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Successful Emergency Notification Systems. Dennis K. Sullivan, BA, CEM, CHMM Assistant Director/Emergency Manager Department of Environmental Health and Safety University of Louisville. Goals. Discuss Surveys about Emergency Notification Systems Discuss Activation Strategies
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Successful Emergency Notification Systems Dennis K. Sullivan, BA, CEM, CHMM Assistant Director/Emergency Manager Department of Environmental Health and Safety University of Louisville
Goals • Discuss Surveys about Emergency Notification Systems • Discuss Activation Strategies • Ensuring Redundancy of your System • Working with local Government
2007 Emergency Notification System Do you have an Emergency Notification System in place? (n=106)
2007 Text Messaging System Does your Emergency Notification System include Text Messaging? (n=106)
2008 Status of Text Messaging Systems Do you have a text messaging system currently available for emergency notification? (n=141)
2008 Emergency Notification Systems Do you use any of the following in your emergency notification system? (n=139)
2009 Emergency Notification Systems Do you use any of the following in your emergency notification system? (n=342)
ENS Activations • 2006 - 19 activations by 6 schools • 2007 - 84 activations by 26 schools • 2008- 244 activations by 59 schools
Successful Activation Attributes • Rapid/Timely Notification • If notification is not delivered fast enough to avert damage/injury it is not useful • Must allow time for redundant systems, time to first notification is as important to last. • Not a PR or PIO tool • Subsequent information dissemination is available
Float to the Top • Once an emergency occurs, the information has to surface to the top before an emergency activation occurs. • Activation is dependent on: • Rapid access to leadership • Sufficient Information • Political or PR Consequences • Rapid Decision • Availability of actual person to activate
Decision by Committee • Once an emergency occurs, the information has to have committee “buy-in” before an emergency activation occurs. • Activation is dependent on: • Rapid Access to Group • Information to obtain a Consensus • Rapid Decision • Availability of Personnel to make Activation
Sink to the Bottom • Once Emergency occurs, the first person to recognize a need to make an emergency notification activates system. • Activation Depends on: • Common Sense • Empowered employees • Simple Flow Chart
Higher Education Opportunity Act • Institutions must have: • Capability to immediately notify the campus community of significant emergencies • Confirmation • Publish • Mass notification • Evacuation • Emergency Response • Annual basis
Multiple Modalities • No system is 100% effective, 100% of the time, for 100% of the campus community • No one system can notify entire campus community • Relying on a single system poses a threat if that system fails
Systems Currently In Use • Text messaging • E-mail • Web page • Outdoor warning sirens • NOAA weather radios • Phone tree • Reverse 911
Systems Currently In Use • Voice Over IP • Public Address • Digital Signs • Fire Alarm • Emergency Alerting Radios • TV interrupt • Campus Radio • Social Networking (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
Sharing Systems Already in Place • Civil Defense Sirens • Local Government Alerting Radios • Traffic Management Signs • Local Government AM/FM Information Radios • Reverse 911 • Grant Programs