Annex C-Communications

  1. Introduction

This Annex establishes an effective alert and warning system within Master County capable of disseminating adequate and timely warning to the county officials and public in the event.

Source: The Oklahoma County All Hazards Emergency Operations Plan, 2005

  1. Situations and Assumptions
  2. The County (Executive), through the Local Emergency Management Agency Director, is responsible for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) located at XXXXXX Street, (Jurisdiction), (State) (Zip Code), and the associated Emergency Communications Center (ECC) located at XXXXXX Avenue.
  3. The Communication Coordinator is responsible for the operation of the ECC.
  4. The Local EMA has the capability to interface with other states and federal disaster organizations via the State EM Area Manager.
  5. Current communications systems are capable of supporting emergency operations within the county.
  6. State/County/City/Private/Metro agencies will utilize their normal communications systems during an emergency situation. Support facilities and equipment will be provided through coordination with the EOC.
  7. If the area experiences a major disaster, serious disruption of normal communications maybe anticipated.

Source: Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government Emergency Operations Plan, 2007/2008

  1. Concept of Operations
  2. General
  3. The Communication Coordinator is responsible for:
  4. The security of physical and transmitted form of any originated or received messages.
  5. The assignment of personnel to duty stations in the ECC, and the maintenance of the ECC equipment.
  6. Servicing additional communication links in an emergency.
  7. Keeping an up-to-date list of elected officials, EOC staff, and other agencies.
  8. Priorities of allocation of emergency communication by State EM to affected areas will be:
  9. Lifesaving – organization essential to survival, health and safety of the population.
  10. Essential industry/commerce/ transportation – organizations which are needed to maintain military operations and economic stability.

Source: Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government Emergency Operations Plan, 2007/2008

  1. Interjurisdictional Relations

It is the responsibility of the EMA Director to establish the communications networks necessary to maintain and support EMA’s operations within the (Jurisdiction) area. These networks should provide communications with:

  • The Government area Emergency Operations Center and the field.
  • The County EOC and the Sate EM Area Office.
  • The County EOC and the State Emergency Operations Center.

The Mayor based on information furnished by State EM will initiate increased Readiness Levels. The required actions are explained in Annex ( ) of this plan.

Source: Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government Emergency Operations Plan, 2007/2008

  1. Organizations & Assignment of Responsibilities
  2. General

Source: Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government Emergency Operations Plan, 2007/

  1. Responsible Organizations
  2. Task Assignments
  3. Policy Group(s).
  • Responsible for establishment and maintenance of a workable warning system throughout the county, cities and towns.
  • Make decisions on actions to be taken based on the seriousness of the warning received. Delegate this authority to the EM Director when such warnings require immediate decisions to protect life.
  • EM Director.
  • Coordinate warning information with the Policy Group, when time permits, and implement their decision on further dissemination of the warning.
  • Activate the EOC, with concurrence of the Policy Group, and call those persons designated to staff it.
  • Utilize the EAS and Cable TV circuit warning override to broadcast warnings to the public.
  • Educate the public on the meaning of warning signals.
  • County Sheriff or Alpha Police Department.
  • After receiving the alert/warning (attack, weather, etc.), notify each community in Master County as shown in Appendix 1, this Annex.
  • Police Departments.
  • Upon receipt of warning information from the Highway Patrol Warning Point, or from other reliable sources, immediately notify the Sheriff's Department, as well as the following”
  • Take action to sound the warning signal by notifying the person responsible for the warning device control point.
  • Notify the Emergency Management Director or the designated alternate.
  • Provide mobile units to warn people in areas not covered by fixed warning devices using vehicle warning devices and bullhorns.
  • Fire Departments.
  • Where the Fire Dept. is designated as the warning device control pointfor the community, duty personnel are responsible for operating the warning devices.
  • Duty personnel will activate the warning devices when:
  • An attack warning is received.
  • When directed to do so by the EM Director or deputy EM Director.
  • A serious hazard exists in the community and immediate warningis needed to protect life or property.
  • Master County Media Organizations.
  • The media are responsible for disseminating warning information fromauthorized sources, concerning potential emergency situations or actual disasters, tothe public as rapidly as possible.
  • Activation of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) is the responsibility ofthe broadcast station having this EAS capability during periods of world tension.
  • The media will be requested to print/deliver and/or broadcast EmergencyManagement warnings and information, designed to provide necessary lifesaving guidance to the public during emergencies or disasters.

Source: The Oklahoma County All Hazards Emergency Operations Plan, 2005

  1. Direction and Control
  2. General

The ECC will serve as the MetroEmergencyCommunicationCenter. Control of the emergency communication center is the responsibility of the Communications Coordinator.

Source: Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government Emergency Operations Plan, 2007/2008

Warning systems may be activated from any level of government by agencies havingresponsibility to notify the public of imminent danger. At the local level these warningsare channeled through the EM Director, if time permits, in order to fix responsibility andensure control of the warning process.

  1. Warning Systems and Use.
  2. National Warning System (NAWAS)
  3. NAWAS is a protected, full time voice communication systeminterconnecting the National Warning Center and numerous warning points in eachstate. State has one primary state warning point, two alternate state warningpoints and 30 secondary warning points. The primary point is at State HighwayPatrol headquarters in State City. Alternates are located in the State Department of Emergency Management EOC and the National Guard EOC. The 30secondary points are located in OHP district headquarters, sheriff/policedepartments, fire departments and local EOCs throughout the state.
  4. Warning information transmitted by the National Warning Center isreceived simultaneously at all warning points. The federal government is responsiblefor providing attack/accidental launch warning to state government. Stategovernment is responsible for providing warning to all counties on a 24-hour basis.This responsibility has been assigned to State Highway Patrol
  5. Warning within the county is the responsibility of county officials. The State Highway Patrol Troop responsible for the area including Master Countywill notify the primary warning point in Master County which is the Sheriff's Office,or the secondary warning point, the Alpha Police Department, by radio or telephone,of attack or accidental launch warning, and of any dangerous or severe weather thatmay be approaching Master County.
  6. Warnings received via NAWAS will then be relayed by the sheriff's orpolice dispatcher to other communities within the county as soon as possible afterreceipt of the warning. (See Appendix 1.)
  7. National Weather Service (NWS)
  8. Current weather information and watch/warnings are normally received overthe NWS teletype circuit. However, NWS will issue weather warnings over theNAWAS line when time is of the essence. NWS will also broadcast weather andattack warning information over their weather broadcast radio network. The VHFweather radio transmitter stations at Enid, OK (162.475 mhz), Wichita, KS (162.550mhz) and OK City (162.400 mhz) may be monitored with special radios that onlyreceive the continuous weather transmissions.
  9. Emergency Alert System (EAS)
  10. EAS provides emergency information to the public during time of highworld tension and/or actual attack upon this country. These are protected stationsthat provide emergency radio and TV broadcasts on a volunteer basis. The systemmay be activated at the federal, state or local level. (Note: The EmergencyManagement Director may use the EAS to communicate with the citizens of thecounty by contacting station KGWA(AM) 960 in ALPHA). FEMA providesprerecorded tapes containing emergency information to be broadcast by EAS stationsduring an emergency.
  11. Additional EAS broadcast stations in the Operational Area are listed inAppendix 1, Annex D.
  12. Skywarn (Storm Spotters)

Skywarn is a national program designed to place personnel in the field to spotand track tornadoes. They are trained by NWS and instructed in what to report.

  1. Teams are made up of government employees and private citizens. During severeweather, storm spotters relay reports to their coordinator in the nearest EOC.
  2. Confirmed tornado sightings are relayed to the NWS that then disseminatesappropriate warnings.
  1. Warning devices

Fixed warning devices are located throughout Master County and constitutethe primary means of providing initial warning to the public of impending danger.See Appendix 4 this Annex for their locations. Supplemental warning devicecoverage will be provided by mobile units as required.

  1. Newspaper Media

When time is not critical, camera-ready copy has been prepared for specificemergencies to instruct the public which can be provided to the publishers forinsertion into their papers.

Source: The Oklahoma County All Hazards Emergency Operations Plan, 2005

  1. Information Collection and Dissemination

The Emergency Management Planning Section is responsible for the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of information regarding the incident. The Planning Section will provide planning for not only the current, but future operational periods.

Source: Louisville/ Jefferson County (KY) Emergency Operations Plan 2007/2008

  1. Communications

As described in the operations section

  1. Administration and Logistics
  2. Warning, System Testing, and Maintenance
  3. Warning devices will be tested at least once a month.
  4. Each community EM Director is responsible for the maintenance and repair of warning devices in each city/town.

Source: The Oklahoma County All Hazards Emergency Operations Plan, 2005

  1. Plan Development and Maintenance

The Communications Officer is responsible for working with the Director of County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness to maintain and improve this annex. He/She is also responsible for Standard Operating Guidelines relating to this annex.

Source: The East Baton Rouge Parrish All Hazards Emergency Operations Plan, 2005

  1. Authorities and References

Amended 2002 Ky. Acts Ch. 346, sec. 55; effective July 15, 2002. -- Created 2000 Ky. Acts Ch. 189, sec. 3; effective July 14, 2000.

Source: Louisville/ Jefferson County (KY) Emergency Operations Plan 2007/2008