Emergency Preparedness Online,
Fifth Edition

A resource directory for emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and accessible communications

Emergency Preparedness Online Community Link

The following links provide information, interactive communication, and statistics to be utilized by anyone involved and/or interested in emergency preparedness. Further tools will be featured in the near future. Current resource information:

The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) is an open, flexible, non-proprietary data format used for collecting and distributing emergency alerts and public warnings over information networks and public alerting systems.

A web-based forum for members of the emergency preparedness 'community' to post their comments, suggestions, insights, project information, anything they wish to share with their colleagues.

Figures, surveys, and statistics concerning emergency preparedness will be posted as they become available. Current statistics are from a 2005 survey commissioned by the National Organization on Disability's Emergency Preparedness Initiative.

Information about upcoming events involving Emergency Preparedness for individuals with disabilities will be posted as it becomes available.

A. The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)

The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) is an open, non-proprietary XML-based data format for collecting and distributing emergency alerts and public warnings over information networks and public alerting systems. CAP allows a consistent warning message to be disseminated over many different alert systems at the same time, in order to increase warning effectiveness while simplifying the warning activation task for the appropriate officials. The CAP data structure is compatible with existing alert formats including the Emergency Alert System. The Common Alerting Protocol possesses added capabilities including:

• Flexible geographic targeting using latitude/longitude "boxes" and other geospatial representations in three dimensions;
• Multilingual and multi-audience messaging;
• Phased and delayed effective times and expirations;
• Enhanced message update and cancellation features;
• Template support for framing complete and effective warning messages;
• Digital encryption and signature capability; and,
• Facility for digital images, audio and video.

In November 2000 the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) issued a report on "Effective Disaster Warnings," which stated that "a standard method should be developed to collect and relay instantaneously and automatically all types of hazard warnings and reports locally, regionally and nationally for input into a wide variety of dissemination systems." In 2001 an international, independent group of over 120 emergency managers began specifying and prototyping the Common Alerting Protocol data structure based on the recommendations of the NSTC report. In 2002 that effort was adopted by the Partnership for Public Warning, a national public-private partnership of agencies, vendors and academic experts. In 2003 the Partnership for Public Warning sponsored CAP into the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) process for refinement and testing. In April 2004, CAP 1.0 was adopted as an OASIS standard. OASIS is a not-for-profit, international consortium dedicated to the development, convergence and adoption of e-business standards. OASIS produces worldwide standards for security, web services, conformance, business transactions, supply chain, public sector, and interoperability within and between marketplaces. In October 2005 the OASIS Emergency Management Technical Committee adopted an updated CAP specification, the latest version, CAP 1.1. Among the list of public and private organizations that support or have implemented the Common Alerting Protocol are:

• AtHoc, Inc
  http://www.athoc.com/
• Blue292
  http://www.blue292.com/
• California Office of Emergency Services
  http://www.oes.ca.gov/
• Capital Wireless Integrated Network (CapWIN)
  http://www.capwin.org/
• Centers for Disease Control
  http://www.cdc.gov/phin/architecture/implementation_guides/index.html
• Comlabs, Inc.
  http://www.comlabs.com/
• Department of Homeland Security
  http://www.dhs.gov/
• Disaster Management Interoperability Services
  http://www.dmi-services.org/
• E Team
  http://www.eteam.com/
• GeoDecisions, Inc.
  http://www.geodecisions.com/
• Hormann America, Inc.
  http://www.hormannamerica.com
• IEM, Inc.
  http://www.ieminc.com/default.htm
• Los Angeles Fire Department
  http://www.lafd.org/
• mobileFoundations
  http://www.mobilefoundations.com/
• MyStateUSA
  http://www.mystateusa.com/
• National Weather Service
  http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
• NDS, Ltd.
  http://www.nds.com/
• New Technology Management Incorporated
  http://www.ntmi.com/
• Oregon RAINS
  http://www.rainsnet.org/
• Roaming Messenger
  http://www.roamingmessenger.com/
• Ship Analytics
  http://www.shipanalytics.com/
• SpectraRep Inc.
  http://www.spectrarep.com/
• United States Geological Survey
  http://www.usgs.gov/
• Virginia Department of Transportation
  http://www.virginiadot.org/
• Wallace Wireless
  http://wallacewireless.com/index.html
• Warning Systems, Inc. http://www.warningsystems.com/

B. Emergency Preparedness Online Community Link

This page has been reserved for your input. We invite all comments and ideas on how we might improve this new website. Bridge Multimedia is interested in developing a forum by which ideas, contacts, and news can be exchanged by anyone involved with, or concerned about, emergency preparedness, particularly as it relates to those with individual requirements. We also ask that you keep us up to date on any accessible emergency alert news within your local area.

As we all know, national movements often begin at a 'grass roots' level. There are no small successes in furthering the cause of accessible emergency notification. Each tiny step is a major coup, and deserves recognition. Bridge Multimedia seeks information on all local initiatives, community groups, individual efforts, and state programs regarding emergency preparedness, in order that we might properly promote them. Commercial organizations, non-profit associations, even lone volunteers...if you are involved in any facet of emergency notification, please send us your information so that we might assist in disseminating it. Bridge believes it is important that people in the emergency preparedness community are kept aware of the efforts and achievements of their contemporaries.

Within the next few months Bridge will be reviewing all of the input that we receive. We will post all appropriate information and strive to keep that data as up to date as possible. If you are interested in having your information included in our listings please e-mail us with:

• The name of your organization/business/program
• Background Information
• Short history
• Any relevant statistics
• Contact Information
• Address or website

Revisit this address in the months ahead to view the results of your feedback. With your help, we will make available an exciting new resource for the perpetuation of emergency preparedness information and communication.

C. Emergency Preparedness and Communication Statistics

A 2005 Harris Poll, commissioned by the National Organization on Disability, reveals that although emergency preparedness in the workplace is on the decline, personal preparedness for people with disabilities is on the rise. Findings include:

• 40% of people with disabilities report some level of anxiety over recently occurring natural disasters.
• 47% of people with disabilities have made plans to safely evacuate their homes, up from 39% in 2003.
• 54% of people with disabilities know whom to contact about emergency plans in their community, up from 44% in 2003.
• 57% of people with disabilities indicate that they have a workplace plan, down from 68% in 2003.
• 59% of people with disabilities rank non-profit organizations as doing an excellent or pretty good job in preparing them for disasters and other emergencies.
• 59% of people with disabilities believe that local government is doing a fair or poor job at preparing them for disasters.
• 61% of people with disabilities felt corporations were doing a fair or poor job of preparing the disabled population for disaster response.
• 63% of people with disabilities believe that the federal government is doing a fair or poor job at preparing them for disasters.

D. Emergency Preparedness Events, 2008

September 13th, 2008 East Carbon, Utah

Emergency Preparedness, Awareness and Response Fair

This event will offer free workshops and classes open to the public, demonstrated and taught by professionals in their area of expertise. A few of the workshops include: classes on properly using fire extinguishers, building an emergency preparedness kit, CPR and First Aid. Hosted by the Community Development Coalition, ABC Learning Center, GIFT, and various others.

Contact Tina Urbanik for more information: tinaurbanik@hotmail.com or 435-650-7130

September 18th, 2008 Yonkers, New York

Saint John’s Riverside Hospital Preparedness Day

Saint Johns Riverside Hospital and the Yonkers Office of Emergency Management will set up tables and provide free information on how to prepare for a disaster, and the steps that the hospital has taken to prepare. Hands on demonstrations on how to use a Fire Extinguisher will be performed throughout the day.

For more information please visit http://www.cityofyonkers.com/index.aspx?recordid=2095&page=23

September 23rd, 2008 Vancouver, BC, Canada

Emergency Preparedness and Response Seminar

An effective emergency management plan will promote the safety of workers, responders and the public; reduce the potential for costly damage; reduce environmental and other impacts; assist emergency staff in initiating corrective actions; reduce recovery time and associated costs; and ensure employee and public confidence in your organization's ability to manage crisis. This seminar will guide participants through the requirements for an effective plan.

For more information please visit https://learningcentre.csa.ca/lc_site/be.asp?gid=50009573&tid=50009639

September 25th, 2008 Dayton, Ohio

Sinclair College Annual Safety Awareness Expo

The Sinclair Police Department, Miami Valley Crime Prevention Association, and other safety-related agencies from Ohio will provide information and demonstrations to community members, as well as staff, students and visitors of Sinclair Community College.

For more information please visit http://www.sinclair.edu/about/offices/police/scasae/

September 26th, 2008. Bethlehem, PA

Northampton County National Preparedness Month Fair

Hosted by the City of Bethlehem Health Bureau and Northampton County Emergency Management Services, the fair is an opportunity to meet local first responders, sign up for volunteer opportunities, and take part in interactive educational presentations on emergency preparedness.

For more information please contact Julie Zumas at jzumas@bethlehem-pa.gov

October 1st, 2008 Anaheim, CA

24th Annual Disaster Preparedness Academy

The mission of this event is to provide information to the community regarding preparedness planning, mitigation, response skills and recovery operations. This public-private collaboration is essential for emergency/disaster preparedness and business continuity.

For more information please visit http://www.oc-redcross.org/show.aspx?mi=4614#General

November 15-20th 2008 Kansas City, Kansas

IAEM 56th Annual Conference 2008

The IAEM Annual Conference provides a forum for current trends and topics, information about the latest tools and technology in emergency management and homeland security, and advances IAEM committee work. Sessions encourage stakeholders at all levels of government, the private sector, public health and related professions to exchange ideas on collaborating to protect lives and property from disaster.

For more information please visit http://www.iaem.com/events/annual/intro.htm