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County of Orange and Orange County Operational Area <br /> • Countywide Public Mass Notification System <br /> Operating Guidelines <br /> VII. AUTHORIZED USE <br /> A. Emergency Public Notifications <br /> Legal restrictions exist related to issuing different types of messages through the System. <br /> All Users are required to know and understand these restrictions. The Form in Attachment <br /> B delineates the requirements for each type of message. <br /> As a general principle, the System is to be used when the public is being asked to take <br /> some action (e.g. evacuate, prepare to evacuate, shelter in place, boil tap water before <br /> drinking, local assistance centers and other follow up information, re-entry to an area after <br /> evacuation orders have been lifted or termination of the emergency because the danger <br /> has passed). <br /> Use of the System for emergency activity contains two components: (1) the need to <br /> disseminate critical, safety-related information to individuals regarding emergency events <br /> occurring now,follow up information regarding the event and termination of the emergency <br /> event, and (2) communicating with safety-responder staff, volunteers and involved parties <br /> about the emergency event. <br /> Emergency Public Notifications are limited to: <br /> 1. Imminent or perceived threat to life or property <br /> 2. Disaster notifications <br /> 3. Evacuation notices <br /> 4. Public health emergencies <br /> 5. Public safety emergencies <br /> 6. Any notification to provide emergency information to a defined community <br /> The following criteria should be used to assist with determining the need to issue an alert: <br /> 1. Severity. Is there a significant threat to public life and safety? <br /> 2. Public Protection. Is there a need for members of the public to take a protective action <br /> in order to reduce loss of life or substantial loss of property? <br /> 3. Warning. Will providing warning information assist members of the public in making <br /> the decision to take proper and prudent action? <br /> 4. Timing. Does the situation require immediate public knowledge in order to avoid <br /> adverse impact? <br /> 5. Geographical area. Is the situation limited to a defined geographical area? Is that <br /> area of a size that will allow for an effective use of the system, given the outgoing call <br /> capacity? <br /> 6. Are other means of disseminating the information inadequate to ensure proper and <br /> time delivery of the information? <br /> 7. Is the message being sent follow up information to an emergency event in progress? <br /> If the answer to ALL of these questions is "Yes", then an activation of the System for <br /> emergency purposes may be warranted. <br /> Page 8of14 <br />