Now that the decision has been made to issue a warning, the work of composing begins. This lesson presents some considerations for composition of the description element of the NWEM. The approach taken follows the journalism model -- Who? What? When? Where?
Who? relates to both the source of the message and the intended receivers of the message.
The NWEM should contain an opening statement as to the source of the message.
Consider whether identifying a specific official or department would have more impact on the credibility of the warning than just the name of the jurisdiction. The purpose would be to facilitate the believing step in the response process described earlier in this chapter.
- Refer to your Job Aid 1, for the identity of a cognizant individual based on the type of NWEM being issued. For example, a Chief of Police might serve as a credible source for a Law Enforcement Warning. A Public Health Official may have more credibility for a Radiological Hazard Warning.
- Consider the personal characteristics of the individual -- familiarity, official source, personal and professional credibility.
- The NWEM should have a statement indicating who the warning is for.
- The purpose of this statement is to assist in the personalizing step of the response process.
- This may be a general statement such as "PERSONS LIVING ... WORKING ... OR TRAVELING IN THE VICINITY OF..."
- What? refers to the description of the hazardous event.
- The NWEM should have a statement that briefly describes the hazardous event.
- Given the EAS constraints on message length, the description cannot be too detailed, yet must be specific enough to enhance the understanding step and minimize confirming activity in the response process.
- More detail may be required to explain an unfamiliar event vs. a familiar one. For example, in an area where there is a yearly wildfire hazard, less detail may be needed about the nature of the threat. Conversely, in most communities, there is little experience with a Radiological Hazard Warning, and more detail may be needed.
- Characterize the level of certainty and potential severity as accurately and comprehensibly as possible.
- When? relates to both the effective time of the warning as well as the actual or expected time of the onset of the hazard. Including this information enhances understanding.
- The NWEM should include a statement as to the beginning and ending effective times of the warning. (This may or may not coincide with the NWS valid times.) An example might be, "EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND EXTENDING UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING..."
- The NWEM should include a statement that the hazard event either has occurred, or the time when it is expected to occur.
- Where? relates to the location of the hazard event and the geographic area impacted. Including this information enhances the personalizing step in the response process, as well as understanding.
- The NWEM should have a statement that describes the geographical area that is expected to be at risk from the hazardous event.
- In describing location, consider the needs of visitors unfamiliar with local street names or pre-designated zones, especially in communities with a high level of tourism.
Check your knowledge via the self-assessment quiz on the next page.