National Weather Service Terror in the Heartland Technology and Disaster Alert Systems NOAA Weather Radio and HazCollect Terror in the Heartland Technology and Disaster Alert Systems NOAA Weather Radio and HazCollect Jim Kramper Warning Coordination Meteorologist NWS St. Louis, MO Jim Keeney Warning Coordination Meteorologist NWS Central Region, Kansas City, MO

Overview NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) History How it works Where are we now Emergency Alert System History Connection to NWR/NWS HazCollect NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) History How it works Where are we now Emergency Alert System History Connection to NWR/NWS HazCollect

NOAA Weather Radio Developed in early to middle 1970s Primary mission is to broadcast weather information 24-hours a day In 1975: Designated as the sole government operated radio system to direct warnings into private homes. Expanded to cover many hazards/emergencies Developed in early to middle 1970s Primary mission is to broadcast weather information 24-hours a day In 1975: Designated as the sole government operated radio system to direct warnings into private homes. Expanded to cover many hazards/emergencies NOAA All Hazards Radio

NOAA Weather Radio Low-power transmitters: 300 – 1000 watts Coverage: 40 – 50 mile radius Broadcast on the Public Service Band – MHz Broadcast originates from NWS Office –Computer Driven System –Telephone lines, Microwave link Low-power transmitters: 300 – 1000 watts Coverage: 40 – 50 mile radius Broadcast on the Public Service Band – MHz Broadcast originates from NWS Office –Computer Driven System –Telephone lines, Microwave link How does it work?

NOAA Weather Radio Specific Area Message Encoding –Digital code –Event –Location Automated commercial stations Home weather radios Specific Area Message Encoding –Digital code –Event –Location Automated commercial stations Home weather radios How does it work?

NOAA Weather Radio Number of transmitters covering MO has more than doubled Missouri Electric Cooperatives SEMA Number of transmitters covering MO has more than doubled Missouri Electric Cooperatives SEMA Expansion

NWR Sites in Missouri

Emergency Alert System (EAS) Overview Started as Emergency Broadcast System EBS National Emergencies –Allow President access to commercial broadcast industry Weather became majority of activations 99% Voluntary system Started as Emergency Broadcast System EBS National Emergencies –Allow President access to commercial broadcast industry Weather became majority of activations 99% Voluntary system

EAS History 1990: FCC decided to update EBS –New digital technology Call for development –Two systems –One based on the NWS Specific Area Message Encoding system (SAME) Field Test –System with SAME was selected 1990: FCC decided to update EBS –New digital technology Call for development –Two systems –One based on the NWS Specific Area Message Encoding system (SAME) Field Test –System with SAME was selected

How EAS Works Official entity develops the emergency message Deliver it to the broadcast media: Local Primary station (LP-1) LP-1 encodes message and broadcasts Other stations monitor LP-1, get the message and broadcast Official entity develops the emergency message Deliver it to the broadcast media: Local Primary station (LP-1) LP-1 encodes message and broadcasts Other stations monitor LP-1, get the message and broadcast

EAS NWS Connection Basic system: Developed by NWS But: EAS is controlled by the FCC EAS is operated by the commercial broadcast industry NWS is an Input into EAS –Automatic Input Basic system: Developed by NWS But: EAS is controlled by the FCC EAS is operated by the commercial broadcast industry NWS is an Input into EAS –Automatic Input

Activating EAS In Missouri Input into the system –NWS –Broadcast Media –Missouri Highway Patrol –SEMA Input into the system –NWS –Broadcast Media –Missouri Highway Patrol –SEMA

EAS Codes (many just came into effect) –TOR – Tornado Warning –SVR – Severe Thunderstorm Warning – CEM – Civil Emergency Message –CAE – Child Abduction Emergency –TOE – 911 Telephone Outage –NUW – Nuclear Power Plant Warning Codes (many just came into effect) –TOR – Tornado Warning –SVR – Severe Thunderstorm Warning – CEM – Civil Emergency Message –CAE – Child Abduction Emergency –TOE – 911 Telephone Outage –NUW – Nuclear Power Plant Warning

HazCollect Provides an IT interface for non-weather emergency messages between state and local systems and NWS offices Eliminates the time for manual message composition and security checks by NWS personnel System will offer 17 different messages Will be monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year Provides an IT interface for non-weather emergency messages between state and local systems and NWS offices Eliminates the time for manual message composition and security checks by NWS personnel System will offer 17 different messages Will be monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Current System NWS broadcasts non-weather civil emergency messages (CEMs) over NWR Received at the local Weather Forecast Office (WFO) by telephone or fax from local/state government agencies Author of the information is manually authenticated and authorized by the WFO NWS broadcasts non-weather civil emergency messages (CEMs) over NWR Received at the local Weather Forecast Office (WFO) by telephone or fax from local/state government agencies Author of the information is manually authenticated and authorized by the WFO

Current System The message is evaluated and manually input by WFO staff into the NWS Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) After creation it is then disseminated via NOAAPORT, NOAA Weather Wire Service, Family of Services, EMs Weather Information Network and NWR The message is evaluated and manually input by WFO staff into the NWS Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) After creation it is then disseminated via NOAAPORT, NOAA Weather Wire Service, Family of Services, EMs Weather Information Network and NWR

Shortfalls Manual Security and authentication process Not adapted for warnings at the national level, except for Nuclear Attack Warning Message composition process time Error Prone Requires WFO staff intervention Manual Security and authentication process Not adapted for warnings at the national level, except for Nuclear Attack Warning Message composition process time Error Prone Requires WFO staff intervention

NWS Long Term Plan (HazCollect) In June 2004, NOAA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) signed a MOU that provides the capability for DHS to broadcast national/regional emergency hazards messages over NWR to the American public. Streamlines the creation, authentication, and collection of messages. Planned initial operational capability in late In June 2004, NOAA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) signed a MOU that provides the capability for DHS to broadcast national/regional emergency hazards messages over NWR to the American public. Streamlines the creation, authentication, and collection of messages. Planned initial operational capability in late 2005.

System Overview EM interface connects to the secure Disaster Management Interoperability Service (DMIS) network to communicate with other EMs and to distribute non- weather emergency messages NWS systems receive the messages, verifies authenticity and forwards to NWR EM interface connects to the secure Disaster Management Interoperability Service (DMIS) network to communicate with other EMs and to distribute non- weather emergency messages NWS systems receive the messages, verifies authenticity and forwards to NWR

DMIS EMS NWS Hazcollect Servers NWS Gateway NCF NWS WFOs SBN NOAA Weather Radios CRS Transmitters NWWS Converts CAP to AWIPS WMO CAP Format Gateway Process and disseminate WMO Header TG Firewall

Message Preparation EM's will have the choice of creating an English or Spanish message. Message will include: –What - type of event –Where – county, or portion thereof –When – expiration date/time –Call to action statement –Who, why, other pertinent facts EM's will have the choice of creating an English or Spanish message. Message will include: –What - type of event –Where – county, or portion thereof –When – expiration date/time –Call to action statement –Who, why, other pertinent facts

Conclusion NWR is the only Government owned and operated radio network and provides the most robust dissemination infrastructure Located in every state Linked to the EAS NWR receivers are widely available in the commercial market NWR is the only Government owned and operated radio network and provides the most robust dissemination infrastructure Located in every state Linked to the EAS NWR receivers are widely available in the commercial market

Conclusion The agreement between NOAA and the DHS signed in June will allow EMs direct access to NOAAs All-Hazards Network. This will enhance and augment the current system, automating the end-to-end dissemination of emergency messages to the American public The agreement between NOAA and the DHS signed in June will allow EMs direct access to NOAAs All-Hazards Network. This will enhance and augment the current system, automating the end-to-end dissemination of emergency messages to the American public

The End