Draft Table of Recommendations for Public Emergency Communications for Arlington County, Virginia Ranking System Name Alerting Information Passive Means? Population Coverage Cost to County Cost Effectiveness Population Considerations Comments Top Five Priorities 1 Advanced Reverse 911 with Fax Blast * * * wide low high Effectiveness for hearing impaired, non-English Improved system can target tailored populations with brief message. Has modular capabilities 2 Sirens * * * wide medium high Effectiveness for hearing impaired is low County should acquire electronic version with PA capability. Need MOA with Ft. Myer, Pentagon emergency coordinators 3 County Emergency Radio Station * * wide low high Hearing Impaired. Population deep in buildings Need dedicated County station for Arlington-only advisory info. Consider Low Power FM license (100 watt) or shared station with local college shcool program 4 Improved RSAN with no charge * * narrow nil high Low utility for population without cell phones, pagers or RSAN is an established program that needs stronger marketing to public. Public communications administration policy change needed to eliminate cell phone provider company charges for emergency messages. internet. Cell phones require text messaging service 5 Subsidized or free pagers for * * narrow (targeted) low-medium medium N/A Addresses PEC challenge to reach hearing impaired. Vibrating pagers only effective when worn and should compliment other systems (NOAA, RSAN, EAS, etc.) hearing impaired Medium Priority Group EAS Improvements * * * wide NA high Low effectiveness for Non-English speakers unless Need to expand participation by local stations for local alerts. Need multilingual EAS translations for TV banner and radio alerts on non-English or selected broadcast stations. Satelite and apartment/condo dwellers not served locally. non-Need to expand participation by local stations for local alerts. Expanded Call Center (CrisisLink) * NA medium medium Needs TTY to support hearing impaired. Multi-lingual staff Can relieve ECC load, provide answers to population during emergencies for non-emergency advice and referral. Staffed by trained volunteers on emergency basis. Requires assured access to office space and phones on contingency basis. highly desirable Bulk purchased preprogrammed * * Norrow (targeted) Pass through cost medium after initial investment Encourages use of NOAA radios for low and fixed Many NOAA radios currently sold present programming challenge (A.K.A. the "Blinking 12:00 VCR effect") to select correct SAMEs broadcast and to select desired alert types . Easier setup (preprogrammed for Arlington income residents area) and reduced price offered through County bulk purchase would greatly increase participation by residents. Also consider bulk purchase of radios with hear disabled adaptive features. NOAA radio for resale to residents NOAA Required in Office * * Medium NA Medium Does not address existing residences Would require all businesses to have operating NOAA radio on premises. Change county building code to require all new buildings/residences to have NOAA capability installed. Follow-on Priorities Subsidized or free NOAA radios * * Narrow (targeted) pass through cost medium after initial inventment Targets low-income or fixed income residents Would widen use of NOAAs. If considered, should be incorporated into bulk preprogrammed purchase. 211 * NA high low-medium Provides alternative source of information to residents In use in Chicago. Full time staff and equipment refers callers to City services. Cost is considered high in comparison to expanded call center when 911 is saturated Already In Place NOAA radios * * Narrow established Established system well utilized in mid-west for tornado warnings EAS * * Wide systems Wide Established Replaced CONELRAD system Cable TV Channels 69/71 * Narrow with Limited to cable users. County & School Web Sites * Narrow nil Need to ensure links to emergency information pages clearly labeled Metro Signs * * * Narrow new Requires ECC - Metro coordination Expressway signs * * * Narrow costs Can cause traffic slowdowns. Only helps those who are driving and see signs Neighborhood Watch Block Effectiveness entirely dependant on strength of neighborhood participation Mobile Massed Sirens * * * Narrow May divert personnel and equipment from higher priority tasks Future Solutions Global Ring * * Wide NA Would target anyone with a land-line phone Current phone system can not handle voltage to conduct 30 second warning-alert ring. Engineering changes may be cost prohibitive, but effectiveness of system for alerting broad population (passive means) considered potentially very high -- makes concept attractive Selective Cell Calls * * Targeted NA Would target cell users in selective geographic areas Conceptual system could permit Emergency Managers ability to alert cell users in defined areas by activating cell phones within designated cell areas. Capacity of system to ring multiple numbers unknown. Considered - not adopted NOAA Tax Credit * Narrow initially medium low NA Homeowners receive tax credit for owning NOAA -- requires legislation. Hand Held 2-Way Radios * Specialized medium NA NA Provided to CERT members, Civic Assn Presidents/emergency coordinators Many Cheap Emergency Radios * * * Targeted low-medium medium Bulk purchase of inexpensive AM or FM radios set to Cost may be prohibitively high. Would depend on adoption of dedicated County emergency radio station to activate (MCER) county radio station that would alert and inform for low income, fixed income or technologically challenged Notes - Cost Estimates Notes - Terminology Low Cost = Less than $50k Passive Means - Does the population need to own or Med Cost = $50-500K operate something? If yes, then it is not "passive means" High Cost = more than $500K Printed: 3/8/2004 DRAFT