AGENDA. Houston Area LECC Meeting Hosted by Harris County OHSEM October 27, 2011

Transcription

1 AGENDA Houston Area LECC Meeting Hosted by Harris County OHSEM October 27, Welcome by Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management 2. Self-Introductions by Attendees and Conference Call Participants Toll-free: Passcode: # 3. PIO education and website partnership with the Houston/Galveston Regional PIO Network Visit and click HOME on the black menu bar. Scroll down to the two Click here links right above the EAS partner logos. About the Emergency Alert System: Online registration of your Primary and Secondary EAS Representatives: 4. Video: RADM Jamie Barnett, Jr., Chief of FCC s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau 5. Nationwide EAS Test at 1:00 p.m. CST on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 Overview for Nationwide EAS Test EAS logo, EAS Test slide, and EAS Warning slide available online News Release by Houston Area LECC Public Service Announcements FCC s National EAS Test online reporting system 6. Summary of how the Houston Emergency Alert System works EAS Summary EAS Handbook: Operations Manual for Authorized Activation Personnel EAS Local Area Plan Texas State EAS Plan 7. Path forward for the future of EAS Codeword or callback confirmation of telephone activation requests to KTRH and KUHF Participation in PIES Radio tests at 9:15am every Wednesday Replacement of PIES Radio by Regional Radio System Change from fax to activation by Houston/Galveston National Weather Service and SMS text distribution of EAS alerts by PIER System or other web-based systems Status of NOAA HazCollect and FEMA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System EAS Training for Authorized Activation Personnel Next meeting date/time? Page 1 of _HoustonLECC_Agenda.PDF

2 OVERVIEW OF NATIONWIDE EAS TEST 1:00 p.m. CST on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 First-ever nationwide test of Emergency Alert System (EAS) to insure it works properly; FCC and FEMA intend to conduct a National EAS Test on an annual basis at different dates/times. Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 6, 2011; broadcasters should confirm their EAS encoder/decoder is set to the correct Central Standard Time. NWS can cancel or re-schedule its NOAA Weather Radio weekly test from Wednesday, Nov. 9 to Tuesday, Nov. 8 to reduce any confusion with the Nationwide EAS Test KTRH and WBAP will conduct the Required Monthly Test (RMT) between 11am-1pm on Tuesday, Nov. 8; broadcasters can confirm their EAS encoder/decoder works Nationwide EAS Test will run approximately 3 to 3 ½ minutes in order to exceed the normal 2-minute time-out for other EAS tests and prove if encoder/decoders will stay open Emergency Alert Notification (EAN) event code will be sent to all Primary Entry Point (PEP) stations and on National Public Radio s analog Cue (Squawk) channel Origination Code will be PEP; the FIPS location code will be for Washington, DC; encoder/decoder should be set to Auto mode (not Delay or Manual ) for EAN Under FCC rules, EAN must be carried by all radio, TV stations, wired/wireless cable TV, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), Digital Television (DTV), Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS), Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), and Wireline Video Providers (WVP) Non-participating sources must receive an authorization letter from the FCC but are required to broadcast the EAN codes, Attention Signal, the Sign-Off Announcement in their EAS Handbook, and then cease programming and transmissions on all channels. NOAA Weather Radios won t have the capability to carry EAN messages until The audio message for the National EAS Test will sound something like this: This is a test of the Emergency Alert System. This is only a test. The message you are hearing is part of a nationwide live code test of Emergency Alert System capabilities. This test message has been initiated by national alert and warning authorities in coordination with Emergency Alert System participants, including broadcast, cable, satellite and wireline participants in your area. Had this been an actual emergency, the attention signal you just heard would have been followed by emergency information, news, or instructions. Remember, this is only a test. The EAS is also used by state, territorial, tribal, and local authorities to alert and warn the public and provide important emergency response information. Remember, this is only a test. Please stay with this test message as it will be repeated. (pause and repeat) The automatically-generated EAS text crawl at the top of the screen will say: THE PRIMARY ENTRY POINT NETWORK HAS ISSUED AN EMERGENCY ACTION NOTIFICATION FOR WASHINGTON, D.C. TV stations and cable systems should display an EAS Test slide during the National EAS Test. Be sure to leave the top one-third of the slide blank, so it won t interfere with the EAS text crawl. The test will end with an End Of Message (EOM) code, not the Emergency Action Termination (EAT) code, so broadcasters should monitor to ensure they return to regular programming. For more information, visit the following websites: FCC FEMA NAB TAB Page 2 of _HoustonLECC_Agenda.PDF

3 NEWS RELEASE Houston Area LECC November 1, 2011 For Immediate Release NATIONWIDE EAS TEST SCHEDULED ON NOVEMBER 9, 2011 (Houston, TX) --- The federal government will conduct the first-ever, nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) at 1:00 p.m. CST on Wednesday, November 9, The purpose of the test is to assess the effectiveness and reliability of EAS to alert the entire country during a nationwide emergency. The test will last approximately three minutes. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will initiate the test from Washington, D.C. to simulate the President s issuance of an Emergency Action Notification (EAN) message for a national emergency, such as a nuclear attack, terrorist incident, or a national disaster. However, the President s voice will not be broadcast during the November 9 th test. The EAN message will be relayed by 63 Primary Entry Point (PEP) radio stations across the United States, including KTRH-AM 740 in Houston. In addition, KUHF-FM 88.7 in Houston will broadcast the EAN message when relayed by KTRH-AM 740 or National Public Radio (NPR). Texas State Network will relay the November 9 th test to its 130 affiliates across Texas. All other AM and FM radio stations, television stations, cable TV, satellite audio and TV systems in the 13-county Houston area are required to monitor KTRH-AM 740, KUHF-FM 88.7, or the National Weather Service so they can voluntarily re-broadcast state and local EAS messages. However, FCC rules require all radio, TV, cable and satellite systems nationwide to immediately interrupt their regular programming to broadcast national EAN messages and tests. The three-minute audio message on both radio and TV will repeat This is a test several times, but the scrolling text message at the top of TV screens will read The Primary Entry Point System has issued an Emergency Action Notification for Washington, DC to test what a real EAN message would display on TV sets. To help avert any public confusion about the nationwide EAS test, radio and TV stations will air Public Service Announcements before November 9 th to emphasize that the nationwide EAS test is just a drill and not a real emergency. During the EAS test, TV stations and cable systems can also display the EAS logo and/or the words This is a Test in the middle of the TV screen. -more- Page 3 of _HoustonLECC_Agenda.PDF

4 The Greater Harris County Emergency Network (GHC 9-1-1) has informed its forty call centers in Harris and Fort Bend Counties about the potential for an increase in calls during the November 9 th test. GHC reminds the public that should be used ONLY in emergency situations that require immediate assistance from the police/sheriff, fire department, or an ambulance. Nonemergency calls to inquire about the test may overwhelm the telephone network at emergency call centers and delay from receiving calls from citizens reporting real emergencies. Please help us ensure that callers with actual emergencies can get through to City and county Offices of Emergency Management in the Houston area are using the nationwide EAS test as an opportunity to educate homeowners and businesses about regional disaster preparedness and response. Residents can visit the website to learn how to Make A Plan, Build a Kit, and Stay Informed. During an actual emergency, residents can visit the website to obtain timely and accurate information from the Regional Joint Information Center (JIC). Fortunately, since the Emergency Alert System was created in 1994, no President has ever had to issue an Emergency Action Notification (EAN) message. But EAS is frequently used by state and local government officials to quickly warn the public about approaching severe weather and AMBER Alerts for missing children. EAS can also be activated for other local emergencies such as hurricane evacuations, wildfire evacuations, or hazardous materials releases. Since October 2007, the Houston/Galveston Office of the National Weather Service has activated EAS for 573 severe thunderstorm warnings, 104 tornado warnings, 91 flash flood warnings, and has issued EAS warnings for hurricanes Humberto and Ike as well as tropical storms Dolly, Eduoard, and Erin. Since the Houston Regional Amber Plan was created in December 2000, local law enforcement agencies have utilized EAS to issue 110 Amber Alerts for 129 missing children believed to be abducted. 120 of those 129 missing children were located alive for a 93% recovery rate, one of the highest rates nationwide. Five children were murdered. Four children are still missing. Nationwide, a total of 542 missing children have been safely recovered due to Amber Alerts. The Emergency Alert System for the 13-county Houston area is administered locally by the Houston Area Local Emergency Communications Committee. The Houston Area LECC is composed of local government officials authorized to activate EAS as well as local broadcasters, satellite and cable operators who can broadcast EAS messages. The 13 counties in the Houston EAS area are Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Waller, and Wharton. FEMA is currently developing an Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) that will add cellular phones, SMS text messages, website and social media as additional warning tools. -end- Page 4 of _HoustonLECC_Agenda.PDF

5 MEDIA ADVISORY The EAS Test slide, EAS logo, and Amber Alert logo are available at: FEMA information about the Nationwide EAS Test is available at: To schedule phone or in-person media interviews, please contact the following media spokespersons for their respective agencies or organizations: Jeff Suggs, Chairman, Houston Area LECC Emergency Management Coordinator, City of La Porte Chuck Wolf, Public Information Officer, Houston Area LECC Co-Chair, Houston/Galveston Regional PIO Network Bryan Erickson, AM Operations Manager KTRH-AM Capella Tucker, Program Director KUHF-FM Dan Reilly, Warning Coordination Meteorologist Houston/Galveston Office of the National Weather Service ext. 223 Beth Alberts, Director Houston Regional Amber Plan Sonya Clauson, Public Information/Education Officer Greater Harris County Emergency Network Francisco Sanchez, Public Information Officer Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Page 5 of _HoustonLECC_Agenda.PDF

6 PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS Radio, Television, and Cable: On Wednesday, November 9 th at approximately 1 p.m. Central time, (Call letters) will participate in a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System. This test will last for about three minutes, then we ll return to our regular programming. This is only a test! Don t call To make sure your family or business is ready for any emergency, visit: (or station s website) for more information. But remember: the nationwide EAS test on November 9 th is only a test! Television and Cable: (display EAS Test slide with scrolling text: THE PRIMARY ENTRY POINT NETWORK HAS ISSUED AN EMERGENCY ACTION NOTIFICATION FOR WASHINGTON, D.C. ) On Wednesday, November 9 th at approximately 1 p.m. Central time, (Call letters or Cable System) will participate in a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System. This test will last for about three minutes, then we ll return to our regular programming. This is only a test! Don t call The scrolling text at the top of your TV screen may say the test is an Emergency Action Notification. But remember: the nationwide EAS test on November 9 th is only a test! Spanish Language: Spanish-language stations should translate the above scripts into Spanish Closed Captioning: Television and Cable PSA s should be produced in open caption or text-on-screen format as a courtesy for hearing-impaired viewers. EAS Graphics: The EAS Test slide, EAS logo, and Amber Alert logo are available at: Produced PSAs: The FCC has produced radio and TV PSAs in English and Spanish that say the test is scheduled at 2 p.m. Eastern time; these produced PSA s are available in.mov video and.mp3 audio formats at: Page 6 of _HoustonLECC_Agenda.PDF

7 SUMMARY I. LOCAL OPERATIONAL AREA The Houston, Texas, Local Operational Area includes the following thirteen (13) counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Waller, and Wharton counties of Texas. II. LOCAL AUTHORIZED OFFICIALS The Houston Emergency Alert System can be activated at the request of the: a. Mayor or Emergency Management Coordinator of any incorporated city b. County Judge or Emergency Management Coordinator of any county c. Houston/Galveston Office of the National Weather Service in Dickinson d. Special Agent In Charge or his designee of the FBI Houston Division e. Captain Of The Port or his designee of US Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston III. LOCAL ACTIVATION CRITERIA Requests for EAS activation should be limited to an emergency event or incident which: a. Poses an immediate or imminent threat to life or property b. Has the potential to adversely impact a significant population or geographic area c. Requires or recommends the public to evacuate, seek shelter or take protective action EAS can also be activated to broadcast Amber Alerts distributed by the Houston Regional Amber Plan or Texas Amber Alert Network if a participating law enforcement agency believes a child under age 18 has been abducted. IV. CONTACTS FOR EAS ACTIVATION OR CANCELLATION LP-1: KTRH-AM 740 LP-2: KUHF-FM 88.7 NWS: National Weather Service Unlisted phone and fax numbers are For Official Use Only Unlisted phone and fax numbers are For Official Use Only Unlisted phone and fax numbers are For Official Use Only Page 7 of _HoustonLECC_Agenda.PDF

8 V. EVENT CODES Local Primary (LP-1 and LP-2) stations and the NWS will activate EAS upon the request of a Local Authorized Official for any of the following specific Event Codes (listed alphabetically): CAE Child Abduction Emergency (State or Local AMBER Alerts) CDW Civil Danger Warning (hurricane evacuation or public health emergency) FRW Fire Warning (structural, forest or wildfire requiring evacuations) HMW Hazardous Materials Warning (toxic or flammable chemical release) LEW Law Enforcement Warning (terrorist attack, bomb, riot, or bridge collapse) NUW Nuclear Power Plant Warning (general emergency at nuclear power plant) RHW Radiological Hazard Warning (loss or release of radioactive materials) Local Primary (LP-1 and LP-2) stations will activate EAS upon the request of the Houston/Galveston Office of the National Weather Service for the following severe weather events affecting any portion of the 13 counties in the Houston Operational Area: FFW Flash Flood Warning (due to heavy rains, rapid rise in river stage, or dam break) FLW Flood Warning (flooding due to gradual rise of lakes, rivers, and bayous) SVR Severe Thunderstorm Warning (with lightning, hail, and damaging winds) TOR Tornado Warning (tornado sighting or touchdown) TSW Tsunami Warning (tsunami expected to impact Texas coast) Other severe weather warnings, watches, and statements may be broadcast without EAS activation as part of normal programming at the station s discretion. VI. EXPIRATION TIME The Local Authorized Official must provide an Expiration Time for the Warning message. The duration until the Expiration Time should be given in 15-minute increments up to one hour, then in 30-minute increments after one hour, such as 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, or two hours, etc. based on how long the event or public protective actions may last. For events where the duration of the emergency cannot be estimated, the duration should initially be two hours. The EAS message can be cancelled earlier or extended later if needed. VII. ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE Authorized EAS participants can contact Houston Area LECC Chair Jeff Suggs at or Chuck Wolf at to request current copies of the following EAS documents: EAS Summary: For Official Use Only EAS Local Area Plan for the Houston, Texas, Operational Area EAS Handbook: Operations Manual for Authorized Activation Personnel EAS Handbook (versions for AM & FM, TV, Cable, Satellite, and Wireline Video) Page 8 of _HoustonLECC_Agenda.PDF

9 VIII. HOUSTON EAS CONTACT PERSONS Chair, Houston Area Local Emergency Communications Committee (LECC): Jeff Suggs, Emergency Management Coordinator, City of La Porte Phone: Vice Chair, Houston Area Local Emergency Communications Committee (LECC): Chris Hanson, Managing Editor, KTRK-TV (ABC 13) Phone: PIO, Houston Area Local Emergency Communications Committee (LECC): Chuck Wolf, Co-Chair, Houston/Galveston Regional PIO Network Phone: Local Primary 1 (LP-1): KTRH-AM 740 Bob Stroupe, Chief Engineer, Clear Channel Phone: bobstroupe@clearchannel.com Local Primary 1 (LP-1): KTRH-AM 740 Bryan Erickson, AM Operations Manager, Clear Channel Phone: bryanerickson@clearchannel.com Local Primary 2 (LP-2): KUHF-FM 88.7 George Schank, Chief Engineer, Houston Public Radio Phone: gschank1@gmail.com Local Primary 2 (LP-2): KUHF-FM 88.7 Capella Tucker, Program Director, Houston Public Radio Phone: ctucker@kuhf.org National Weather Service (NWS) Gene Hafele, Meteorologist in Charge, Houston/Galveston Office phone: ext gene.hafele@noaa.gov National Weather Service (NWS) Dan Reilly, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Houston/Galveston Office Phone: ext dan.reilly@noaa.gov Houston Regional AMBER Plan ( Beth Alberts, Director and CEO, Texas Center For The Missing Phone: balberts@tcftm.org Texas State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC) Ann Arnold, SECC Chair and President, Texas Association of Broadcasters Phone: ann@tab.org Page 9 of _HoustonLECC_Agenda.PDF

10 APPENDIX B-1: EAS ACTIVATION MESSAGE PROCEDURES: 1. Complete the script. All blanks must be filled out. Limit message to 90-seconds max. 2. Call KTRH at xxx-xxx-xxxx or KUHF at xxx-xxx-xxxx to record the completed script. 3. If phone communication is unavailable, use PIES Radio to request KTRH activate EAS. 4. the completed script to the National Weather Service at: then call the NWS Duty Officer at xxx-xxx-xxxx to confirm receipt. 5. If the emergency expands to other areas or ends early, call KTRH, KUHF, or NWS. Otherwise, the message will automatically expire after the Expiration Time you provide. ORIGINATING AGENCY: CONTACT PERSON: PHONE NUMBER: OR: The (Name of Originating Agency) requests activation of the Houston Area Emergency Alert System to broadcast a (Event Code) in effect for a portion of (County) until (Expiration Time) a.m./p.m. due to a (type of incident) located at (location) in (city or county). As a safety precaution, we recommend all persons in (city or county) OR: within mile(s) of the incident location between (street) on the north, (street) on the south, (street) on the east, and (street) on the west to: SHELTER IN PLACE until the incident is over. This means you should go inside the nearest building or vehicle, close all doors and windows, and turn off any air conditioning or heating systems that might draw in outside air. Stay off the telephone to keep phone lines open for emergency use. EVACUATE and stay clear of the area by heading cross-wind toward the (safe directions or shelter locations). (Other protective actions or special instructions) For more information, call (Agency s public telephone) or visit our website at: (Website address where more information is available) Page 10 of _HoustonLECC_Agenda.PDF