Date Issued: August 24th, 2006
Date Effective:
Subject: Early Warning Notification System
Policy: The
Purpose: To provide for the proper operation and security of the Early Warning Notification System by requiring agency policy with certain specific items contained in that policy.
Definitions: Early Warning Notification (EWNS) - System designed to send messages to wire line telephones, wireless devices, email addresses and pagers warning the public of impending disasters, both natural and man-made.
Communicator! NXT- Web-based application that notifies citizens using various methods of communication; ie. Telephones, pagers, PDAs and other devices.
GeoCastWeb- A GIS-driven notification solution where a mapped area is selected and all communications devices in that area are notified.
Procedure: Prior to Use- Any Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in the
o All personnel using the system must have attended a two-day training class presented by a company approved trainer OR been properly trained by a previously trained member of their agency.
o An
agency policy governing the use of the EWNS has been submitted and is on file
at the
Information to be contained in the agency policy-
o Statement
regarding the authorization procedure and chain-of-command process for
authorization.
o System
security implemented to protect the system from unauthorized use.
o Types
of situations, both emergent and non-emergent, that the agency will allow the
EWNS to be activated for.
o Message
format. Clear and concise messages that will achieve a positive response to the
public safety situation. Information shall clearly not incite panic or cause
unnecessary fear for the citizens being notified.
Reporting-
o Within twenty-four (24) hours of the completed EWNS activation a written report shall be filed with the El Paso – Teller E9-1-1 Authority containing:
o Agency Activating the system
o Date and time of the Activation
o Approximate size of area notified if GeoCast was used or size of notification list if Communicator!NXT is used.
o The message written out as it was broadcast over the EWNS system.