ANNEX A WARNING CITY OF HOUSTON

Transcription

1 ANNEX A WARNING CITY OF HOUSTON

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3 TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER...i AUTHORITY & IMPLEMENTATION.ii TABLE OF CONTENTS.iii 1. AUTHORITY PURPOSE.1 3. EXPLANATION OF TERMS 1 4. SITUATION & ASSUMPTIONS CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS ACTIONS BY PHASES OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION & ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES DIRECTION & CONTROL READINESS LEVELS ADMINISTRATION & SUPPORT ANNEX DEVELOPMENT & MAINTENANCE REFERENCES APPENDEX APPENDIX 1-A..26 APPENDIX 1-B..27 APPENDIX APPENDIX APPENDIX APPENDIX ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 iii

4 1. AUTHORITY 1.1. City of Houston City Charter, as amended, November 7, City Ordinance #04-682, as amended April 18, City of Houston Administrative Procedure Executive Order #1-25, Exercising of Mayors Emergency Authority during a Local State of Disaster 1.5. Executive Order #1-49, Adopting the National Incident Management System 1.6. Executive Order #1-18, Policy on Use of Social Media (January 4, 2011) 1.7. The State of Texas, Texas Radio Communications Interoperability Plan (2005) 1.8. The Federal Government, Executive Order #13407, Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) (June 26, 2006) 2. PURPOSE 2.1. The purpose of this annex is to outline the organization, operational concepts, responsibilities and procedures to disseminate timely and accurate warnings to government officials and the public in the event of an actual or impending emergency situation. 3. EXPLANATION OF TERMS 3.1. Acronyms AWC BSOC CAER CIS TDEM DHS DEC DSHS DPS EAS EMC Area Warning Centers Border Security Operations Center Community Awareness & Emergency Response Criminal Intelligence Service Texas Division of Emergency Management Department of Homeland Security (Federal) Department Emergency Center Department of State Health Services Texas Department of Public Safety Emergency Alert System Emergency Management Coordinator ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

5 FAOC FEMA Alternate Operations Center FEMA FNARS FOC HAN HSOC HSIN-CI IC ICS INS IPAWS JIC JIS LWP MANS NAWAS NEWS NIMS NOAA NRF NWS OEM PIO SOC SOP TDEM TLETS TEWAS VOIP Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA National Radio System FEMA Operations Center Health Alert Network Homeland Security Operations Center Homeland Security Information Network-Critical Infrastructure Incident Commander Incident Command System Incidents of National Significance Integrated Public Alert Warning System Joint Information Center Joint Information System Local Warning Point Media Alert Notification System National Warning System Network Early Warning System National Incident Management System National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration National Response Framework National Weather Service (Houston) Office of Emergency Management Public Information Officer State Operation Center Standard Operating Procedures Texas Division of Emergency Management Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System Texas Warning System Voice over Internet Protocol 3.2 Definitions ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

6 4. SITUATION & ASSUMPTIONS 4.1. Situation The City can expect to experience emergency situations that could threaten public health and safety as well as both private and public property and necessitate the implementation of protective actions for the public at risk The City is vulnerable to many hazards, which threaten and could have significant impact on public health and safety, public/private property, responder safety and economy During a significant emergency or disaster multiple incidents involving multiple hazards could occur simultaneously Emergency situations can occur at any time; therefore, equipment and procedures to warn the public of impending emergency situations must be in place and ready to use at any time Power outages may disrupt radio and television systems that carry warning messages and provide public instructions Multiple incidents may occur simultaneously, requiring diversity of resource and actions to prioritize protection of life and property Houston does not have a fixed outdoor warning system (i.e., sirens) Assumptions Timely warnings to the public of impending emergencies or those which have occurred may contribute to lives saved, decrease injuries and reduce some types of property damage Electronic news media are the primary sources of emergency information to the general public Some people who are directly threatened by a hazard may ignore, not hear, or not understand warnings issued by the government Provision should be made to provide warnings to special needs groups, such as the hearing and sight-impaired, and institutions such as nursing homes and other healthcare facilities Local radio and television stations will broadcast Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages when requested by local government officials. To effectively utilize EAS, local governments and broadcasters must coordinate the procedures used to transmit warning messages and instructions from local government to broadcasters The local National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio station will broadcast weather watches and all-hazards ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

7 warnings issued by the National Weather Service (NWS). Weather radios are activated when such messages are broadcast Local and regional Public Information Officers (PIO) will play an intricate role in communicating prompt and accurate information in the form of messages to the public. See Annex I (Public Information) for details Social media is quickly becoming a primary and preferred method for receiving disaster and emergency related information, for many citizens, and there is rising expectation for emergency response organizations to monitor social media for gathering critical information from public sources during these disaster or emergency situations (See Appendix 6). 5. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS 5.1. General The primary objective of the warning system is to notify key officials of emergency situations and disseminate timely and accurate information pertaining to warnings and instructions to the population at risk from a direct or indirect threat during an emergency Rapid dissemination and delivery of warning information may provide citizens the needed time to take action that best protects themselves and their property during an emergency The focal point of the warning function is the Local Warning Point (LWP). The City s LWP is the Houston Police Departments Emergency Communications Division which is located at the Houston Emergency Center (HEC) The LWP receives warning of actual or potential emergency situations from a variety of sources, including federal and state agencies, local officials, businesses, industry, the news media, and the general public. The systems by which warnings may be received by the LWP are depicted in Appendix The LWP will verify warning information, where necessary, and disseminate pertinent information to specific local officials and departments. ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

8 For certain types of time-sensitive warnings, the LWP may be authorized to activate the local warning system and warn the public immediately. In other situations, local officials must approve activation of the warning system and determine appropriate instructions to accompany the warning before a warning is disseminated to the public For other types of emergency situations, the EOC may be activated and assume responsibility for formulating warning messages and public instructions, which may be disseminated through the LWP or provided to the media for dissemination Once warnings are received and, where necessary, verified, warnings that affect the local area and appropriate public instructions are disseminated by the LWP. The specific systems used to disseminate warnings and provide information to the public within the local area are depicted in Appendix Receipt and Dissemination of Warnings General The City may receive warning of actual emergency situations or the threat of such situations from the following: Specific formats and handling instructions have been established for certain national civil emergency messages that would be disseminated by National Warning System (NAWAS) and Texas Warning System (TEWAS). Appendix 2 provides guidance on handling national warning messages As NAWAS and TEWAS are voice only systems that are not particularly suited for disseminating lengthy messages; hence, these systems are generally not used for warning on a daily basis Warning of specific types of emergency situations may be received directly from specialized government agencies, including River Authorities, Dam Operators, the US Coast Guard, Military Installations, Airport Authorities, and other agencies which operate specialized facilities National Warning System ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

9 Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) is a newly evolving alert and warning notification messaging system that modernizes and integrates the nation s alert and warning infrastructure: Integrates new and existing public alert and warning systems and technologies Provides authorities a broader range of message options and multiple communications pathways Increases capability to alert and warn communities of all-hazards impacting public safety The National Warning System (NAWAS) and Emergency Alert Systems (EAS) come under the IPAWS alert and warning system. (See Appendix 1- B) The National Warning System (NAWAS) is a 24-hour nationwide, dedicated, multiple line telephone warning system to disseminate civil emergency warnings from federal agencies to the State Operations Center (SOC). NAWAS is a voice communications system operated by the Department of Homeland Security s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and controlled from the FEMA Operations Center (FOC) in Washington, D.C., and the FEMA Alternate Operations Center (FAOC) in Olney, Maryland. NAWAS is used to disseminate three types of civil emergency warnings to state and local governments: Attack Warnings Fallout Warnings Natural and Technological Emergency Warnings Warnings originating from the FOC or FAOC are coordinated with the Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC) and relayed through the FEMA Regional Communications Center in Denton to the State Warning Point at the SOC in Austin. The State Warning Point further disseminates the civil emergency warnings through the Texas Warning System (TEWAS). The FEMA National Radio System (FNARS), a network of high frequency (HF) radios, serves as a backup for NAWAS For actual or potential Incidents of National Significance (INS), the Secretary of Homeland Security will make a determination of whether or not an event meets the criteria established for an INS. When the Secretary declares an event is ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

10 an INS, the Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC) notifies the affected state(s) using appropriate operational security protocols HSIN-CI. Homeland Security Information Network Critical Infrastructure is an unclassified network which immediately provides the Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC) with one-stop 24/7 access to a broad spectrum of industries, agencies and critical infrastructure across both the public and private sectors. HSIN-CI delivers information sharing, alert notification services to the right people that need to know and need to act State Warning System The Texas Warning System (TEWAS) is a state level extension of NAWAS. It consists of a dedicated telephone warning system linking the State Warning Point at the SOC with AWC located in Department of Public Safety offices around the state and NWS offices in Texas The State Warning Point relays national emergency warnings received on NAWAS to Area Warning Centers using TEWAS. AWC will normally disseminate warnings they receive to LWPs via teletype messages on the TLETS. Warnings may be disseminated by telephone or radio to those LWPs that cannot be reached by TLETS TEWAS may also be used by the SOC to disseminate warning messages from the Governor or other key state officials to specific regions of the state Specific formats and handling instructions have been established for certain national civil emergency messages that would be disseminated by NAWAS and TEWAS. Appendix 2 provides guidance on handling national warning messages As NAWAS and TEWAS are voice only systems that are not particularly suited for disseminating lengthy messages; hence, these systems are generally not used for warning on a daily basis Texas Amber Alert Network. A coordinated emergency alert program that disseminates information about abducted children. It serves as an early special purpose warning system available for use by law enforcement to alert the public when a child has been kidnapped and the police believe the child is in danger. See the Statewide Texas Amber Alert Network Plan for more information National Weather Service ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

11 Weather warning messages are issued by the NWS Weather Forecast Offices and various NWS specialized weather centers, such as NWS River Forecast Centers, the National Severe Storms Forecast Center, and the National Hurricane Center The NWS disseminates weather forecasts, watches and warnings via the NOAA Weather Wire Service, which is a satellite communications system that broadcasts to specialized receiver terminals. In Texas, NWS weather products, such as watches and warnings, are transmitted by Weather Wire to the SOC. The SOC, as the State Warning Point, retransmits these weather messages to appropriate AWC and LWPs by TLETS. Among the weather messages that are provided are: Flood and flash flood watches and warnings Severe weather watches and warnings Tornado watches and warnings Tropical weather watches and warnings Many local radio and television stations subscribe to the NOAA Weather Wire Service and have installed terminals to receive weather products directly from the NWS In addition, the NWS Warning System transmits weather information 24 hours per day to the public. The system uses a signal to activate special home receivers when a severe weather warning is being issued. Many City departments have a weather alert radio to receive NWS weather warnings NOAA Weather All Hazard Warning The DHSs Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Directorate and the U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA have signed an agreement that allows the DHS to send critical all-hazards alerts and warnings directly through the NOAA All-Hazards Network The Network supplements the existing alert and warning resources and serves as an additional delivery mechanism for sending life-saving information nationally, regionally or locally. In addition, DHSs FEMA will continue to manage the EAS that includes the NOAA All-Hazards Network Emergency Alert System (EAS) Emergency Alert System (EAS): EAS is intended to provide a means for government to provide emergency warning and instructions to the public. ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

12 This jurisdiction may receive EAS messages that contain warning information broadcast by: Federal authorities or agencies State government Other local governments Civil emergency warnings issued through NAWAS may also be disseminated through EAS. Incoming EAS messages may be received on commercial radio or television stations monitored by local officials or on the EAS encoder/decoder located in the EOC at the HEC The EAS stations for the City of Houston are: Local Primary - One (LP-1): KTRH-AM 740, Houston Monitoring Assignments: Primary Entry Point and State EOC Lines NOAA All-Hazards Network Texas State Network (Channel 1 or 0-Left) Local Primary - Two (LP-2): KUHF-FM 88.7, Houston Monitoring Assignments: NOAA All-Hazards Network KTRH-AM The above stations will record and re-transmit the emergency information at their discretion. Non- English speaking television and radio stations will re-transmit the emergency information at their discretion State Operations Center (SOC) From time to time, the SOC issues warning messages to local governments in specific regions of the State. For example, an advisory may be issued to inland jurisdictions along major evacuation routes when large-scale evacuations begin in coastal areas due to a hurricane. Warnings issued by the SOC are typically transmitted by TLETS to AWC and LWPs Local Government Government employees may provide warning of emergency situations they have discovered or that have been reported to their departments and have been confirmed. Such ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

13 situations should be reported to the LWP through any available means of communications Federal, State, & Local Agencies Warning of specific types of emergency situations may be received directly from specialized government agencies, including river authorities, dam operators, the US Coast Guard, military installations, airport authorities, and other agencies which operate specialized facilities Private Sector Companies that suffer a major fire, explosion, hazardous materials spill, or other emergency situation that may pose a threat to public health and safety and public or private property have a general duty to notify local officials of such occurrences In 1986, the East Harris County Manufacturers Association established the CAER Line (Community Awareness and Emergency Response) as a source of information about emergency response incidents at member facilities that may impact the community The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is allowed to put a message(s) on the CAER Line, if necessary. Companies reporting emergency situations that may pose a risk to the public are expected to recommend to local government appropriate actions to protect people and property General Public Other Citizens may also provide warning of emergency situations, generally by calling It is always advisable to confirm information on emergency situations reported by citizens before issuing a public warning regarding those situations Social media is not a first-line alert and warning tool, but due to its rapid adoption by the public and capability to reach a broad audience, the City recognizes that during disaster situations utilizing social media sources is a valuable tool for pushing and pulling critical information to and from the public Skywarn Skywarn is a NWS program designed to train personnel in the field how to spot and track severe weather. These field personnel are trained by the NWS in basic severe weather meteorology and in how and what to report to the proper officials. ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

14 The local Skywarn team is made up of government personnel and private citizens whose activities are directed by a coordinator During periods of severe weather, spotters are notified and serve role by relaying reports back to the NWS. The Skywarn program is activated by the NWS Flood Warning System The NWS, Harris County Office of Emergency Management, US Army Corps of Engineers and River Authorities have established a network of rain and river flood sensing warning devices to collect data for flood warning purposes. If excessive rainfall occurs, the NWS and the River Forecast Center make flood predictions and, if necessary, warnings are issued through the NOAA All-Hazards Network and the media. The City of Houston Office of Emergency Management and Harris County Office of Emergency Management will be in constant communication throughout the flood event The City of Houston Office of Emergency Management and Harris County Office of Emergency Management will use data provided through alert, notification, messaging systems to help determine appropriate action for emergency situation Emergency Managers Wireless Information Network (EMWIN) Weather information broadcast via satellite through the Emergency Managers Wireless Information Network (EMWIN). OEM receives EMWIN messages via pager from the local NWS Other Weather Information The OEM has contracted with a commercial provider to obtain weather information and radar images via the internet Notification of Elected Officials When the Houston Police Departments Emergency Communications Division receives a warning of an emergency situation, it shall make notification to key local officials, based on departmental protocol, so they can determine appropriate actions to deal ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

15 General Public with the situation. Notification will be made by telephone, radio, pager, or any other means available In the initial stages of an emergency situation, the LWP will, within the limits of the authority delegated to it, determine if a warning needs to be issued, formulate a warning and disseminate it. Appendix 3 provides general guidelines for activation of the local warning system. When the EOC has been activated, the EOC will normally determine who needs to be warned and how and will normally formulate warning messages and public instructions. The LWP or the EOC will normally execute such warnings by activating the appropriate warning system(s). Refer to Annex I Emergency Public Information for how emergency public information is disseminated The systems described below will be used to issue warnings and instructions to the public As a condition of licensing, all commercial radio and television stations and cable television companies must participate in EAS and use their facilities to relay warning and instructions from government to the public. Broadcasters and cable companies must carry national security warnings and messages initiated by the President; they may broadcast alerts and messages initiated by state and local governments The Federal Communications Commission encourages licensees to broadcast state and local warning and instruction messages, but the final decision on broadcasting such messages rests with the broadcaster For obvious reasons, EAS should be used prudently. Activation of EAS by local governments is governed by the Texas EAS Plan and local EAS plans developed in each of the states EAS districts. The general guidelines for local activation of EAS include: Severity of Situation: EAS warning will aid in reducing loss of life or substantial loss of property. ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

16 Timeliness: Immediate public knowledge is required to avoid adverse impact Alternatives: Other means of disseminating information are inadequate to ensure rapid delivery The local EAS stations are listed in Appendix 4: The City has coordinated with these stations to establish procedures for accessing the EAS, which are included in that appendix. Authority to release EAS messages for broadcast is restricted to those local officials named in Appendix 4. The following methods will be used to transmit emergency messages to EAS stations for broadcast: By telephone, with the station generally recording our verbal message and then broadcasting it By fax, with the station receiving our written message and reading it on the air By using the EAS encoder/decoder to prepare a message, affix EAS originator, subject, and location codes, and send it to the local EAS station Route Alerting & Door- to-door Warning: The public may be warned by route alerting using vehicles equipped with sirens and public address systems. Warnings may also be delivered by response personnel going door-to-door. Both of these methods are effective in delivering warning, but they are labor-intensive and time-consuming and may not be feasible for large areas NOAA Weather Radio: Pursuant to an agreement with the NWS Forecast Office in League City, those local officials authorized to release EAS messages may request that the NWS activate the NOAA Weather Radio system to broadcast civil emergency messages. This system can broadcast voice messages to individuals who have a NOAA Weather Radio or receive Weather Radio broadcasts on cable television. ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

17 Cable Television Interrupt: The EOC has the capability to interrupt local cable television systems (directly Comcast, Optel, Phonoscope, Seabridge and indirectly TVMAX) with an emergency voice message. This means of warning only reaches those who have cable television and have their television set turned on Municipal Channel: The Municipal Channel can be used to send a message crawler to communicate with the public Telephone Warning/Information System: Neighborhood Early Warning System (NEWS) is a telephone warning system operated by the Greater Harris County Emergency Network. The system calls residents of specified neighborhoods to alert them when danger threatens Industry Warning System: Community Awareness & Emergency Response (CAER) Line. Refer to section of this annex Media Alert Notification System (MANS): A web based notification system linking emergency management officials with the local news media Social Media: A media tool used by Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and City departments to communicate and receive critical information during a disaster, unless otherwise directed by the Mayor s Office of Communication (See Appendix 7) Vulnerable Populations Populations that are vulnerable requiring support and/or assistance to appropriately receive warning and instructional messages will be warned and alerted of emergency situation using but not limited to the following: Visually-impaired: EAS messages on radio, NOAA Weather Radio, route alerting, doorto-door notification, other methods if available, and other Hearing-impaired: Captioned EAS messages on television, route alerting, door-to-door notification, and other. ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

18 Non-English speaking: Language messages on radio, and/or TV, NOAA Weather Radio, route alerting, door-to-door, electronic signage, and other methods if available, and other Special facilities: EAS messages on radio/television, NOAA Weather Radio, route alerting, door-to-door notification, other methods if available, and other Warnings to Other Governments & Agencies: The LWP is responsible for warning adjacent or nearby jurisdictions that may be affected by emergency situations originating within this jurisdiction Local government is also responsible for informing the Disaster District Committee in DPS Region 2A of major emergencies after time-sensitive warnings have been issued. 6. ACTIONS BY PHASES OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 6.1. Prevention Applying intelligence and other information to a range of activities including countermeasures as deterrence operations Security operations Investigations to determine the full nature and source of the threat Public health and agricultural surveillance and testing Law enforcement operations aimed at deterring, preempting, interdicting or disrupting illegal activity and apprehending perpetrators Mitigation Establish an effective public warning system and appropriate operating procedures. Extend the system to keep up with growth. Adopt new methods of warning that increase the ability to reach citizens not well served by current systems Conduct public education designed to prevent citizens from taking unnecessary risks during emergency situations. An example would be a public information effort discouraging people from driving on flooded roads Preparedness Test the local warning system on a regular basis. The Local Primary -1 (KTRH-AM 740) initiates a weekly functional test of EAS PIES every ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

19 Monday, requiring the 28 jurisdictions who subscribed to the local system to respond Brief local media on local warning systems and coordinate procedures for transmitting EAS messages to radio and television stations and cable television providers Conduct public education on warning systems and the actions that should be taken for various types of warnings Establish a Joint Information System (JIS) and identify suitable facilities for a Joint Information Center (JIC) if required Maintain annex and revise as needed Exercise and evaluate warning system and associated components for effectiveness Response Activate local warning system to alert the public of the emergency situation and provide appropriate instructions Conduct media monitoring to determine the need to clarify issues and distribute updated public instructions Ensure alternate warning system(s) are equally effective than primary systems Discontinue warnings when they are no longer required Recovery Advise the public when the emergency situation has been terminated If necessary, provide instructions for return of evacuees and safety information relating to reoccupation of damaged homes and businesses Perform a post-incident critique to identify and implement corrective measures Verification/Vetting Organizations 6.6. Jurisdictional Coordination JURISDICTIONAL COORDINATION: The National Incident Management System (NIMS) will be used to manage and efficiently mitigate any such incident by integrating a combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications into a common organizational structure. NIMS is used to organize both near-term and long-term field level operations for a broad spectrum of emergencies, from small to complex incidents, both natural and manmade Description of the implementation is located within the Basic Emergency Management, Annex I - Public Information, Annex M ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

20 Resource Management and Annex N Directions. Departmental policies and procedures are developed based on these principles Support Organizations Other support organizations provide avenues for communicating critical information during a multijurisdiction/agency response to include: Department of State Health Services (DSHS): Augments communication for providing alert and notification of public health related information needed for responders and community. DSHS administers the Texas Health Alert Network (HAN) to enhance collaboration with local health officials Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT): Provide mobile communications support through the TxDOT emergency radio network impacting roadway and highway systems. 7. ORGANIZATION & ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES 7.1. General The Mayor and City Council establish general policies for emergency warning and fund personnel and equipment to operate the warning systems The Police Chief is responsible for operating the LWP The EMC or designee will be responsible for cable TV interrupt, the telephone warning systems (CAER and NEWS) and coordination with the local NWS The Mayor, EMC, or designee will approve emergency public information prior to being released to public through news media or other communication media such as telephone, , internet, VoIP, satellite, social network, text, or radio. For additional details refer to Annex I (Public Information) Task Assignments Chief of Police The EMC, in coordination with the Police Chief, shall develop operating procedures for the warning system, coordinating as necessary with other departments and agencies, the NWS, local radio and television stations, cable television companies, and other organizations When the EOC is activated, the EMC or designee will assist with the development of warning messages and Special News Advisories prior to release. ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

21 For regional multi-agency emergencies establishment of a JIC may be necessary HPD Emergency Communications Division Develop an adequate and efficient warning system The Houston Police Departments Emergency Communications Division has been designated to support this activity and will serve as the primary LWP, to include the following: Receive and, if necessary, verify and acknowledge warnings of emergency situations Make notification to local officials of emergency situations or conditions that could cause such situations as required In accordance with SOP or when directed, request activation of the warning systems to alert and provide instructions Identify requirements for route alerting and door-todoor warning for areas where other warning systems do not adequately reach the public At the discretion of local law enforcement, if necessary, an intelligent section may be added in the Incident Management System (ICS) structure Mayor's Public Information Officer (PIO) or Designee Develop warning messages and public instructions for the specific situation at hand Develop procedures to facilitate the release of coordinated emergency public information to amplify basic information provided in warning messages Conduct media briefings in close proximity to the EOC Houston Fire Department (HFD) HFD: Will provide units and personnel for route alerting and door-to-door warning when requested HFD will assist as needed to identify and provide support due to being deaf, blind, physical limitations, mentally handicapped, or dependent on medical equipment/support See Annex F (Firefighting) and Annex I (Public Information) for additional services provided by the Houston Fire Department (HFD) to alert and warn the community All City of Houston Departments ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

22 Report emergency situations that merit warning local officials or the public to the OEM or LWP as appropriate When requested, provide personnel and equipment to assist in route alerting or door-to-door warning Media companies are expected to: Local Media Disseminate warning messages and Special News Advisories provided by local government to the public as rapidly as possible Participate in periodic tests of the EAS and other warning systems Institutions, businesses, and places of public assembly are expected to monitor radio and television and/or NOAA Weather Radio receivers for warnings and take appropriate actions to protect their patients, students, customers, and employees. 8. DIRECTION & CONTROL 8.1. General The Mayor may provide general guidance for warning activities The EMC may provide specific guidance for the LWP and warning systems For specific time-sensitive emergency situations, the LWP has been delegated authority to determine if a warning should be issued, formulate a warning if necessary and disseminate it For other situations, the LWP must coordinate with one of the designated set of key officials who will determine if a warning should be issued and approve the general content of any warning message that will be disseminated. Guidelines for this process are outlined in Appendix When the EOC has been activated, the EOC staff will normally determine who needs to be warned and how. The EMC, the lead PIO, and other members of the staff will formulate warning messages and public instructions In a large-scale disaster event it may be necessary to establish a formal Joint Information Center (JIC) for message development and delivery. If activation of a JIC is needed, the EMC and City s PIO will coordinate to support situation Lines of Succession Continuity of Governments The line of succession to the Mayor: ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

23 Mayor Pro-tem Vice Mayor Pro-tem The line of succession to the EMC: Deputy EMC The line of succession to the Police Chief consists of four (4) Executive Assistant Chiefs ranked by seniority as follows: Executive Assistant Chief (1 st in Seniority within rank of EAC) Executive Assistant Chief (2 nd in Seniority within rank of EAC) Executive Assistant Chief (3 rd in Seniority within rank of EAC) Executive Assistant Chief (4 th in Seniority within rank of EAC) Refer to Basic Plan, Volume I section for additional details on line of succession Incident Command System - EOC Interface In order to provide effective support and management of resources during a major incident, all department/agency administrative efforts will be directed and coordinated through the EOC when activated The Police Chief or his/her designee will establish and maintain communications with the on-scene command post and may direct emergency operations from the EOC in coordination with other agency representatives in the EOC Warnings and other alert notifications will be coordinated through the EOC by the HPD representative to enhance critical communication flow of information during a large-scale situation Refer to the City s Basic Plan and Annex N (Direction and Control) for more details in managing and coordinating major incidents Continuity of Government Continuity of government planning is primarily designed to enable entities to prepare and prevent interruption of critical business functions, minimize the impact of interruptions that may occur, and return to normal operations quickly and with minimal loss following an interruption of services. Early alert, warnings, and communications on an on-going basis is critical to avoid and/or minimize impact to local, state, and federal partners ability to protect and sustain critical services to protect life and property The City of Houston Office of Emergency Management works diligently with City departments and regional partners in Continuity planning. Continuity planning provides consistency and connectivity internally ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

24 and externally during significant events including Continuity planning for: Lines of succession (back-ups for key decision-making and operating personnel) Alternate operating procedures Back-up power and alternate alert and notification systems for key facilities and equipment Preservation of critical records City government, like most large organizations, depends increasingly on automated systems in providing public services. City departments must include plans for maintaining communications networks in their continuity of government plans Communications networks include: Information Technology Infrastructure (Networks, Servers, Computers, etc.) Communication systems (Radio, Telephone, etc.) 9. READINESS LEVELS 9.1. Increased Readiness Conditions for the City are set forth in section of the Basic Plan. The following shall apply: 9.2. Readiness Level IV Normal Conditions Routine operations Perform routine maintenance and testing of backup systems (i.e. generators, networks) Develop and implement ongoing training and exercise program for emergency preparedness, response, and recovery Readiness Level III (This is the department s standard operating condition June 1 November 30) Review plans and procedures Monitor the situation Inspect warning systems to insure they are fully operational Alert EAS stations of the increased threat so they are aware of the situation and can disseminate warnings if necessary Inform key public works and engineering personnel Check equipment readiness and correct deficiencies Check emergency supply status and fill shortfalls. ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

25 Review and update as necessary the employee notification process as well as employee duties, assignments, and Tier designations Review equipment inventories and status checks and make necessary arrangements with Maintenance and/or vendors to expedite repairs and service of priority equipment Maintain regular testing of all communications systems Review inventory of emergency supplies and materials necessary to meet the threat of the domestic incident. Re-stock supplies as necessary to support the emergency situation Maintain regular testing of auxiliary power supplies Follow procedures for emergency fuel ordering and reporting of quantities on hand as outlined in the Emergency Fuel Management Plan Assure all emergency SOPs and key personnel contact information is up-to-date and current Review and identify critical needs for hardening and protection of physical facilitates Readiness Level II - High Readiness Develop draft warning messages and public messages for the impending threat Alert personnel for possible emergency operations; identify personnel for increased staffing during primary vulnerability period Identify requirements for route alerting and door-to-door warning Consider activation of the EOC to provide for increased situation monitoring and to conduct pre-planning The Director will brief Deputy Directors and Command Staff on the threat and potential of the domestic incident and its impact to the Department and Divisions The Deputy Directors will begin making preparations with their divisional staffs Managers and supervisors will begin making preparations with their employees, including shift assignments Off-duty personnel will be contacted as to reporting instructions. All voluntary leaves (vacation, etc.) will be evaluated for determining staff needs Identify and correct any deficiencies in equipment status or material supplies All fuel tanks should now be topped off according to Emergency Fuel Ordering Procedures. ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

26 Deputy Directors will have their respective Division Emergency Centers prepared for activation The Emergency Management Coordinator will have the DEC prepared for activation. Monitor the situation Increase short-term readiness of equipment if possible Review inter-local agreements and contracts for resource support and alert potential resource providers of possible emergency operations Identify personnel to staff the ICP and EOC Readiness Level I Maximum Readiness All Department personnel have been briefed on the domestic incident that is now imminent or may have already occurred The HPD Desk at the HEC is fully operational and staffed Coordinate with EAS stations to determine their readiness Designate units for route alerting and door-to-door warning] The Houston Police Department (HPD) Operations Center is fully operational and staffed All Division Emergency Centers are fully operational and staffed Designated departmental personnel are in the HEC, DOC and DEC s All personnel and equipment are located and/or staged at their assigned locations Implement plans to protect government facilities and equipment Advise resource suppliers of situation Place selected off-duty personnel on standby to increase staffing if necessary Activate the EOC for increased situation monitoring, planning, and resource management Continue to monitor the situation 10. ADMINISTRATIVE & SUPPORT Agreements & Contracts AGREEMENTS & CONTRACTS: Should local resources prove to be inadequate during an emergency; requests will be made for assistance from other local jurisdictions, other agencies, and industry in accordance with existing mutual-aid agreements and contracts Reports & Records The LWP shall maintain activity logs recording: Warnings received. ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

27 Key personnel notified and the actions they directed to be taken Warnings disseminated to the public and the means of that dissemination The Incident Command Post and the EOC shall maintain logs of their activities Maintenance of Equipment Maintenance of Equipment: All warning systems owned by City will be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer s instructions for those systems. 11. ANNEX DEVELOPMENT & MAINTENANCE Development The Annex A (Warning) Plan must be revised through a formal process every five years (4) of the Government Code provide that the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) of the State of Texas shall review and approve Annex A Plan at a minimum once for each planning cycle (5-year) Refer to Basic Plan for additional details on the development and revision process Maintenance The City s Police Chief is responsible for developing and maintaining this Annex plan and he can revise it at any point during the cycle if needed (e.g. gaps/weaknesses identified following an incident/disaster; organizational or operational changes, local / state / federal legislative changes, etc.) OEM will assist in the coordination of revising this Annex plan. For additional details pertaining to annex revision and maintenance see Basic Plan 1.5 section. 12. REFERENCES Presidential Executive Order 13407, Public Alert and Warning System State of Texas Emergency Management Plan, Annex B Communications Plan FEMA, Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) FEMA, National Warning System Operations Manual. 13. APPENDICES Appendix 1-A Warning System Diagram Appendix 1-B Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Diagram ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

28 Appendix 2 Appendix 3 Appendix 4 Appendix 5 Tab A Tab B Tab D Tab C Tab E Tab F Tab G Tab H Appendix 6 National Warning Messages General Warning Point Procedures Emergency Alert System (EAS) Operations Warning and Emergency Public Information Messages Warning Message-General Incident Warning Message-Road and Facility Closure Special News Advisory-Pre-Evacuation Information Warning Message- Sheltering-In-Place Warning Message-Urgent Evacuation Warning Message-Mandatory Evacuation Special News Advisory-Supplemental Evacuation Information Special News Advisory-Schools and Public Facilities Social Media ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

29 APPENDIX 1-A Warning System Diagram How Warnings are Disseminated Local Warning Point Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Messages Local EOC National & State EAS Messages Local NWS Station Mobile Warning Units Local EAS Station Cable TV Interrupt Telephone Warning System CAER & NEWS General Public EAS Messages NOAA Weather Radio ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

30 APPENDIX 1-B Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Diagram ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,

31 APPENDIX 2 TO ANNEX A NATIONAL WARNING MESSAGES I. Types of National Warning Messages II. National warning messages include: A. Attack Warning B. Fallout Warning C. Natural & Technological Emergency Warning National Warning Message Dissemination National warning messages are disseminated by federal authorities from the FEMA Operations Center through the National Warning System (NAWAS) to the states; NAWAS is a dedicated telephone system that disseminates voice warning messages. In Texas, such warning messages are received at the State Warning Point in Austin and relayed to AWC around the state by the Texas Warning System (TEWAS), which is also a dedicated telephone system that disseminates voice warning messages. AWC normally disseminate national warning messages they receive by TLETS teletype to LWPs. LWPs whose TLETS service is inoperative may receive warning messages by telephone or radio. II. National Warning Message Dissemination: The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) is a newly implemented and evolving initiative at the federal level to establish an alert and warning notification messaging system that modernizes, integrates, and enhances the nation s alert and warning infrastructure: III. A. Integrates new and existing public alert and warning systems and technologies. B. Provides authorities a broader range of message options and multiple communications pathways. C. Increases capability to alert and warn communities of all-hazards impacting public safety. D. National Warning System (NAWAS) and Emergency Alert Systems (EAS) come under the IPAWS alert and warning system. (See Appendix1 B). THE IPAWS SYSTEM IS BEING INTEGRATED IN PHASES AND ONGOING UNTIL FULLY IMPLEMENTED! Local Action Upon Receipt of A National Warning Message A. When national warning messages are received at the LWP, such warnings should be disseminated as soon as possible through the local warning system, except that national warning messages received locally should not ANNEX A WARNING SEPTEMBER 26,