In addition to completing this training course, further steps are required to obtain access to the HazCollect system:
Apply for a Collaborative Operating Group (COG)
Apply for a Disaster Management (DM) Collaborative Operating Group (COG) that represents your jurisdiction's emergency management organization, (e.g. region, county, city).
A DM COG is required whether or not you plan to use the DMIS Tools software. The COG ID serves as an addressing mechanism that enables your messages to be routed to the HazCollect server, and enables the HazCollect server to validate the sender as an authorized user.
- A COG may have already been established for your jurisdiction in the past. Your system administrator may know. If not, you may wish to apply for a COG now, if you have not already done so. This will allow time to process your application while you complete this training course.
- If a COG does not already exist for your jurisdiction, apply for a new DM COG using the online DM COG Registration Form (see link below). If you do not plan to use DMIS software, please so indicate in the remarks section of the form.
- You will receive notification via email when your COG has been established. If you are using third party software, you may need to notify your software provider of your COG ID. If you are using DMIS Tools, you will receive additional instructions to access and install the software.
Apply for HazCollect Authorization
- Once you have successfully completed this training, you may apply for HazCollect access using the online registration form (see link below). You must have a valid COG ID per above to apply.
- Receive confirmation via email when your application has been processed and your COG is registered on the HazCollect server.
Install and Configure Your NWEM Authoring Software
- At a minimum, you will need one workstation with Internet access. Follow your NWEM authoring software provider's instructions for installation.
- For multiple users, you or your system administrator will need to provide access for those individuals within your organization who will be internally authorized to transmit NWEMs.
- Refer your internal users to this training course, provide them with any internal policies and job aids, and provide training on using your NWEM authoring software. (Chapter 5 will provides further information and tools for effective implementation of HazCollect.)
You may wish to bookmark the links below for future use, when you are ready to continue the application process. Then check your knowledge via the self-assessment quiz on the next page.
