For technological emergencies, including those o=
f a
transportation nature, natural emergencies, and civil emergencies that can
impact Cabell and Wayne Counties, various components of the Early Warning
Signal and Communications Plan are appropriate for notifying members of the
general public, special publics, emergency management, emergency
communications, and emergency response personnel.
Outside early warning systems are used to signal
persons who are outside structures and in vehicles, and to a limited extent
persons inside structures, depending on their construction, the occupants
location, masking noises, the occupants’ activities, and other releva=
nt
factors.
Inside early warning si= gnal systems are used to inform occupants inside structures such as houses, offi= ce buildings, stores, institutions, and so forth. To a limited extent inside e= arly warning systems may inform persons outside of housing structures if windows= or doors are open and persons are near the such structures.
Appropriate information in other C/WLEPC Emergen=
cy
Response Plan component’s, and in the Cabell County and Wayne County
Emergency Operations Plans will impact on this Early Warning Signal and
Communications Plan. Where appropriate such information should be used in c=
onjunction
with this Plan. Likewise, this Early Warning Signal and Communications Plan,
where appropriate, should be used in conjunction with other C/WLEPC Emergen=
cy
Response Plan components and with the logical components of the Emergency
Operations Plans of Cabell and Wayne Counties.
The purpose of this Plan is to discuss existing
outside and inside early warning signal methods in Cabell and Wayne Countie=
s,
to explore various additional outside and inside early warning signal system
options for Cabell and Wayne Counties, and to arrive at conclusions and
recommendations applicable to additional possible early warning signal syst=
ems
improvements; as well as present in the Appendices to this Chapter:
Communications Response Actions for Emergency Classifications, Personal
Protective Action Messages for use on the EAS, related information, and
Recommended Emergency Information Messages for Non-EAS Broadcasts.
All possible emergencie= s that could impact upon Cabell and Wayne Counties could benefit from the use of components of the Early Warning Signal and Communications Plan.
Early Warning Signal and Communications Plan
components would be beneficial to persons at their residences, at their work
places, while shopping, while attending or participating in various
APPLICABILITY (Continu= ed)
types of events, while attending school, and whi=
le
moving through the C/WLEPD by various means.
A. &n=
bsp; FIXED
LOCATION SIRENS
There are seven (7) existing fixed location siren
sites within the City of Huntington. They are located at:
&nbs=
p;
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
305
5th Avenue, Guyandotte Fire Station (No. 5) – Non function=
al
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
20th
Street and 6th Avenue Fire Station (No. 2) – Functional
&nbs=
p; 3.
=
20th
Street and Charleston Avenue (EMS No. 2) – Non functional
&nbs=
p; 4.
=
1st
Street and 8th Avenue Fire Station (EMS No. 3) – Functiona=
l
&nbs=
p; 5.
=
Prichard
Building, 9th Street & 6th Avenue, Huntington -
Functional
&nbs=
p; 6. =
509
Camden Road Fire Station (No. 8) – Non Functional
Note: This
is in Wayne County.
&nbs=
p; 7.
=
Flint
Group Pigments, 5th Avenue at 24th Street - Functional
These seven (7) fixed location sirens can be
activated together, in specific combinations, or singly by the Cabell County
Emergency Response Center (E-911) located at the Cabell County Emergency
Services Building at 846 8th Avenue, Huntington. Remote central
equipment was updated in 1996 to allow such control to be reestablished.
There are five (5) existing fixed location siren
sites in Cabell County, outside the City of Huntington. They are located at=
:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
721
Central Avenue, Barboursville, WV (Barboursville VFD)
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
3rd
Street, Culloden, WV (Culloden VFD)
&nbs=
p; 3.
=
US
60, Milton, WV (Milton VFD)
&nbs=
p; 4.
=
Howell’s
Mill Road, Ona, WV (Ona VFD)
5. = WV 10 & Madison Creek Road, Salt Rock, WV (Salt Rock VFD)
These five (5) existing= fixed location sirens can be activated separately or in combination by the Cabell County E-911 Response Center or singly by the individual Volunteer Fire Departments.
EXISTING OUTDOOR EARLY WARNING SIGNAL SYSTEMS (Continued)
A. &nb=
sp; FIXED
LOCATION SIRENS (Continued)
There are seven (7) exi= sting fixed location siren sites in Wayne County, outside the City of Huntington. They are located at:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
700
B Street, Ceredo, WV (Ceredo VFD) - Functional
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Court
Street, Fort Gay, WV (Fort Gay VFD) – Non Functional
&nbs=
p; 3.
=
WV
152, Wayne, WV (Wayne VFD) – Non Functional
&nbs=
p; 4.
=
4504
5th St. Road, Lavalette (Lavalette VFD) – Non Functional
&nbs=
p; 5. =
City
of Kenova, Kenova City Hall – Functional
&nbs=
p; 6. =
Spring
Valley Drive, Huntington, WV =
- (Spring
Valley VFD) – Functional
&nbs=
p; 7. =
Fire
Department Road, Prichard, WV, (Prichard VFD) – Non functional
These seven (7) existing fixed location sirens m=
ay
be activated separately or in combination by the Wayne County E-911 Response
Center or singly by the individual Volunteer Fire Departments.
Fixed location sirens are either mechanical or
electronic. Mechanical sirens can be programmed for steady or varying tones.
They must be connected to an electric power system. Electronic sirens can be
programmed for a variety of sound plus voice messages. They do not have to =
be
connected to an electric power system as long as they have their own power
source. Both types may be either omni-directional or revolving. The cost fa=
ctor
for both types or sirens are approximately equal for the same sized siren w=
hen
the original cost, operations cost, and maintenance costs are considered in
total. The area covered by sirens of equal power depends on location, natur=
al
and man made obstacles, weather conditions, and masking noises. The existing
fixed location sirens in Cabell and Wayne Counties are used for emergency
warning notification purposes. Future sirens to be installed will be of an
electronic nature with emergency back up power whenever logical.
The fixed location sire= ns when activated for purpose of serious emergencies (hazards) will be sounded with repeated three (3) minute steady tone signals. Such signals would indicate = to recipient listeners, “Go inside the nearest structure likely to have a radio or television receiver,
tune the radio or telev=
ision to
a local station for Emergency Alert System information about the particular
emergency (hazard) for which the particular population is being warned, and
follow the instructions given in the information.
EXISTING OUTDOOR EARLY WARNING SIGNAL SYSTEMS (Continued)
A. FIXED
LOCATION SIRENS (Continued)
Advantages of fixed loc= ation sirens are:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
Recognition/acceptance
of the signal as an emergency symbol,
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Reliability
of the mechanism,
&nbs=
p; 3.
=
Controlled
activation of the signal from remote point feasibilities, and
&nbs=
p; 4.
=
Ability
to operate effectively under adverse environmental conditions.
Disadvantages of fixed location sirens are:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
Cost
(equipment, installation, and maintenance),
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Provision
of location,
&nbs=
p; 3.
=
Appearance,
and
&nbs=
p; 4.
=
Limited
reception inside structures and transportation vehicles.
A federal grant was received by the C/WLEPC in e=
arly
1995 for the purpose of studying the location for the future installation of
electronic sirens with an omni-directional steady siren sound projection of
four square miles at 70 decibels of sound, barring the restrictions listed
above. The estimated average cost for such sirens and their installation co=
st
is $ 16,000 per siren. The areas to be covered in Cabell and Wayne Counties
outside of Huntington, are primarily those populated areas that could be
impacted by a transportation related incident from a motor vehicle, waterbo=
rne
vessel, or railroad train or a primary transportation corridor or at a prim=
ary
transportation facility. Six (6) sites in Wayne County and eighteen (18) si=
tes
in Cabell County were designated for such installations.
B. &n=
bsp; MOBILE
ALERTING BY EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICULAR UNITS
Mobile alerting utilizi= ng emergency response vehicles equipped with public address capabilities drivi= ng through the impacted area of the emergency (hazard) to provide the early warning signal and message is a relevant outdoor early warning signal method that is utilized as either a compliment to, supplement to, or substitute fo= r (when no other system is available and/or feasible) other existing outdoor early warning signal systems.
Advantages of mobile alerting by emergency respo=
nse
vehicular units are:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
No
additional early warning signal expense, and
2. Availability of the pr=
ovision
of signal and/or tailored message.
EXISTING OU=
TDOOR
EARLY WARNING SIGNAL SYSTEMS (Continued)
B. MOBILE ALERTING BY
EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICULAR UNITS (Continued)
&nbs=
p;
Disadvantages of mobile alerting by emergency
response vehicular units are:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
Length
of time needed to cover the area impacted by the emergency,
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Availability
of emergency response units for this purpose,
3. Possible
environmental restrictions to the use of emergency response vehicular units
and/or emergency response personnel, and
4. Limited reception
inside recipient structures and vehicles in the impacted area due
to
adverse environmental conditions and other factors.
C. DOOR TO DOOR MOBILE ALERTING BY
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL
Door to door alerting u= tilizing emergency response personnel to provide the early warning signal and messag= e is a relevant outdoor early warning signal method that is utilized as a compli= ment or supplement to, or substitute for other means of providing outdoor early warning signals/messages. This system is more effective in concentrated sin= gle family residential impacted areas, than in less dense and/or multi-family residential structure and/or non-residential impacted areas.
Advantages of door to door alerting by emergency
response personnel are:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
No
additional early warning signal expense,
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Availability
of comprehensive warning and instruction message, and
3. Capability
of instant assessment of recipient situations and two-way communications wi=
th
early warning message recipients.
Disadvantages of door to door alerting by emerge=
ncy
response personnel are:
1. Length
of time needed to cover even a relatively small area impacted by an emergen=
cy,
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Availability
of emergency response personnel for this purpose,
&nbs=
p; 3.
=
Possible
environmental restrictions to the use of emergency personnel, and
4. No
possible notification of persons inside moving vehicles in the area impacte=
d by
the emergency.
POSSIBLE
ADDITIONAL OUTDOOR EARLY WARNING SIGNAL SYSTEMS FOR
FUTURE USE<= o:p>
In addition to the above outdoor early warning
signal systems that can be considered in use at the present time to at least
some extent, there are possible additional systems that should be considered
for use in a comprehensive Early Warning Signal Plan.
A. &n=
bsp; MOBILE
SIREN
Mobile siren early warn= ing would consist of a trailer mounted electronic siren attached to an emergency response vehicle being taken to the are impacted by the emergency and activ= ated at one or more locations depending upon the size of the impacted area. For = an area the size of Cabell and Wayne Counties with the existing locations of f= ixed location sirens, there would probably be justification for mobile sirens to= be stationed at a minimum of two locations.
Advantages of the mobil= e siren are:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
Recognition/acceptance
of the signal as an emergency symbol,
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Reliability
of the electronic mechanism,
=
&nb=
sp; 3.
=
Ability
to place unit in best possible position(s) for reception, and
&nbs= p; 4. = Avoids the cost of having to install additional fixed location sirens in the less<= o:p>
&nbs=
p; populated areas or are=
as
with less emergency threat potential.
Disadvantages of the mobile siren are:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
Cost
(equipment including trailer and maintenance),
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Provision
of tow vehicle and qualified driver/siren activator,
3. Less
range of siren signal because of lower elevation of trailer mounted siren,
thereby having signal more readily blocked by natural and man made barriers,
and
4. &nb= sp; Limited reception by intended recipients inside structures and transportation vehic= les.
B. &n=
bsp; FIXED
LOCATION EMERGENCY MESSAGE SIGNS
Fixed location emergency message signs would be used for the provision of information to persons in vehicles. They would be activated only during emergency situations of emerg= ency drills. They would be placed at appropriate locations on major thoroughfare= s, primarily US and WV numbered highways. Activation of such signs could be on-site and/or remote. Such signs would normally be of an electrical or electronic nature, although use could be made of printed signs, kept covered until the emergency message is required.
POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL OUTDOOR EARLY WARNING SIGNAL SYSTEMS FOR
FUTURE USE (Continued)=
B. &n=
bsp; FIXED
LOCATION EMERGENCY MESSAGE SIGNS (Continued)
Advantages of the fixed location emergency messa=
ge
signs are:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
Cost
for single message printed sign, and relative cost of single message electr=
ic
&nbs=
p; or electronic sign,
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Easily
understood messages,
&nbs=
p; 3.
=
Variation
of messages using electronic signs,
&nbs=
p; 4.
=
Recognition/acceptance
of signs as official message symbol,
&nbs=
p; 5.
=
Reliability
of mechanism, and
6. Controlled
activation from remote locations option for electrical and electronic signs=
.
Disadvantages of fixed location emergency message
signs are:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
Prohibition
of such signs on Interstate Highways at this time,
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Cost
of electronic multi-message capability signs,
&nbs=
p; 3.
=
Limitation
on length and variety of messages on printed and electric signs, and
&nbs=
p; 4.
=
Application
of message(s) to limited public.
C. &n=
bsp; MOBILE
EMERGENCY MESSAGE SIGNS
Mobile emergency messag= e signs, like mobile sirens, would be utilized on roads in the areas and/or adjacent= to areas impacted by a relevant emergency (hazard) where, because of Interstate Highway status, less dense population, and/or less potential emergency (haz= ard) impact, fixed location emergency message signs are not logical. Like fixed location emergency message signs, the messages of the mobile emergency mess= age signs are aimed at the persons in vehicles. Such signs can be electronic, electrical, or printed. Such signs can be mounted on trailers, or can be attached to the rear of an automobile or pick-up truck with a quick attachm= ent mount. With the size of the area served by Cabell and Wayne County, there w= ould be a logical need for several
mobile emergency messag= e signs.
Advantages of mobile emergency message signs are=
:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
Cost
of printed signs, and the relative cost of electrical signs,
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Easily
understood message(s),
&nbs=
p; 3.
=
Recognition/acceptance
as an official symbol,
4. Reliability of
mechanism, especially with printed and electrical signs,
&nbs=
p; 5.
=
Variety
of messages available with electronic signs, and
&nbs=
p; 6.
=
Availability
of use on Interstate Highways.
POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL OUTDOOR EARLY WARNING SIGNAL SYSTEMS FOR
FUTURE USE (Continued)=
C. &n=
bsp; MOBILE
EMERGENCY MESSAGE SIGNS (Continued)
Disadvantages of mobile emergency message signs =
are:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
Cost
of electronic signs and of trailers for all types of mobile emergency messa=
ge
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; signs, =
&nb=
sp;
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Time
needed to transport sign to appropriate location,
&nbs=
p; 3.
=
Necessity
of providing transport vehicle operator,
4. Existence
of environmental conditions that would prevent the transport vehicle driver
and/or vehicle from being able to get to the proposed sign site,
&nbs=
p; 5.
=
Application
of message(s) to a limited public, and
&nbs=
p; 6.
=
Limited
amount of information that can be conveyed by printed and electric signs.
EXISTING
INDOOR EARLY WARNING SIGNAL SYSTEMS
A. &n=
bsp; TV
CABLE INTERCEPT SYSTEMS
TV cable intercept syst= ems are operated by the existing TV cable companies, and they provide emergency messages over television receivers that utilize cable transmission. The mes= sage is usually scrolled along the bottom of the cable television receiver, but = may also be accompanied by a simultaneous voice over.
Advantages of TV cable intercept systems are:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
Very
limited cost to local government for operation,
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Capability
of continuous emergency message signaling, and
&nbs=
p; 3.
=
Emergency
messages can be standardized or tailored to specific emergencies.
Disadvantages of TV cable intercept systems are:=
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
Emergency
message recipients must have TV cable service,
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Emergency
message recipients must have the TV on and be present,
&nbs=
p; 3.
=
Only
certain stations may provide cable TV intercept service, since it is even m=
ore
&nbs=
p; voluntary than
participation by regular radio and TV stations in the Emergency
Alert
System (EAS) network, and
&nbs=
p; 4.
=
The
system will not work during power outages.
The weather radio is a comparably inexpensive to=
ne
alert radio capable of receiving weather related emergency information dire=
ct
from the relevant US Weather Service Station upon tone activation. The loca=
l US
Weather Service Station staff has agreed to relay information on non-weather
related emergencies to the households having weather radios, received from =
the
E-911
Emergency Communications Centers in the C/WLEPD.=
In 2004 the NWS formally agreed on a national ba=
sis,
if requested by a responsible emergency communications entity, to specifica=
lly
add the following categories of hazards (emergencies) alerts pertinent to t=
he
C/WLEEPD:
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>1. Administrative Message=
(ADR)
– A non-emergency message that provides updated information about an
emergency incident in progress, an incident that has concluded early,
pre-incident preparation or mitigation activities, post-incident recovery
operations, or other administrative matters pertaining to the EAS.
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>2. Child Abduction Emerge=
ncy
(SAE) – An emergency message, based on established criteria, about a
missing child believed to have been abducted, that is initiated by the rele=
vant
law enforcement agency, which would provide the relevant information about =
the
child and/or the alleged abductor.
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>3. Civil Danger Warning (=
CDW)
– A warning message, usually with a specific protective action, of a
specific incident that presents a danger to a significant civilian populati=
on.
It has a higher priority than the Local Area Emergency (LAE).
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>4. Civil Emergency Warning
(CEW) – An emergency message regarding an in-progress or imminent
significant threat(s) to public health or safety and/or property. It has a
higher priority than the LAE, but the emergency incident is less specific t=
han
the CDW.
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>5. Earthquake Warning (EQ=
W)
– A warning message of current or imminent earthquake activity, which=
may
include a protective action.
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>6. Evacuation Immediate (=
EVI)
– An information message concerning the protective action of evacuati=
on,
normally given in conjunction with a notification of an emergency incident =
for
which evacuation is appropriate.
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>7. Fire Warning (FRW) =
211; A
warning message, with a relevant protective action, if appropriate, about a
forest, brush, or major structure fire that threatens a populated area.
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>8. Hazardous Materials Wa=
rning
(HMW) – A warning message, which may include an appropriate protective
action, of the release or leak of a non-radiological hazardous material.
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>9. Law Enforcement Warning
(LEW) – A warning message of an emergency incident related to resolut=
ion
by law enforcement personnel, along with pertinent public information,
including traffic diversion information.
EXISTING
INDOOR EARLY WARNING SIGNAL SYSTEMS (Continued)
B. =
; WEATHER
TONE ALERT RADIO (Continued)
<= span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>10. Local Area Emergency (= LAE) – An emergency message that defines an incident that by itself does n= ot impose a significant threat to public safety and/or property, but could escalate, contribute to more serious incidents, or disrupt critical public health or safety services such as water, wastewater, electricity, gas, et.<= o:p>
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>11. 911 Telephone Outage
Emergency (TOE) – An emergency message that defines a 911 telephone
network outage by area or telephone exchange, along with alternate temporary
emergency notification numbers.
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>12. Radiological Hazard Wa=
rning
(RHW) – A warning message, along with the appropriate protective acti=
on,
of the release of a radiological hazard due to a transportation related
incident or other source of incident initiation.
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>13. Shelter-In-Place Warni=
ng
(SPW) – A protective action message related to an emergency incident =
for
which this protective action is appropriate.
Advantages of a weather radio are:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
Comparably
inexpensive ($25 - $ 50), and
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Takes
no technical knowledge to install or operate.
Disadvantages of a weather radio are:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
Must
be purchased and installed by user,
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
User
must be in hearing distance of radio unit, and
3. Local
E-911 Emergency Communication Centers must relay emergency information to t=
he
Weather Service Station, thereby delaying the receipt of the information by=
the
user, to some extent.
In addition to individuals, businesses, and
government agencies, that have had Weather Tone Alert Radios, the C/WLEPC in
1995, with funding from the private sector, made arrangements for the purch=
ase
and installation of such radios at all public school facilities in Cabell a=
nd
Wayne Counties.
The Emergency Alert System (EAS) technically is =
not
an early warning system in itself. Rather it
is an adjunct to both outside and inside early
warning systems that do not have message capabilities, such as mechanical f=
ixed
site sirens, and mobile sirens, and in many cases is the
follow up also to mobile emergency personnel unit
and telephone ring down early warning systems notifications.
EXISTING
INDOOR EARLY WARNING SIGNAL SYSTEMS (Continued)
C. =
; EMERGENCY
ALERT SYSTEM (Continued)
The EAS has a lead radio station in the C/WLEPD,
WVRC, which is required to participate in the EAS by the Federal Communicat=
ions
Commission. All other radio stations and the television
stations in the area may participate on a volunt=
ary
basis. Some stations do not operate 24 hours a day, while others operate on=
an
automatic mode during night time hours.
The EAS may be activated by any State of West
Virginia certified Emergency Communications Center or the Emergency Operati=
ons
Room of an Emergency Operations Center with either pre-recorded or on-the-s=
pot
announcements or a combination of the two. To be most effective for the
recipients of the EAS messages, the responsible ECC or EOR should keep the
impacted public
informed on a logical, but continual basis,
utilizing updated information.
Advantages of the EAS are:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
The
EAS is available for follow-up messages for all early warning signal system=
s,
2. That pre-recorded or on
the spot messages can be utilized by the responsible =
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; =
=
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; =
emergency management
personnel, including any of the relevant officials at an EOR, and =
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; =
&nbs=
p; 3.
=
That
the EAS can be activated by State certified emergency management and
emergency communicatio=
ns
personnel 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Disadvantages of the EAS are:
1. Recipients
of EAS messages must have a radio or television receiver tuned to a local E=
AS
station, and
2. That
the volunteer members of the local EAS must have staff on duty that are tra=
ined
to know how to operate the EAS.
In addition the above i= nside early warning signal systems that can be considered in use at the present t= ime to at least some extent, there are possible additional systems that should = be considered for use in a comprehensive Early Warning Signal Plan for Cabell = and Wayne Counties.
sequentially ring preprogrammed telephone numbers
and present specific messages that can
either be pre-recorded or recorded at the time of
the emergency. Depending upon the number of telephone system trunk lines
available to the ringdown system, several telephone numbers may be rung at =
the
same time, one per trunk line. Incomplete calls can be recycled by the prog=
ram
for multiple contact attempts. Advances in computer ringdown technology
continue to open new commercial service both with and separate from the
telephone company serving an area. Services other than from the local telep=
hone
company would use local system trunk lines and depending on their location,
would also use the trunk lines of a long distance telephone company.
Normally a jurisdiction would first utilize a
telephone ringdown system to contact specific populations, such as househol=
ds
with a physically challenged or age incapacitated member(s), the
households within a particular distance of a
particular potential (emergency(ies) (hazard(s), or households that cannot =
be
notified by early warning signal siren because of the relation of topograph=
ic
barriers to siren cost-effectiveness. After achieving these initial goals, =
the
jurisdiction could then look at the expansion of the telephone ringdown ser=
vice
for the entire jurisdiction on a longer term basis, although current concep=
tual
thinking states that limiting this early warning method to focus on primary
population as noted above is more logical.
Advantages of a telephone ringdown system are:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
Reasonable,
if not yet truly inexpensive in cost,
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Limited
maintenance responsibilities for local government providers,
&nbs=
p; 3.
=
Combined
alarm and notification signal,
&nbs=
p; 4.
=
Capability
of being tailored to specific areas or clientele,
&nbs=
p; 5.
=
Recipients
familiarity with the telephone,
&nbs=
p; 6.
=
May
work during electrical power failure, and
&nbs=
p; 7.
=
Can
be utilized for other serious public needs besides emergencies.
Disadvantages of a telephone ringdown system are=
:
&nbs=
p; 1.
=
Recipients
must have a land line telephone,
&nbs=
p; 2.
=
Recipients
must be within hearing range of the telephone,
3. Emergencies must=
be
such that the time period available for notification by
&=
nbsp; telephone ringdown mus=
t be
compatible with the number of recipients to be contacted,
4. Will not work if long distance and/or local trunk lines become overloaded or switching stations malfunction,<= o:p>
Disadvantages of a telephone ringdown system are:
(Continued)
5. =
Will
not contact cell telephones where land line telephones are not available at
residences,
&nbs=
p; 6.
=
Perceived
concern about wiretapping of the telephone by recipients, and
&nbs=
p; 7.
=
Additional
cost for use in emergency drills.
Certain general conclusions may be arrived after
considering the above information and the requirements of the Cabell/Wayne
area. They are:
1. =
An
effective Early Warning Signal and Communications Plan needs to combine asp=
ects
of both outdoor and indoor early warning system options, combined with an
effective EAS.
2. &= nbsp; An effective Early Warning Signal and Communications Plan needs to meet the ea= rly warning needs of all applicable natural and technological emergencies to be cost effective. = = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp;
3. &= nbsp; An effective Early Warning Signal and Communications Plan needs to work 24 hou= rs a day for recipients at home, at work, shopping, at restaurants, at recreatio= nal, cultural and business gatherings, at schools and colleges, at hospitals and other institutions, while traveling (local and transient), and at hotels and motels.
4. &= nbsp; An effective Early Warning Signal and Communications Plan needs to relate to t= he level of risks relevant to the emergencies that may impact the C/WLEPD.
5. &= nbsp; An effective Early Warning Signal and Communications Plan needs to be implemen= ted on a prioritized and scheduled long term basis in order to
&nb= sp; realistically fit into existing revenue limitations of probable contributors.
6. An
effective Early Warning Signal and Communications financing should be the
= shared responsibility of the state and local governments, relevant private non-pro= fit organizations, and relevant private businesses at this time, with the feder= al
&nb= sp; government contributing when grant funds become readily available from that source. A grant application has been submitted (mid-2005) to the WV Division of Emerg= ency Services & Homeland Security requesting funds to install the first phas= e of a Telephone Ringdown System in the C/WLEPD.
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS (Continued)
= 7. = An effective Early Warning Signal and Communications Plan should be a high priority item in the C/WLEPD.
&= nbsp; 8. = An effective Early Warning Signal and Communications Plan should be
&nb= sp; periodically tested during functional drills and full-scale drills as logical.
9. &= nbsp; An effective Early Warning Signal and Communications Plan should include train= ing of the recipient publics in the use, capabilities and limitations of the co= mponents.
Upon review of the prior portions of this Early
Warning Signal and Communications Plan, certain specific recommendations ma=
y be
arrived at as a basis for further action. They are:
1. &nbs=
p; Fixed location sirens =
should
be considered for the primary system of outdoor early warning signals for
recipients outside structures and vehicles, with due consideration for anal=
ysis
of need/risk. A study for the location of additional sirens to assure neces=
sary
coverage was made in 1995. One additional public siren
=
; &n=
bsp; was
installed in 1997. The early warning siren signals inside the City of
Huntington had their remote upgraded in 1997 and 1998. Upgrade of the remote
controls for the other existing early warning signal sirens were initiated =
in
1999 and continue through the present.
&= nbsp;
&= nbsp; 2. = Properly located permanent and mobile early warning directional signs should be considered as the primary system of outdoor early warning signals for recipients in vehicles.
&= nbsp; 3. = Mobile sirens strategically based should be considered for use in the less densely populated and/or lower applicable risk areas as a supplement to fixed locat= ion sirens and mobile emergency units alerting for outside early warning for recipients outside structures and vehicles.
&= nbsp;
&= nbsp; 4. = Telephone ringdown operations should be considered for use as the primary
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; system of indoor early warning for alerting and messaging recipients in residential structures (non-major apartment structures) and small businesses for the special populations addressed in this plan component.
&= nbsp;
5.
&= nbsp; management or security personnel, at higher education, health, and other institutions, hotels and motels, major governmental and major business office buildings, shopping malls, recreational, cultural and convention/conference facilities, larger manufactures, etc. It would then be the responsibility of the releva= nt management or security personnel to actually notify the recipients at the aforementioned facilities. Continuing placement of weather tone alert radio= s in relevant public facilities should be considered by the C/WLEPC, as well as =
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; encouragement of placement of such weather tone alert radios in other relevant facilities= by the responsible private sector parties and the purchase and installation of such devices in private residences.
&= nbsp;
&= nbsp; 6. = Expansion of Cable TV intercept indoor early warning coverage should be considered for messaging regardless of what cable channel is on for all the Cable TV syste= ms serving the Cabell/Wayne area.
&= nbsp;
&= nbsp; 7. = The various interested funding sources should consider working together to esta= blish a long range implementation schedule including priorities for the installation/purchase of the various components of the total early warning signal system not already in place.
&= nbsp;
&= nbsp; 8. = The various interested funding sources should consider working together to disc= uss and define the degree of their responsibility and financial participation in relation to the prior specific recommendation.
&= nbsp;
&= nbsp; 9. = Every possible method should be considered for the conveyance of information to
=
; &n=
bsp; the
widest possible variety of publics concerning the need, the use, and the co=
st
of the above early warning signal system components so that they may become=
&nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; involved
in the early warning signal system planning and purchase activities.
&= nbsp; 10. The p= roper use, capabilities, limitations, and maintenance of existing and proposed ea= rly warning signal system components should be perpetually conveyed to the rele= vant operating and recipient publics through a comprehensive public information program.
The Early Warning Signal and Communications Plan=
and
its full implementation is a major emergency planning responsibility of the
total Cabell/Wayne Counties community, one that should not be put off, but
rather looked at objectively by those concerned, so that in the event of ap=
plicable
emergencies the community will be prepared.
<= o:p>
CHAPTER
V
EARLY WARNING SIGNAL A=
ND
COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
CHAPTER
V
EARLY WARNING SIGNAL A=
ND
COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
CHAPTER
V
EARLY WARNING SIGNAL A=
ND
COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
REVISED
- SEPTEMBER 2005