State of Rhode Island Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan
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State of Rhode Island Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan August 2017 Table of Contents Promulgation Statement ............................................................................................................................. 3 Record of Changes ....................................................................................................................................... 5 Record of Distribution ................................................................................................................................ 5 1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Scope ................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.3 Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Relationship to the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) ..................................... 8 1.5 Authority ............................................................................................................................................. 9 1.6 Logistics Support & Resource Requirements ...................................................................................... 9 2.0 Situation and Assumptions ............................................................................................................... 9 2.1. Situation ........................................................................................................................................ 9 2.2. Assumptions ................................................................................................................................ 10 3.0 Execution ......................................................................................................................................... 11 3.1 Concept of Operations ................................................................................................................ 11 3.1.1 The National, State, and Local EAS: Participation and Priorities ................................... 11 3.1.2 System Requirements, Description & Activation ............................................................ 14 3.1.3 Guidance for Originators of EAS Alerts ............................................................................ 18 3.2 Coordinating Instructions ........................................................................................................... 18 4.0 Functional Roles & Responsibilities ................................................................................................ 19 4.1 Executive Branch ............................................................................................................................... 19 4.2 Responsibilities of Support Agency(s)............................................................................................... 19 5.0 Plan Maintenance .......................................................................................................................... 20 5.1 Plan Maintenance ............................................................................................................................ 20 5.2 Training and Exercise ..................................................................................................................... 20 6.0 Administration ............................................................................................................................... 20 6.1 Required Testing of the Emergency Alert System .................................................................. 20 6.1.1 Required Weekly Tests ..................................................................................................... 20 6.1.2 Required Monthly Test ..................................................................................................... 21 7.0 Command & Control ....................................................................................................................... 23 8.0 Emergency Management Program Elements ................................................................................. 24 9.0 References ...................................................................................................................................... 25 10.0 Acronyms and Glossary ................................................................................................................... 25 10.1 Acronyms .................................................................................................................................... 25 1 10.2 Glossary ....................................................................................................................................... 27 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................................ 31 Appendix A: Rhode Island Interoperable Communications Committee (ICC) Contact List .................... 31 Appendix B: Rhode Island Radio & TV Stations ...................................................................................... 33 Appendix C: Rhode Island Cable System Information & Monitoring Requirements .............................. 35 Appendix D: National Weather Service Taunton (WBOX) Contact List & Weather Service Office Coverage Map ......................................................................................................................................... 37 Appendix E: Federal Partners Contact List (New England) ..................................................................... 38 Appendix F: Amber Alert ......................................................................................................................... 39 Appendix G: Mass Notification System (CodeRED)................................................................................. 43 Appendix H: Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) .......................................................... 45 Appendix I: EAS & Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) ............................................................................ 47 Appendix J: Rhode Island EAS Message Distribution, Authorized Sources for Activating EAS & Monitoring Assignments ......................................................................................................................... 48 Appendix K: EAS Operational Areas ........................................................................................................ 50 Appendix L: Monitoring Sources ............................................................................................................. 51 Appendix M: Authorized Originator & EAS Event Codes ........................................................................ 52 Appendix N: EAS Header Code Information ........................................................................................... 54 Appendix O: Guidance for EAS Participants in Programming EAS Decoders .......................................... 58 Appendix P: EAS Scripts & Formats ......................................................................................................... 61 Appendix Q: EAS Tests ............................................................................................................................ 65 Appendix R: NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) & Rhode Island Broadcaster Locations & Frequencies ....... 67 Appendix S: State, County, Local & Offshore ANSI Codes ...................................................................... 68 2 Promulgation Statement The Emergency Alert System (EAS), is a national public warning system that requires TV and radio broadcasters, cable TV and wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service providers, direct broadcast satellite service providers and wireline video service providers to offer to the President the communications capability to address the American public during a national emergency. The system also may be used by state and local authorities to deliver important emergency information such as AMBER (missing children) alerts and emergency weather information targeted to a specific area. The EAS allows authorized state authorities to promptly distribute important local emergency information. A state emergency manager can use the EAS to broadcast a warning from one or more major radio stations in a particular state. EAS equipment in other radio and television stations, as well as in cable television systems in that state, can automatically monitor and rebroadcast the warning. The State of Rhode Island EAS Plan, hereinafter referred to as the EAS Plan, is designed to guide broadcasters and all other EAS participants to determine monitoring assignments, EAS codes, guidance for message originators and any other elements of the EAS which are unique to this state. The EAS Plan was prepared by the Rhode Island Interoperable Communications Committee (ICC) in cooperation with the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency; the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission; the National Weather Service (Taunton, MA); State and local officials; the Rhode Island Broadcasters Association;