This lesson describes the NWS non-weather products in the Hazard Specific Warnings category. At times, the selection of product will be straightforward; at other times with a complex event, the selection may be more difficult. Finally, where both a specific hazard AND specific instruction are important, which one will you choose?
General Guidance
A best practice in communications is to highlight the most important information first. Using this precept as a guide:
Do not issue multiple, simultaneous warnings with essentially the same information. This may be confusing to the public and may also present difficulties for EAS broadcasters.
- Decide which is the most important information you are trying to convey, and what your public will understand and respond to based on their previous experience with similar events.
- It may also be appropriate under certain circumstances to use a Hazard Specific Warning as an initial alert for a broader geographic area, and subsequently issue an Instruction Specific Warning for a targeted location when the area threatened becomes more well defined.
- Finally, it will be a matter of local judgement as to which NWEM type is most appropriate to use, depending on the situation at hand.
Hazard Specific Warnings
Many of the non-weather hazard specific warning products are fairly apparent in meaning, such as Fire Warning, Volcano Warning, etc. Others are less well defined, such as the Civil Danger Warning and Law Enforcement Warning.
The precise meanings and application of the EAS event codes are not defined in the FCC's Part 11 EAS rules. They may be defined in your State or Local EAS Plan, and if so, should be used for guidance. All warnings should include an appropriate instruction to the public, discussed more fully in Chapter 4.
The following are general descriptions:
Many of the non-weather hazard specific warning products are fairly apparent in meaning, such as Fire Warning, Volcano Warning, etc. Others are less well defined, such as the Civil Danger Warning and Law Enforcement Warning.
The precise meanings and application of the EAS event codes are not defined in the FCC's Part 11 EAS rules. They may be defined in your State or Local EAS Plan, and if so, should be used for guidance. All warnings should include an appropriate instruction to the public, discussed more fully in Chapter 4.
The following are general descriptions:
- Civil Danger Warning (CDW)
Description: A warning of an event that presents a danger to a large portion of the community, where the hazard is one not covered by the other warning products and normally not associated with a natural hazard.
- A terrorist or military attack, either imminent or in progress, would be an example of an appropriate use of CDW.
- A public health emergency, if it rises to the level of an imminent threat, would be be an example of an appropriate use of CDW. (However, precautionary boil water notices may be more appropriately handled with an Emegency Notification.)
- Imminent collapse of transportation infrastructure would be be an example of an appropriate use of CDW.
- Fire Warning (FRW)
Description: A warning of a spreading wildfire or structural fire that threatens a populated area.
- Notification of the implementation of a countywide burn ban does not rise to the level of a Fire Warning, and may be handled more appropriately through other methods.
- The National Weather Service issues fire weather forecasts and related statements, and those products are considered weather-related.
- Hazardous Material Warning (HMW)
Description: A warning of the release of a non-radioactive hazardous material.
- Examples of non-radioactive hazardous materials are toxic chemicals, flammable gases, or biological agents.
- The Radiological Hazard Warning (RHW) is used for the release of radioactive hazardous material.
- Law Enforcement Warning (LEW)
Description: A warning of an event involving criminal activity that is an imminent threat to public safety.
- Examples may include bombing, riot, escaped prisoners, active shooter, etc.
- Kidnapping, although criminal, is handled through the Child Abduction Emergency (CAE) product.
- Note: The warning type does not relate to the source of the warning, but to the type of threat. For example, in a small county, a local sheriff may be the source for all warnings. Even though a sheriff is a member of law enforcement, he should use the appropriate NWEM based on the hazard involved in the event, not the LEW. Conversely, an emergency manager may be authorized to issue all warnings for a jurisdiction, and may use the Law Enforcement Warning if warranted by the situation.
Check your knowledge via the self-assessment quiz on the next page.