Emergency Messages (NWEM)Emergency Messages (NWEM)

Once the emergency personnel’s NWEM is Once the emergency personnel’s NWEM is broadcast on the NWR, it is relayed to all broadcast on the NWR, it is relayed to all TV and radio stations, on the EAS “web,” TV and radio stations, on the EAS “web,” which are monitoring specific NWR’s for which are monitoring specific NWR’s for emergency messages.emergency messages.

TV & radio stations have an electronic box TV & radio stations have an electronic box that stores the messages with certain EAS that stores the messages with certain EAS codes – for crawler generation, relay, etc.codes – for crawler generation, relay, etc.

2323

Non-wx Emergency MessageNon-wx Emergency Message

NWR’s are programmed to recognize the NWR’s are programmed to recognize the name of the message (NWEM) and its name of the message (NWEM) and its SAME/EAS code… for each county(s).SAME/EAS code… for each county(s).

When a NWEM is sent to the NWR When a NWEM is sent to the NWR computer system, it will trigger a 10-computer system, it will trigger a 10-second tone-alert which is followed by the second tone-alert which is followed by the emergency message.emergency message.

2424

CollectHAZPreparing to use HAZCollect

2525

Wisconsin SituationWisconsin Situation NWS has asked for direction from each state NWS has asked for direction from each state

regarding who is best positioned to activate regarding who is best positioned to activate HAZHAZCollectCollect in their state. in their state.

A Working Group representing Wisconsin Emergency A Working Group representing Wisconsin Emergency Management, the State EAS Committee, the Management, the State EAS Committee, the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, and NWS offices Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, and NWS offices serving Wisconsin has concluded that for Wisconsin…serving Wisconsin has concluded that for Wisconsin…

HAZHAZCollectCollect activation should initially be limited to activation should initially be limited to county-level agencies and major cities with an EOC county-level agencies and major cities with an EOC separate from the county.separate from the county.

2626

Wisconsin SituationWisconsin Situation

Advantages in having this limited number of Advantages in having this limited number of access points into access points into HAZHAZCollect:Collect:

Greatly simplifies administrative workGreatly simplifies administrative work Reduces the number of people to be trainedReduces the number of people to be trained Increases securityIncreases security Satisfies broadcaster concerns of overuseSatisfies broadcaster concerns of overuse

2727

Wisconsin SituationWisconsin Situation In addition, the Wisconsin In addition, the Wisconsin HAZHAZCollectCollect Working Working

Group has suggested that the County 911 Group has suggested that the County 911 Center Shift Supervisor on duty would most Center Shift Supervisor on duty would most likely be in the best position to initiate likely be in the best position to initiate emergency messages sent to emergency messages sent to HAZHAZCollect.Collect.

The Working Group recommends these The Working Group recommends these Supervisors as the individuals to be trained inSupervisors as the individuals to be trained in HAZHAZCollectCollect activation.activation.

2828

Access to HAZAccess to HAZCollectCollect The Warning Coordination Meteorologist The Warning Coordination Meteorologist

(WCM) at each of the 122 NWS offices (WCM) at each of the 122 NWS offices nationwide will be part of the nationwide will be part of the HAZHAZCollectCollect registration process in each state.registration process in each state.

In Wisconsin, WCM’s will currently approve In Wisconsin, WCM’s will currently approve access toaccess to HAZHAZCollectCollect to to onlyonly county-level county-level and major-city agencies.and major-city agencies.

Each of these county-level / major-city Each of these county-level / major-city agencies needs to interact with the WCM agencies needs to interact with the WCM before hand. Contact information is on the before hand. Contact information is on the following slides.following slides.

2929

Milwaukee

Green Bay

Duluth

Minneapolis

La Crosse

Counties Serviced by NWS officesCounties Serviced by NWS offices

Dept. of Commerce

National Oceanic &

Atmospheric Admin.

Contact the NWS office that services the county(s) affected by the incident.

3030

NWS NWS HAZHAZCollectCollect Contact Person Contact Person Milwaukee/Sullivan – Rusty KapelaMilwaukee/Sullivan – Rusty Kapela

rusty.kapela@noaa.govrusty.kapela@noaa.gov Green Bay – Jeff Last Green Bay – Jeff Last

jeff.last@noaa.govjeff.last@noaa.gov La Crosse – Todd SheaLa Crosse – Todd Shea

todd.shea@noaa.govtodd.shea@noaa.gov Minneapolis/Chanhassen – Todd Krause Minneapolis/Chanhassen – Todd Krause

todd.krause@noaa.govtodd.krause@noaa.gov Duluth – Carol ChristensonDuluth – Carol Christenson

carol.christenson@noaa.govcarol.christenson@noaa.gov

3131

- Register with FEMA website “DMIS” (Disaster Management Interoperability Services)

- Install DMIS software (In the future, direct input from E-SPONDER will be possible. For now, DMIS must be used.)

- Register with HAZHAZCollectCollect website

Preparing to use Preparing to use HAZHAZCollectCollect

3232

DMIS

County COG Administrator Requirements

3333

What a COG is…

A COG is a Collaborative Operational Group of common DMIS users, either at the county-level or major-city level.

The COG is essential for:

- performing authentication and authorization for access to DMIS.

- establishing a framework within which to work.

DMIS

3434

Each County or Major-City must Designate a COG Administrator…

• The 911 Shift Supervisor who registers for the county becomes the county COG Administrator

• The COG ID is permanently assigned by the DMIS staff after the COG is approved in the registration process. The COG “street” name is also chosen at that time.

DMIS

3535

County COG Administrator Requirements:County COG Administrator Requirements:- A personal computer (PC)- Internet access- DMIS software

DMIS

3636

County COG Administrator Requirements:County COG Administrator Requirements:

- Establish a Collaborative Operational Group (COG) - a county-wide or major-city (for Wisconsin) group of DMIS users (Emergency Managers, fire/rescue, law enforcement, DOT) sharing emergency information.

DMIS

3737

County COG Administrator Requirements:County COG Administrator Requirements:

Once the COG is established:- Register with DMIS.- Install DMIS software & set up an

interface to DMIS servers. - Register & set up an interface to HAZCollect. Will need DMIS COG name and ID.

DMIS

3838

County COG Administrator Requirements:County COG Administrator Requirements:

Establish privileges within the COG structure.Possible privileges levels:

- “post” or “transmit” privileges for 911 Shift Supervisors

- “update” privileges (create and/or edit) for others

- “view” privileges – “fyi” status for others

DMIS

3939

HAZCollectCounty COG Administrative Requirements:County COG Administrative Requirements:

• If time permits, place a courtesy call to the local NWS office that services the affected county to discuss any details and possible need for meteorological support.

•Although not required, the courtesy call quickly notifies the NWS staff of the need to have a NWEM publicly broadcast on NWS and other commercial dissemination systems.

4040

CollectHAZUsing HAZHAZCollect Collect for an incident

4141

Criteria to Activate Criteria to Activate HAZCollect Public safety is involved – there is an Public safety is involved – there is an

immediate threat to life & property.immediate threat to life & property. Time is critical – public needs to know to Time is critical – public needs to know to

avoid adverse impact.avoid adverse impact. Other means of dissemination are not Other means of dissemination are not

adequate for rapid delivery of information.adequate for rapid delivery of information.

Goal…minimize false-alarms! Be absolutely sure your emergency message needs HAZCollect!

4242

ResponsibilityResponsibility The person or agency (Incident Commander or The person or agency (Incident Commander or

Emergency Manager) that decides that a non-Emergency Manager) that decides that a non-weather related emergency message needs to be weather related emergency message needs to be publicly broadcast on the NWS communication publicly broadcast on the NWS communication systems, is responsible for the outcome and impact systems, is responsible for the outcome and impact of the public broadcast. of the public broadcast.

The requester of the emergency message must be The requester of the emergency message must be absolutely sure that transmission on NWS absolutely sure that transmission on NWS communication systems and other public broadcast communication systems and other public broadcast systems is needed since impact is potentially systems is needed since impact is potentially significant and widespread.significant and widespread.

4343

The Emergency MessageThe Emergency Message The name (type) of the emergency message The name (type) of the emergency message

needs to determined by the 911 Shift needs to determined by the 911 Shift Supervisor, with input from the Incident Supervisor, with input from the Incident Commander and Emergency Management.Commander and Emergency Management.

Within the message that is ultimately Within the message that is ultimately generated by thegenerated by the HAZHAZCollectCollect software is a 6-software is a 6-digit number referred to as the SAME/EAS geo-digit number referred to as the SAME/EAS geo-code for the affected county(s). More on this code for the affected county(s). More on this number later…number later…

4444

NWEM GuidelinesNWEM Guidelines NWEMS are NWR-SAME & EAS alert messagesNWEMS are NWR-SAME & EAS alert messages

• Corrections issued using original message event codeCorrections issued using original message event code• Follow-ups and cancellations issued as ADR event codeFollow-ups and cancellations issued as ADR event code• No abbreviations or acronymsNo abbreviations or acronyms

KISS – Keep it Short and SimpleKISS – Keep it Short and Simple• Short sentences; Usually no more than 15 lines of textShort sentences; Usually no more than 15 lines of text• Aim for 60 seconds or less, but no more than 90 secondsAim for 60 seconds or less, but no more than 90 seconds

News Style Writing – Inverted PyramidNews Style Writing – Inverted Pyramid• LEAD sentence to summarize main thought of messageLEAD sentence to summarize main thought of message• The MAIN FACTS support the leadThe MAIN FACTS support the lead• OTHER IMPORTANT FACTS – may not be neededOTHER IMPORTANT FACTS – may not be needed• EXPLANATION AND DETAILS – In warnings, this is the “How EXPLANATION AND DETAILS – In warnings, this is the “How

to protect?” Appropriate protective actions or CTAto protect?” Appropriate protective actions or CTA

4545

NWEM TypesNWEM Types

Admin Message (ADR)Admin Message (ADR) Civil Danger Warning (CDW)Civil Danger Warning (CDW) Civil Emergency Message (CEM)Civil Emergency Message (CEM) Earthquake Warning (EQW)Earthquake Warning (EQW) Evacuation Immediate (EVI)Evacuation Immediate (EVI) Fire Warning (FRW)Fire Warning (FRW) Hazardous Materials Warning (HMW)Hazardous Materials Warning (HMW)

4646

NWEM Types (cont)NWEM Types (cont)

Law Enforcement Warning (LEW)Law Enforcement Warning (LEW) Local Area Emergency (LAE)Local Area Emergency (LAE) 911 Telephone Outage (TOE)911 Telephone Outage (TOE) Nuclear Power Plant Warning ( NUW)Nuclear Power Plant Warning ( NUW) Radiological Hazard Warning (RHW)Radiological Hazard Warning (RHW) Shelter-in-Place Warning (SPW)Shelter-in-Place Warning (SPW)

4747

HAZCollectCollectNote:

•In Wisconsin, HAZCollect is not to be used for Amber Alerts

•Amber Alerts will continue to be handled by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, with the Dane County 911 Comms Center acting as the sole relay point for all of Wisconsin.

4848

DMIS

Example of a NWEM Within DMIS

4949

5050

Example of the text messageExample of the text messageWOUS43 KMKX 071600

SPWMKX

WIC025-071900-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED

SHELTER IN PLACE WARNING

DANE COUNTY 911 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI

1100 AM CDT MON APR 07 2003

...SHELTER IN PLACE WARNING NEAR THE XYZ CHEMICAL PLANT NEAR DANE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT…

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS BEING TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE DANE COUNTY 911 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER DUE TO A TOXIC GAS RELEASE.

MADISON EMERGNCY SERVICES HAS ISSUED A SHELTER IN PLACE WARNING. THERE HAS BEEN A RELEASE OF BUTADIENE FROM XYZ CHEMICAL PLANT. THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND IS FROM THE NORTHEAST. THE WIND SPEED IS ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR. AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE... PEOPLE NEAR THE DANE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT...AND WITHIN A 2 MILE RADIUS SHOULD SEEK SHELTER.

SHELTER IN PLACE WARNING ACTIONS:

1. GO INSIDE

2. CLOSE ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS

3. TURN OFF ALL VENTILATION SYSTEMS

4. TUNE TO LOCAL NEWS MEDIA FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

$$

WOUS43 KMKX 071600

SPWMKX

WIC025-071900-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED

SHELTER IN PLACE WARNING

DANE COUNTY 911 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI

1100 AM CDT MON APR 07 2003

...SHELTER IN PLACE WARNING NEAR THE XYZ CHEMICAL PLANT NEAR DANE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT…

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS BEING TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE DANE COUNTY 911 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER DUE TO A TOXIC GAS RELEASE.

MADISON EMERGNCY SERVICES HAS ISSUED A SHELTER IN PLACE WARNING. THERE HAS BEEN A RELEASE OF BUTADIENE FROM XYZ CHEMICAL PLANT. THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND IS FROM THE NORTHEAST. THE WIND SPEED IS ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR. AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE... PEOPLE NEAR THE DANE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT...AND WITHIN A 2 MILE RADIUS SHOULD SEEK SHELTER.

SHELTER IN PLACE WARNING ACTIONS:

1. GO INSIDE

2. CLOSE ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS

3. TURN OFF ALL VENTILATION SYSTEMS

4. TUNE TO LOCAL NEWS MEDIA FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

$$

5151

Sharing Situational AwarenessSharing Situational Awareness

The URL in the CAP providesaccess to critical information

Rail CompanyEmergency Management

Maricopa EmergencyManagement Center

HazCollect

EmergencyAlert System

NOAAWeather Radio

5252

DMIS - Posting an Incident

Start by selecting the Post button

5353

When a NWEM is being posted/transmittedWhen a NWEM is being posted/transmitted::

• The 911 Shift Supervisor designates the affected area/county(s) in the generation of the NWEM

•NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards transmitters in the affected area are automatically tone-alerted due to the SAME/EAS geo-code

DMIS - Posting an Incident

5454

To work with To work with HAZCollect, commercially-, commercially-available incident management software will available incident management software will need to meet specific requirements:need to meet specific requirements:

* CAP-enabled: Common Alerting Protocol (more on CAP in next couple slides)

* Include CAP optional fields* Interface with DMIS

Non-DMIS Software

5555

Advantages of using CAP (Common Alerting Protocol):

* CAP is an accepted industry-standard message format

* CAP allows a consistent message to be disseminated over many different systems

* With alerts from all hazards issued in a common format, emerging patterns can be detected such as a gathering hazard or hostile act.

DMIS

5656

Components of a CAP message:

* Urgency (how much time is available to prepare)

* Severity (the intensity of the impact)

* Certainty (confidence in the prediction being made)

* Category (geophysical, safety, health, etc.)

* Can include digital images, audio, or resource URL

DMIS

5757

HAZCollectCollect

• Post-Event Review: A Wisconsin HAZCollect Committee will administer HAZCollect in Wisconsin and address any issues generated by the public broadcast of a non-weather related emergency on NWS communication systems, and other state or commercial electronic dissemination systems.

5858

CollectHAZ

HAZCollect Conclusion

5959

HAZCollectCollectPublic Distribution of NWEM Public Distribution of NWEM ::

*NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards*Weather Wire/EMWIN & many state/commercial broadcast systems*EAS AvailabilityAn emergency message takes 7 minutes (or more) to process today. With HAZCollect that time is reduced to 2 minutes for NWS communication systems once it is entered in DMIS, at which time it is then available to broadcasters and other users.

6060

Timetable:Timetable:

Operations Acceptance Test – May 8, 2006 – June 23, 2006

Registration in HAZCollect – May 2006Operational – June 30, 2006 (July)

HAZCollectCollect

6161

Q & ATime

HAZCollectCollect

References:References:NWS http://www.weather.gov/os/hazcollect

DMIS http://www.dmi-services.org

FEMA http://www.fema.gov