ORANGE, COUNTY OF (28) - 2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Orange County Operational Area Countywide Public Mass Notification System Standard Operating Procedures Effective; June 30, 2008 PURPOSE The purpose of this document is to outline the Standard Operating Procedures for the use and administration of AlertOC, the Orange County Public Mass Notification System, hereinafter referred to as "System". This document will provide more specific step-by-step procedures and roles and responsibilities at the regional level including describing expectation of participants. Individual jurisdictions/agencies should create and maintain and regional concepts, The step -by step procedures for activation and use will be maintained in a separate document maintained by each jurisdiction/agency as a part of their emergency response plans for overall planning and response efforts. A copy of these procedures shall be maintained in RespondOC in the AlertOC folder. This document does not supersede any policy and procedures outlines in the Memorandums of Understandings signed by participating agencies, but should be used to support the use of the Orange County Mass Notification System. II. SYSTEM DESCRIPTION The primary intent of the Countywide Public Mass Notification System is to disseminate early warning and time sensitive information to county businesses and residents during time of an emergency event. The Public Mass Notification System is only one component of the County of Orange Public Warning System. As deemed fit by local authorities, the System should be used in conjunction with the other public warning mechanisms including, but not limited to, route alerting, the Emergency Alert System, sirens, and press releases. The Mass Notification System is available 24/7 and has been pre -loaded with Orange County landline phone numbers (including unlisted) and countywide geographic maps. Additionally, citizens have the option to provide additional contact information via self - registration portal www.alertoc.com with link access from county and all participating entity websites. Upon local authority decision to activate, the System will be used to send a message, describing the situation and recommended action the public should take, to affected businesses and households via telephone, e-mail and/or text. The County of Orange, Orange County Sheriffs Department is the sponsor of the Countywide Public Mass Notification System initiative and will take appropriate measures to ensure that the System is in a state of operational readiness at all times. It is the responsibility of all participating Agencies to maximize citizen benefits from the System. While the County's intent for implementing and maintaining the System is for "emergency" use, upon consent from local authorities, cities may optionally use the System to disseminate "government -related" non -emergency notifications to citizens and organization resources within its jurisdiction. See Section V. Authorized Use and Section VIII. Cost for policy guidelines relating to non -emergency use. Page 1 of 13