1. Alerting and Warning in Virginia 11 June 2013

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. Virginia Department of Emergency Management Michael Nelson 804-674-2400 veoc@vdem.virginia.gov