Alerting and Warningin 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 Nelson804-674-2400

veoc@vdem.virginia.gov