COMMUNICATIONS EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTION (ESF #2) FORMERLLY COMMUNICATIONS AND WARNING

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1 ICS Category: Operations ESF # 2 Responsible for the EOC message center, providing working radio & telephone equipment, and providing warning to vulnerable facilities Reports to the emergency management coordinator DATE OF ACTIVATION: REASON FOR ACTIVATION: ESF STAFF NAME: DATE: TIME: PREPAREDNESS Coordinate with representatives from each Emergency Support Function and conduct periodic exercises of the County EOP. Meet with representatives who compose the County Incident Management System, in order to provide for the smooth functioning of the Functional Areas during incidents of any size. Establish a consistent method of receiving and sending Situation Reports to and from the County EOC during an incident of any size. Determine the methods that are available to integrate various forms of communication in the County EOC. Develop and maintain a roster of ESF 2 leads/supervisors and shift change/staffing procedures. Develop and maintain a ESF 2 manpower list delineating specialized skills of personnel. Develop and maintain resource and equipment lists. Maintain personnel and equipment certifications. Develop and maintain contact notification and call down lists with essential information (address, phone, cell, facsimile number, and ) included. Obtain detailed maps of jurisdictions. Test primary and backup communications systems to ensure that they function properly. Train personnel on the operation and maintenance of communications equipment.

2 Determine what types of communications are available at various sites within the County and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Establish alternative Communications Systems and establish a testing procedure and to ensure the systems are reliable; Develop and conduct training on communications record keeping. Develop and maintain telephone directory of all Emergency Support Function agencies, as well as other agencies that may be involved in situation. Assure communications equipment is operational. Ensure arrangements for necessary repairs have been made, if necessary. Review plans, standard operating procedures and available resources. Notify Communications Officer and off-duty dispatchers. Severe Weather Warning Monitor severe weather watch or warning via weather radio and ECOMM messages. Review warning procedures. Informing of Local Conditions Inform PEMA and National Weather Services (State College) of local conditions based on local reporting. Warning Notices-Municipalities will be responsible for maintaining their Emergency Response and Notification Manuals to include rosters of hearing impaired and non-english speaking persons, and print appropriate warnings for distribution during disaster. The County EMA will include a copy of this information in its Countywide Emergency Notification and Resource Manual. NOTIFICATION Report to the county Emergency Operations Center (name of facility and street address). Review the checklist. Notify the Deputy Communications Officer and place him/her on standby. Activate ESF 2, and its personnel, based on incident assessment. Make notifications as required by standard operating procedures, using call down lists. Establish radio and telephone communication with responders and PEMA.

3 Ensure that communications equipment is available for all field personnel. Notify Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) personnel of County Emergency Operations Center activation. Open and maintain official Action Log and Message Log (see Attachments 1 and 3 to this checklist). Set-up radio and TV to monitor EAS. Develop shift schedule for possible 24-hour operations. Notify Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC) of "unmet needs" in signal communications. MATERIALS AND INFORMATION INVENTORY Notification and Resource Manual Action Log (Attachment 1) Message Forms (Attachment 2) Message Log (Attachment 3) Portable or hand mobile radios, if available Battery operated AM/FM radio for monitoring the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Battery operated NOAA radio for monitoring the National Weather Service. Maintained list of Special Needs residents both in the Special Needs Computer Program and in paper form to be kept in the 911 Center. OPERATIONS Asses scope, magnitude, and extent of incident. Determine extent of hazard remaining. Supervise the handling of message traffic via message forms (see Attachments 2 and 3 to this checklist). Obtain status report on County activities, upon reporting to Emergency Operations Center. Collect information concerning Emergency Support Function field activities. Assist in the development of the incident action plan. Provide technical communications assistance, as requested. Coordinate with and support other Emergency Support Functions, as needed. Provide situation reports of ESF 2 activities to Emergency Operations Center supervisor, as required.

4 Attend meetings for periodic situation updates. Document incoming and outgoing notifications. Maintain record of actions taken. If Joint Information Center(s) are activated, send Emergency Support Function representative to its location(s). Request State/Federal resources, as needed. Coordinate with other Emergency Support Functions to support their communications needs. Establish and maintain communications link between field Incident Command and the Emergency Operations Center. Follow established procedures and protocols to activate the Emergency Operations Center. Follow established procedures and protocols to activate outside warning siren systems as applicable. Follow established procedures and protocols to disseminate warnings to the public of the incident. Notify all appropriate Authorities via established procedures of the occurrence of an emergency or incident. Notify all Responders via established procedures and protocols of the occurrence of an emergency or incident. Mobilize Communications and Warning Officer. Mobilize off-duty telecommunicators. Coordinate with telephone company for line load control and backup phone hookups, if necessary. Prepare and transmit PEIRS Reports of incidents/events received from municipalities in accordance with established procedures, usually within one hour.

5 Make extra phones and radio nets operational, as needed. Mobilize ARES/RACES operators as needed. Ensure communications availability for special groups (e.g., schools, hospitals, nursing homes, non-english speaking, etc.) exists when required. Request State/Federal resources, as needed. Establish necessary communications capabilities at the AEOC if conditions so dictate. Coordinate, as necessary, with other departments/agencies and backup communications providers to enhance utilization of available communications networks. Keep the Operations Coordinator informed of communications status. Prepare to relocate if necessary. Assist with collecting, completing and forwarding damage reports and assessments. Notify major businesses and industries, camp sites, motels/hotels and other transient sites before the public alert system has sounded, if possible (see Notification and Resource Manual). ACTIVATION OF PUBLIC ALERTING SYSTEM Verify time for activation coordinate with PIO as necessary. Confirm siren / system activation. Activate Siren Systems-Activate siren systems (as appropriate) and follow with EAS messages as appropriate. Determine if any sirens have malfunctioned. Coordinate with the Public Information Officer (PIO) if any message associated with the sounding. Warn Communities Warn threatened communities of the impending threat and to take appropriate action. Coordinate with Fire Services if any route alerting is to be conducted in conjunction with the public alert system activation. Route Alerting Ensure that route alerting and other complementary alerting and warning procedures are implemented to include contacting institutions and places of public assembly. Inform the Operations Coordinator of any issues. Coordinate with ESF 7, Resource Support, on resource accountability.

6 RECOVERY Prepare appropriate After Action Reports. Recharge communications equipment and return to storage. Collect copies of communications records from Emergency Support Function personnel. Provide Maintenance of Emergency Communications equipment for the duration of the emergency period. Review EOP and SOP s to identify and correct any deficiencies noted. Return communications equipment to ready status to allow for fast activation next time needed. Continue as in response phase, as needed. Reestablish critical communication links. Continue to maintain emergency communications, as long as needed. Coordinate repair to damaged communication systems. Warning Procedures Evaluate warning effectiveness, coordination and implementation. Revise procedures and plans as necessary. MITIGATION Identify critical facilities that are vulnerable to disaster or incidents, evaluate that vulnerability, and determine what actions could be taken to prevent or reduce that vulnerability. Identify potential funding sources that are available to mitigate for disasters or emergencies. Investigate new technology and procedures for communications between and among field and Emergency Operations Center personnel. Identify areas where mutual aid agreements and memorandums of understanding are needed with support agencies, ancillary or contract support services, and resource providers.

7 By (initials) Identify Emergency Support Function specific training requirements. Identify areas where public education programs are needed for identifying hazards and recognizing warnings of potential or actual hazards or incidents. Identify ESF 2 supervisors and their shift change and staffing procedures for the County EOC activation and field operations. Identify sources of resources, primary, and backup communication equipment. Identify requirements for Emergency Support Function specific standard operating procedures, plans, and checklists for lead and support agencies. Establish a 24-hour warning point in your jurisdiction that is capable of receiving National Weather Service Information and providing local reports and advice. Review the current level of training of personnel and identify additional or refresher training requirements. Evaluate and identify potential sources of incidents, and be sure to incorporate them into your all-hazards plan. Determine methods that the County will utilize to issue warnings to the population. Warning points and EOC s need multiple ways to receive National Weather Service warnings.