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Countywide Public Mass Notification System <br />TA <br />Standard Operating ProceduresS. <br />Emergency Use <br />Use of the Mass Notification System for emergency activity contains two components: (1) the <br />need to disseminate critical, safety-related information to individuals regarding emergency <br />events occurring now, follow up information regarding the event and termination of the <br />emergency event., and (2) communicating with safety -responder staff, volunteers and <br />involved parties about the emergency event. <br />As a general rule, the System is to be used when the public is being asked to take some action <br />(e.g. evacuate, prepare to evacuate, shelter in place, boil tap water before drinking, local <br />assistance centers and other follow up information, rentry to an areas after evacuation orders <br />have been lifted or termination of the emergency because the danger has passed). <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 utilized 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 <br />action 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 <br />making 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 <br />call 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 <br />progress? <br />If the answer to ALL of these questions is :'Yes", then an activation of the Mass Notification <br />System for emergency purposes may be warranted. <br />To assist with trigger points for potential message use topics refer to Attachment A <br />Emergency Responder Notifications are limited to: <br />1. Contacting first responders to advise of an emergency <br />2. Contacting first responders to report for duty due to an emergency <br />3. Contacting key staff regarding an emergency or crisis situation <br />Page 4 of 14 <br />