The purpose of the HazCollect system is to eliminate potential communications delays or errors due to manual re-keying. Valid NWEMs transmitted via HazCollect are entered directly into the NWS dissemination systems. (For further information, see Net Links below to access National Weather Service Instruction 10-1708: All-hazards Emergency Message Collection System.)
At the same time, EAS broadcast is requested. It is important to note that all NWEMs transmitted via HazCollect are intended for EAS broadcast. If you do not intend for your message to activate the EAS system, do not use HazCollect to send it. Instead, contact your local NWS office for alternate methods.
NWEM Pathway
The following describes the path of an NWEM transmitted via the HazCollect system:
The
message is composed at the sender's computer using NWEM authoring
software.
NWEM
authoring software is provided free of charge within DMIS Desktop Tools
to qualifying organizations (see Lesson 1.4).
- Other
third party authoring software may also be used.
- The NWEM
is transmitted over the Internet through the DM-OPEN Web services
system to the HazCollect server. (Access to DM-OPEN Web services is
described later in this chapter.)
- The
HazCollect server:
- Validates
the sender and the geographical area (county FIPS code) for which the
sender has been authorized. (Access to HazCollect is described later in
this chapter.)
- Reformats
the message to conform to NWS technical requirements.
- Does NOT
evaluate the appropriateness of the warning or the actual message
content. That remains the responsibility of the sender.
- Transmits
the message to the NWS dissemination systems, including NOAA Weather
Wire Service (NWWS), EMWIN , NOAAPORT, and NOAA Weather Radio All
Hazards (NWR), and for relay to the Emergency Alert System (EAS).
- The NWEM
is received by the NWS Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System
(AWIPS), where the text message is converted to voice for broadcast
over NWR and EAS.
- EAS
participants broadcast the NWEM over radio and television, in
accordance with locally-defined policies.
 Tip Since HazCollect relies on the Internet
for communication, revert to direct contact with your WFO for backup if
your Internet connection is disrupted. |
