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EMERGENCY-INFORMATION BLOG: An online
blog site was set up by the Jefferson County Department of Emergency
Management to post current information on incidents in progress in our
area. Access to the blog does not require a password, and can be reached through any
internet connection at
www.emergency-information.blogspot.com. The blog will contain
local interpretation and analysis not available from other sources.
The blog has the most local relevance, and is intended to provide analysis
along with information. The blog can be updated remotely by staff.
NIXLE: Text messaging to any
text-enabled device. This is a free, subscription-based service activated
by the Department of Emergency Management during local emergencies. To
subscribe go to
www.nixle.com. NIXLE provides short text notices on-the-go to alert
you to an unusual event. Subscribing is a little difficult, so
CLICK
HERE for more information. NIXLE is a reliable, portable,
"always on" early alert source.
EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM (EAS): A brief
warning message transmitted via traditional radio and television outlets
in the event of a rapidly-developing local emergency. The message can be
sent from the Jefferson County EOC to a relay network of regional
television and radio outlets. The warning will be followed up with
emergency public information on major news outlets (see REGIONAL BROADCAST
MEDIA below). The Emergency Alert System (EAS) tests that you often
hear on your radio or television are part of keeping that process working.
EAS broadcasts from national, state, and local sources reaches all of the
television and radio (AM and FM) stations in the Puget Sound area,
including cable outlets. The EAS can be triggered through special
equipment in the EOC or via a new internet-based system.
REGIONAL BROADCAST MEDIA: Seattle area
radio and television stations often will include information useful to
Jefferson County residents. Remember that we are not in their primary
market area, and frequently the news and information needs of the higher
population areas may be a priority. The Emergency Management Public
Information Officer has close connections with most of the major outlets,
and provides information that is frequently carried as "news".
LOCAL NEWS WEB SITES: Both the Port
Townsend Leader and the Peninsula Daily News keep in touch with the
Jefferson County Emergency Operations Center. Important information is
regularly posted as news on
www.ptleader.com and
www.peninsuladailynews.com. Although they are primarily news
outlets, both have a long history of providing important information
before, during, and after an emergency (see LOCAL PRINT MEDIA next).
LOCAL PRINT MEDIA: During a long term
emergency and recovery period, valuable follow-up information is available
through the two local print media outlets. Both the Port Townsend Leader
(weekly) and the Peninsula Daily News (daily) closely cover local
incidents, and often include information from Emergency Management that is
important to residents during the post incident recovery.
LOCAL FM RADIO: The two new
local FM radio stations (both scheduled to be on the air by spring) plan
to provide a direct connection to the Emergency Operations Center for
emergency public
information important to Jefferson County residents. KPTZ (community
radio) will be available at 91.9 FM and will cover most or the Quimper
Peninsula. KROH (religious-based programming) will be at 91.1, and will
cover the north-central part of East Jefferson County.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WEB SITE (this site):
Important recovery period information following a major emergency can be
found at
www.jeffcoeoc.org. We also include important preparedness
information here, and links to other sources of emergency preparedness
education.
2-1-1: Dialing 2-1-1 from this
area will reach Peninsulas' 2-1-1 operated by the Crisis Clinic of the
Peninsulas. This information hotline can be a good source of
information regarding shelter locations and other emergency response and
recovery information provided by the Jefferson County EOC. 2-1-1 is
not in twenty-four operation unless there is a major emergency.
NOAA WEATHER FORECASTS: The National
Weather Service office in Seattle is the best source of official weather
advisories, watches, and warnings. They can be found at
www.whr.noaa.gov/sew. Remember that broadcast media forecasts
are "info-tainment" without much analysis or discussion. The NWS
site gives greater depth to the forecast. For additional weather
information, we found
www.cliffmass.blogspot.com to also be an excellent source of in-depth
weather information.
NOAA ALERT RECEIVERS: NOAA weather
alert receivers, available at both Hadlock Building Supply and Henry
Hardware (and online), can be set to receive alert and warning signals for
certain kinds of local emergencies. Severe weather warnings and tsunami
warnings are carried on these inexpensive receivers. Although they
do not carry follow up information, they are an excellent "trigger" when
warnings are sent out.
TSUNAMI SIRENS - AHAB (ALL HAZARD ALERT BROADCAST) SIRENS:
There are three outdoor sirens in the Port Townsend area that can be set
off from the State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray, or the
local Emergency Operations Center, in case of a tsunami warning. These
units will sound a siren tone and a voice message that can be heard for
several hundred yards along the beach. One is located at Fort Worden
(near the campground), one at Point Hudson (at the Northwest Maritime
Center), and a smaller one at the Port Townsend Marina.
ONLINE TSUNAMI INFORMATION: Up to the minute
information on tsunami advisories, watches and warnings from the
Alaska/West Coast Tsunami Warning Center can be found online at
www.weather.gov/awctwc.
NEIGHBORHOOD PREPAREDNESS EMAIL (REMAIL)
LISTS: Many neighborhoods in Jefferson County have organized
emergency preparedness groups. Those groups maintain internal email
lists to keep in touch with their members. Those trigger points are
in touch with a central coordination point, and information can be relayed
through that process. Neighborhood preparedness leaders monitor many
of the information sources, and pass it on when appropriate.
KEY PERSONNEL NOTIFICATION SYSTEM:
A special text/email is used to send notices to key personnel (law
enforcement and fire commanders, emergency management staff, public
officials, special non-government organizations, and other local leaders).
Although technically not a public notification system, the "Emergin"
network assists in keeping key personnel informed, and aids rapid
activation of emergency response systems.
AMATEUR RADIO (HAM) NETWORKS: The
Amateur Radio networks operated by licensed ham operators and the local
Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) group can be utilized to
disseminate emergency information to the neighborhood groups and other
important sites, including the five community coordination centers located
throughout the county.
"PAUL REVERE": In certain extreme
circumstances, emergency services agencies will be utilized to go
door-to-door with emergency information involving a hazardous,
site-specific event. Known as the "Paul Revere" method, this
approach has certain obvious limitations in rural areas, and does not
approach the saturation needed in many emergency situations. This is
a resource-dependent method that is only employed under rare conditions or
where the impact area is limited. |
