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This is a test…

On May 21, 2008 NJOEM Communications Officer Bob Schroeder, NJ SECC Chair Rich Archut, NJN DOE Bill Schnorbus, and representatives from Spectra Corp. and FEMA were on hand to test NJN’s new DEAS system. The test signal originated in Virginia and was relayed through the NPR system to NJN where it was transmitted to a receiver at NJOEM in West Trenton. The test went well except for a “clock” problem.

DEAS utilizes satellite technology to deliver alerts via web-based text and audio messaging and is another tool available to emergency management officials to notify the public in the event of a national or state emergency. FEMA plans to roll out DEAS to at least 5 new states before the year is over.

Learning From Other Peoples Mistakes

Recently the FCC fined 2 stations for EAS violations stemming from their use of a shared EAS encoder-decoder box. FCC rules state that co-owned, co-located stations can share an EAS box. But stations that are co-located and not co-owned must have their own EAS equipment [section 11.51 (1)].

FCC First Responders Summit

The FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau will be hosting a Summit on Pandemic Preparedness; Enhancing Communications Response for Health Care and First Responders, Tuesday, September 16, 2008, 9:00a.m- 1:15 p.m., in the Commission Meeting Room (TW-C305). The Summit will focus on communications and coordination between the health care sector, first responders, government and industry in preparation for a pandemic. Panel discussions will include how the communications industry will serve an instrumental role in such a response.

EAS Survey

Over the past few months, the Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management’s (MCOEM) Public Information Bureau has conducted an EAS survey of Radio and cable operators that currently (and/or will) serve their county. The purpose of this survey was to audit which event codes are currently programmed for “auto pass-through” in each station’s or head end’s EAS receiver.

The MCOEM’s goal is to ensure consistent and timely dissemination of Emergency Public Information. Given the voluntary nature of EAS participation, a large disparity has developed across various broadcast mediums in terms of what event codes will auto pass-through and which require human intervention to re-broadcast.

Based on current threat assessments from both State and County Emergency Operations Plans as well as over 10 years of event history, the MCOEM has requested that the following Event Codes be programmed for auto-pass through by all broadcasters that serve the County:

• TOR – Tornado Warning
• SPW- Shelter-in-place Warning
• HMW – Hazardous Materials Warning
• EVI – Evacuation Immediate

Over the next few months, the NJSP OEM and the MCOEM staff will be working with other County OEM PIO’s to create a recommendation that represents the input of all 21 Counties for event codes that are requested to be set to auto pass-through. [Edit: Good job Rob Sklans MCOEM PIO]

Summer Tech Tip

Sage-Endec users, if you are having trouble maintaining the system clock on your encoder-decoder it could be time to change the battery.

It is important that the time be kept correct because it can determine if a message is passed through or ignored.

PEP Update

Plans to have a Primary Entry Point (PEP) station in south Jersey appears to be on hold. A Primary Entry Point Advisory Committee list identifying the South Jersey, South-eastern PA and northern Delaware region as needing a PEP station has been scrapped in favor of a FEMA developed list. It is not known if we are on the new list.

The nearest PEP stations serving those areas is WABC in New York and WBAL, Baltimore. Neither station can be heard in the highly populated tri-state region. PEP stations are national EAS stations.

NJSECC Meeting Highlights

The annual meeting of the New Jersey Emergency Communications Committee was held Wednesday, April 9th in the Media Room at the State EOC in West Trenton.

Those attending represented government, the broadcast and cable industry and the private sector.

The Missing Persons Unit of the New Jersey State Police has filed a petition against pending legislation that would require EAS activation for mental illness related walk-aways.

The National Weather Service reports that they are considering the installation of an NWS transmitter to serve Cumberland County.

NJSECC Chairman, Rich Archut appointed a by-laws and procedures committee for the SECC. A Statewide EAS summit was proposed. The Chairman appointed a committee to oversee the planning of the summit with the understanding that any summit would have to wait until the FCC completes its revision of EAS rules. Both committees will report back to the Chairman in a few months.

EAS participants using NJN television as a monitoring source were reminded of the need for a digital converter box.

The meeting concluded with an EMNet demonstration and the announcement of some state monies to fund EMNet.

FCC EAS Summit

The Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau announced in April that it will host a Summit on the nation’s Emergency Alert System. The “Summit” will take place Monday, May 19, 9:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m., in the Commission meeting room in Washington, DC. This summit is open to the public; admittance however will be limited to the seating available.

This summit will address the issue of the next generation of EAS. Anyone wanting to attend may pre-register on-line at: www.fcc.gov/pshs/summits/eas or you may call Sue Gilenbach at (202) 418-0639.

Cellular EAS

Cellular broadcast is alive and well-but not in New Jersey. NJOEM Communications Officer Bob Schroeder continues to try to drum up interest in adopting cell broadcast for alerting the general public in an emergency via their cellphones. The key to cell broadcast is that it does not rely on the short messaging system (SMS) to relay text to subscribers. There are a number of direct access frequencies built into every cellular switch which have been built allocated for various emergency services, including EAS and Amateur Radio.

At present, the obstacles are more political than technological. You can learn more about Cellular EAS at