Emergency Notification It’s a shared responsibility…

Community Warning System To Warn Is Human A brief overview of current approaches to public warning in theory and practice.

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 Once Upon A Time…

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 Early Technology

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 The Age of Specialization

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 The Age of Specialization

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 The Age of Specialization

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 The Constant Factor

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 Learnings from Social Science Basic warning information needs are consistent and predictable across cultures, abilities, ages. Presentation needs do vary. People don’t act on a single warning message; need for corroboration. Consistent, concurrent presentation through multiple channels required to maximize compliance with recommended protective measures. Relevance is critical. Using different warning methods for different threats can create confusion and reduce effectiveness.

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 Drivers for Change Constantly advancing technology. Emerging new threats. Efficiency-induced vulnerabilities. Increasing audience diversity. Increasing capacity for hazard detection and forecast. Growing public “media savvy.” And we’re on notice about best practices!

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 Opportunities Computerized Controls on Existing Systems New Digital Communication Media The Internet as Metaphor. International Technical Standards – ITU X Common Alerting Protocol –OASIS EDXL - Emergency Data Exchange Language –RSS, SOAP, XMPP, other existing data standards

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 Strategies Integrated, All-Hazard Warning Systems Multiple Delivery Systems Driven “In Parallel” Warnings originate in “generic” format, independent of any particular delivery technology. “Plug-and-play” interface for integrating delivery systems, old and new, into an integrated “Warning Internet” Explicit provision for cancellations, retractions and corrections. Inherent capacity for presentation to diverse audiences.

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 Benefits Single, simple and consistent facility for warning originators

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 Benefits Warning System Warning System Warning System Warning System Warning System

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 Benefits Warning System Warning System Warning System Warning System Warning System Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 Benefits Economical utilization of finite resources Consistent audience education Support for special presentations for special needs & vulnerable populations –Multi-lingual –Deaf and hearing-impaired –Blind and vision-impaired –Other special populations

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 How Warning Fits Alerting Informing Reassuring

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 How Warning Fits Alerting Informing Reassuring “AIR”

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 Challenges Ahead Overcoming the Fear Warning isn’t a zero-sum game Warnings don’t cause panic Warnings don’t create “moral hazard” Managing the Expectations Warning is never guaranteed No warning will reach everyone, everywhere, all the time Stimulating communities to care for themselves

To Warn Is Human March, 2008 Challenges Ahead Taking Charge of Public Warning Perils of vendor-driven design Opportunities for “future-proof” architecture Balancing efficiency with resilience Judicious use of standards enables diversity, competition and the benefits of the marketplace A leading example of the power of networks in service to our communities

Community Warning System To Warn Is Human Art Botterell Office of the Sheriff Contra Costa County so.cccounty.us