As noted earlier, emergency messages in the Other Emergency Messages category are used for events that by themselves do not pose an imminent, significant threat. However, the event could escalate, contribute to other more serious events, or disrupt critical public safety services.
General Guidance
Within emergency management practice, emergency operations plans usually devote an Annex to "Warnings and Alerts." The previous lessons discussed warnings; NWEMs in the Other Emergency Messages category may be thought of as corresponding to alerts.
An alert puts the public on notice of a potentially hazardous situation, and may provide specific or general instructions.
- Should the situation escalate and become a more well defined hazard to a geographic area, a subsequent warning may be warranted.
- Although the Civil Emergency Message (CEM) has been classified in the Other Emergency Messages category for the purposes of this course, it is somewhat unique. As previously pointed out, if the new codes are not implemented in your local area yet, the CEM (along with EVI) remains your primary warning option, and retains its priority status within the NWS AWIPS system.
Other Emergency Messages
Since all NWEMs sent via HazCollect are intended for EAS broadcast (in addition to NOAA Weather Radio), consider carefully whether the emergency situation warrants interruption of television and radio programming. Evaluate other available tools for distributing the alert.
The following are general descriptions of four of the NWEMs available in the Other Emergency Messages category:
Since all NWEMs sent via HazCollect are intended for EAS broadcast (in addition to NOAA Weather Radio), consider carefully whether the emergency situation warrants interruption of television and radio programming. Evaluate other available tools for distributing the alert.
The following are general descriptions of four of the NWEMs available in the Other Emergency Messages category:
- Child Abduction Emergency (CAE)
Description: An emergency message, based on established criteria, about a missing child believed to be abducted, (more commonly known as an Amber Alert).
- Authorities and procedures for issuing the Child Abduction Emergency notifications are defined in state or regional Amber Alert Plans.
- Civil Emergency Message (CEM)
Description: An emergency message relating to a potential hazard to public safety and/or property, generally corresponding to the criteria for the Civil Danger Warning, but the threat may be less well defined.
- An example of an appropriate use of the Civil Emergency Message may be to alert the public to high watchfulness for terrorist activity, if based on specific, credible intelligence.
- An incident involving a known theft or loss of a radiological source may also be an example of an appropriate use.
- Local Area Emergency (LAE)
Description: An emergency message relating to any other type of emergency situation with potential public safety impact for a community.
- Examples may include disruptions in essential utilities or infrastructure, public health emergencies, or other potentially hazardous conditions.
- A Local Area Emergency may be issued as a result of weather related conditions that has had cascading effects impacting essential services.
- 911 Telephone Outage Emergency (TOE)
Description: An emergency message that provides notice of a state or local 911 network outage, defined by geographic area or telephone exchange.
- Alternative phone numbers through which to reach 911, dispatch, or emergency services personnel may be included in the accompanying instruction.
The selection of the Child Abduction Emergency or 911 Telephone Outage Emergency is relatively straightforward. The distinction between Civil Emergency Message and Local Area Emergency is less well defined. The selection is a primarily a matter of judgement based on the circumstances at hand.
- You may wish to consider whether the Civil Emergency Message or Civil Danger Warning could create excessive concern among that part of the public old enough to associate the term 'civil' with the Cold War Era, 'Civil Defense' purpose of the original Emergency Broadcast System. Local Area Emergency may represent a more emotionally neutral option.
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