National Weather ServiceNational 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 KramperWarning Coordination Meteorologist

NWS St. Louis, MO

Jim KeeneyWarning Coordination Meteorologist

NWS Central Region, Kansas City, MO

OverviewOverview

• NOAA Weather Radio (NWR)HistoryHow it worksWhere are we now

• Emergency Alert SystemHistoryConnection to NWR/NWS

• HazCollect

• NOAA Weather Radio (NWR)HistoryHow it worksWhere are we now

• Emergency Alert SystemHistoryConnection to NWR/NWS

• HazCollect

NOAA Weather RadioNOAA 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 RadioNOAA All Hazards Radio

NOAA Weather RadioNOAA Weather Radio

• Low-power transmitters: 300 – 1000 wattsCoverage: 40 – 50 mile radius

Broadcast on the Public Service Band162.400 –162-550 MHz

• Broadcast originates from NWS Office

– Computer Driven System

– Telephone lines, Microwave link

• Low-power transmitters: 300 – 1000 wattsCoverage: 40 – 50 mile radius

Broadcast on the Public Service Band162.400 –162-550 MHz

• Broadcast originates from NWS Office

– Computer Driven System

– Telephone lines, Microwave link

How does it work?How does it work?

NOAA Weather RadioNOAA 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 RadioNOAA 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

ExpansionExpansion

NWR Sites in MissouriNWR Sites in Missouri

Emergency Alert System (EAS)Overview

Emergency Alert System (EAS)Overview

• Started as Emergency Broadcast SystemEBS

• National Emergencies

– Allow President access to commercial broadcast industry

• Weather became majority of activations99%

• Voluntary system

• Started as Emergency Broadcast SystemEBS

• National Emergencies

– Allow President access to commercial broadcast industry

• Weather became majority of activations99%

• Voluntary system

EASHistoryEAS

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 WorksHow 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

EASNWS Connection

EASNWS Connection

• Basic system: Developed by NWS

• But: EAS is controlled by the FCCEAS 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 FCCEAS is operated by the commercial broadcast industry

• NWS is an Input into EAS

– Automatic Input

Activating EASIn Missouri

Activating EASIn Missouri

• Input into the system

– NWS

– Broadcast Media

– Missouri Highway Patrol

– SEMA

• Input into the system

– NWS

– Broadcast Media

– Missouri Highway Patrol

– SEMA

EASEAS

• 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

HazCollectHazCollect

• 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 SystemCurrent 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 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

ShortfallsShortfalls

• 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)

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 2005.

• 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 OverviewSystem 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

DMISEMS NWS Hazcollect Servers

NWS

GatewayNCF

NWS

WFOsSBN

NOAA Weather Radios

CRS

Transmitters

NWWS

Converts CAP toAWIPS WMOCAP Format

Gateway

Process and disseminateWMO Header

TGFirewall

Firewall

Message PreparationMessage 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

ConclusionConclusion

• 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

ConclusionConclusion

• The agreement between NOAA and the DHS signed in June will allow EM’s direct access to NOAA’s 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 EM’s direct access to NOAA’s 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 EndThe End