11

Creating the Idaho State Alert & Warnings System (ISAWS)

Ward Noland, BSEMState/Local Warning Coordinator

Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security

22

DilbertBy Scott Adams  

© Copyright 2009 United Feature Syndicate. All Rights Reserved

33

Identifying the problem:

• Only existing public warning system was the Emergency Alert System (EAS)• Not Common Alert Protocol (CAP) compliant

• Not American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliant

• Not compliant with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rule of December, 2007 which mandates CAP compliance following Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) adoption of CAP protocol’s

• Not compliant June 26, 2006 Presidential Executive Order that states that emergency notification systems have an English as a Second Language (ESL) delivery capability

• No ability to send additional materials (other than .wav files) with the message (ie photo’s, maps, video, etc.)

44

Finding a solution:Finding a solution:

• FEMA Integrated Public Alert Warning System (IPAWS) used as a model for the development of the ISAWS project

• Vendors are a valuable resource when looking for a solution but beware of making commitments

• Identify existing system components and the owner of the components

• RESEARCH!!!• RESEARCH!!!• Did I mention Research???

55

The proposed solution:The proposed solution:

• The Idaho State Alert and Warnings System (ISAWS)• System requirements

• CAP Compliant

• Public Notification System

• Ability to integrate with current EAS system

• Network based

• Multi-lingual messaging

• Public enrollment website• English & Spanish Versions

• Identify special needs population and their situation

• VOLUNTARY

• Avoid the word “registry”

• Ability to reach mobile devices (cell phones, PDA’s, pagers, etc.) critical to message dissemination

66

The problems:The problems:

• Merging new technology with a Cold War era system• Funding• “Buy-in”; from an agency perspective; a governmental

perspective (applies to both local and/or state governments), the general public; and the broadcasters

• No national access to wireless communication systems and/or providers.

• Economic downturn has created hesitancy to create new programs in both the governmental and private sectors

• Hesitancy of competing notification/EAS vendors and/or manufacturers to share technology

• Did I mention funding????

77

Solutions:Solutions:

• Private sector has developed software and hardware options for EAS integration

• FEMA allows the use of both Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) and Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) funds for public warning projects

• Some vendors have existing contracts with wireless providers; however, agreements with the large wireless providers are needed at the national level

• CAP protocol will create a standard language for messaging

• The importance of public warnings and the consequences of not providing effective warnings should be communicated to agency decision makers

88

ImplementationImplementation

• One year pilot program to test and develop the ISAWS system (pilot ends May 2010)

• Statewide rollout of ISAWS expected June 2010• Idaho will supply units that will allow broadcasters to

connect to the ISAWS system via the internet• Statewide microwave/vhf transmission system will remain

in place for redundancy• Public enrollment website in both English and Spanish has

been created and is online• Public information campaign is being underway

(brochures, public service announcements are being created)

• Partnering with service groups in Idaho to increase public awareness of the program

99

The future:The future:

• Statewide ISAWS system in operation• Third tier of reduncancy in place using satellite internet

relays to access the system if other methods are not available

• Widespread public buy-in• As more systems come online, an overall decrease in

the number of disaster related injuries and fatalities due to better information reaching more people quickly and in a form that they can understand

• A nationwide digital public information and emergency notification system

1010

Contact information:Contact information:

• Ward NolandIdaho Bureau of Homeland Security(208) 422-3011wnoland@bhs.idaho.gov