Disaster Alert Systems and Services

This section of our technical library presents articles written about Emergency Alert Systems and Disaster Recovery definitions, terms and related information.

The 911Broadcast emergency notification and alert service can deliver a large number of phone calls using a network of phone systems employing digital phone lines simultaneously. Should a disaster such as a snow storm, wild fire or flood hit your area, 911Broadcast systems can alert your community quickly providing specific instructions if an evacuation is required.

This service is available using our emergency broadcasting systems. If a dangerous chemical spill occurs in your community, you can target specific areas to call. If a severe snow storm hits your area, your community can be notified of school closings or event cancellations.

Contact DSC Today for a FREE analysis and quote and to learn more about our emergency notification systems and services.

• In general, snow emergency declarations are limited to assisting state, county and local governments and eligible private non-profits for 75 percent of the costs of equipment use, snow removal, personnel overtime, contractors and other costs for emergency protective measures related to the emergency response.
  
  
• Federal assistance is supplementary and is provided only when an event is of such severity and magnitude that response exceeds state and local capabilities.
  
  
• In most cases, a snow emergency declaration covers a continuous 48-hour period, allowing eligible applicants to address their most critical emergency needs. Jurisdictions applying for assistance may choose the 48-hour period for snow removal during which they needed the most help.
  
  
• Because of the severity of the March 17-20 storms in Colorado, an additional 24 hours are being added for a total of 72 continuous hours of eligible coverage.
  
  
• Snow emergency declarations do not include assistance to individuals. This is reserved for disasters of a larger magnitude.

The Difference Between a Major Disaster Declaration and a Snow Emergency Declaration

When a disaster is severe enough to warrant a federal disaster declaration, assistance programs generally fall into two categories: Public Assistance (PA), which reimburses state and local governments, as well as some qualified private/non-profits, for a percentage of the cost to repair, restore, reconstruct or replace public facilities or infrastructure damaged or destroyed by the disaster; and Individual Assistance (IA), which is designed to help uninsured or underinsured individuals, families and businesses begin the recovery process.

• PA and IA declarations are reserved for disasters of such a magnitude that they go beyond the resources and capability of state and local governments to manage and effective response and meet serious needs.
  
  
• Snow emergency declarations are generally made in response to events not requiring extensive rebuilding of public facilities of infrastructure.
  
  
• Damages that occur during a major snow event are often covered by private insurance agencies.

• The governor of the affected state makes a request for assistance through the regional FEMA office.
  
  
• State and federal officials conduct a preliminary damage assessment to estimate the extent of the disaster and its impact on individuals, public facilities and infrastructure.
  
  
• This information must show that the disaster is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and local governments, and that federal assistance is necessary.
  
  
• The governor’s request goes to the President for approval. Once the President approves the disaster or emergency declaration, specific federal programs are activated appropriate to the needs of response and recovery efforts.

Severe Weather Warnings And Alerts Phone Service

Should a severe weather condition occur in your area, our phone services can help warn your community. With our emergency notification phone service, you can broadcast warning messages to thousands of households in your community, warning of catastrophic disasters including severe weather and storms.

Messages can be simultaneously delivered in just minutes using our network of phone systems and services. Pre-recorded warning messages can be played giving households information regarding the severe weather location and whether a community evacuation is planned or necessary. You can send a broadcast warning to specific neighborhoods or communities in the event of a severe weather storm and provide priority delivery of these messages to those nearest the severe weather disturbance. Multiple messages can be delivered to different members of the community based upon proximity to the weather alert. Calls can be directed to operators that are standing by to handle special individual emergencies. Messages can also be broadcast seeking volunteers or special assistance from emergency personnel.

Other applications include warning residents when the danger of severe weather conditions is at a high level. Travel and activity restrictions can likewise be broadcast using this service.

Severe weather warning messages sent to households in this fashion can be simple warnings with specific or general instructions. If the community needs feedback from the call, an interactive response can be programmed into the message allowing the person to either acknowledge the call or to contact someone. Messages can vary based upon proximity to the event, with different degrees of broadcast warning and instructions.

To learn more about our severe weather and emergency response / disaster recovery phone service, please visit our Emergency Broadcast System web page.

Contact DSC Today for a FREE analysis and quote and to learn more about our emergency notification systems and services.