Alerting and Warning in Virginia 11 June 2013

Alerting in Virginia Statewide Alert Network (SWAN) – Began in 2007 – Currently Transitioning to new Vender Notification of response personnel – Awareness – Hazards – Events Various local alerting systems

Emergency Alert System (EAS) Who can Activate: – State and Local Public Safety Officials – Virginia State Police (AMBER Alert) – National Weather Service Voluntary by Broadcasters Virginia EAS Plan – Provides guidance – Establishes policy

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Executive Order 13407—Public Alert and Warning System June 26, 2006 FCC and FEMA coordinating Update and integrate alert and warning systems – EAS equipment – Mobile Devices

What is a Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)? Similar to a text message Limited to 90 Characters Different technology Delivered immediately Not subject to potential congestion or delays Point-to-multipoint system – alert messages will be sent to those within a targeted area, unlike text messages which are not location aware.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) Presidential, AMBER, and Imminent Threat alerts National Weather Service – Tsunami Warnings – Tornado and Flash Flood Warnings – Hurricane, Typhoon, Dust Storm and Extreme Wind Warnings – Blizzard, Ice Storm, and Lake Effect Snow Warnings State and Local public safety officials – Shelter in place, Evacuation Immediate, etc National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) – In coordination with State and Local public safety officials, sends out AMBER Wireless Emergency Alerts

Virginia Department of Emergency Management Michael Nelson