NWS Dissemination Systems
The National Weather Service (NWS) is the only organization authorized by the federal government to issue weather warnings. Over the years, the NWS has developed a sophisticated dissemination system, including NOAA Weather Radio and other Internet and satellite-based systems. In addition, weather warnings activate the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and are broadcast** over radio and television.
It was recognized some time ago that the NWS system could be utilized to build an 'All-Hazards' warning system, to provide authorized officials the capability to alert the public to emergency situations arising from hazards other than those related to weather. The term 'Non-weather Emergency Message' (NWEM) collectively refers to these types of public warning messages.
Before HazCollect
Prior to the HazCollect system, state or local jurisdictions that needed to quickly alert the public to non-weather emergencies had three options, which will remain in effect for the foreseeable future --
Compose and send an NWEM directly to a local Weather Forecast Office (WFO) via fax, email, telephone, or other direct means of contact. The disadvantage of this method is:
the message must be re-keyed into the NWS system, introducing the potential for transcription errors and delay.
- Compose and send a warning message in a similar manner to the EAS Local Primary station designated in a state or local EAS plan, for relay and broadcast over radio and television. The disadvantage of this method is:
- the message must be re-keyed into the EAS system, introducing the potential for transcription errors and delay;
- broadcast of locally originated warnings are currently optional and at the discretion of the broadcaster; and
- messages transmitted directly to the EAS system do not enter the NWS system. Therefore, these messages will not be broadcast over NOAA Weather Radio.
- Compose an EAS message via EAS encoder and transmit via radio or telephone. The disadvantage of this method is:
- although the need to re-key the message is eliminated, many jurisdictions do not have access to endec equipment; and,
- messages generated in this manner do not enter the NWS dissemination system.
**Throughout this course, wherever the term 'broadcast' or 'broadcaster' is used in relation to the Emergency Alert System, other EAS participants are also implied, including cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) providers and, direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service providers .
