In our many years in the alerts and notifications field, we don't recall a year when there's been so much movement, transition, and even confusion. The whole topic is changing. So, here's our list of Top Ten Developments in Alerts and Notifications in 2009:
1. System-of-Systems Momentum: To us, the most significant development of 2009 was momentum developing over a system-of-systems approach for alerts and notifications. During the year, it became more clear that end-users and industry are waking up to the fact that no single approach will do the job. There are many reasons for the realization. One of the most important is the evolution of individual communication preferences. There are clear signs of the momentum. In fact, no fewer than five of the items on our Top Ten list support the system-of-systems concept. Other signs include growth of the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) and announcement of technology partnerships by various vendors. (See "Showcasing Alerting Standards", "Meshing Alerts & Notifications with Other Solutions" and "Interesting Emergency Notification Partnerships Developing".) When we release our 2010 predictions in a few days, you'll see more on the system-of-systems topic.
2. CMAS Clock Starts Ticking: The timetable officially began this year for building a national cellular alerting system. FEMA and the FCC unveiled technical specifications for part of the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS). (See "CMAS Specifications Released", "Another Step for National Cell Alerting", and "National Cell Alerting Moves Forward".) If this doesn't seem important to you, then imagine this: a federal program through which most cell phones will receive emergency messages depending on their current location. Even people from outside the area who happen to be passing through could receive the messages. The system could be activated by local public safety officials for imminent threats or Amber Alerts. (The President could also use the system.) With the technical specifications approved in December, cell carriers now have 28 months to re-tool their infrastructure and make mobile devices support CMAS. This is a volunteer program for cell carriers, but most of them have already said they'll participate. Otherwise, new laws would give subscribers an "out" from their cellular service contracts.
3. IPAWS Criticized: The federal government's Intergrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) was criticized by Congress's General Accounting Office (GAO). (See "GAO Testimony Blasts IPAWS Program for Lack of Movement & Results"). The GAO audit cited weaknesses of the Emergency Alert System (EAS), lackluster pilot results, and poor collaboration. New IPAWS management testified in a Congressional hearing, accepted the criticsm, and pointed to signs of progress.
4. Social Media Buzz Spreads: Emergency management professionals throughout the country started talking about whether they should, and how they can, use social media for emergency alerting. Some have taken the plunge. Denver, for example. Twitter, MySpace, and YouTube are all used. (See "Emergency Notification & Social Media"). A "Random Hacks of Kindness" event was held, and keynoted by the new FEMA Director. It was to bring together disaster relief and software engineers to work toward dealing with social media and emergency response issues, including alerting. (See "Random Hacks of Kindness"). The UN Foundation recently released a report on social media and emergency response, including for alerting. (See "Report Released: New Technologies in Emergencies and Conflicts"). Heck, we even did a post on using electronic games to issue emergency alerts. (See "Emergency Alerts Through Gaming Consoles").
5. Fire Code Redefines Mass Notification: The fire code is omnipotent in the US. However, it has been only loosely associated with what emergency management and alerts/notifications industry people know as emergency and mass notification. That changed in 2009. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) approved changes in the fire code that broaden the definition beyond in-building alerts to "wide area" and "distributed recipient notification"...in other words to notify those on networks that originate from the building and those in the surrounding community. (See "Mass Notification Redefined").
6. Patent Lawsuits Filed: Two companies sued competitors over use of notification/alerting patents. Techradium sued Twitter, then filed suit against a number of other companies involved in notifications and alerts. (See "Notification Company Sues Twitter" and "Notification Companies Sued") Twenty-First Century Communications (TFCC) vollied back saying "It appears that Techradium, a small participant in the crowded field of mass notifications, is trying to use litigation to leverage its competitors into licensing its narrow and limited patents". (See "Twenty First Century Communications Responds to Techradium Patent Suit"). Later in the year, Cooper Notification, Inc filed patent infringement lawsuits against Twitter and Rave Wireless.
7. San Diego Notification Study Released: While buzz spread over new modes of alerting and notifying, a scientific study conducted for FEMA by Oak Ridge National Laboratories pointed back to a traditional mode of notification. (See "New Study Gives Telephone Notifications High Marks") The report showed that most residents within the path of approaching 2007 wildfires in San Diego County received their initital notifications from automated telephone calling systems. The total percentage amounted to 47%. The next highest was a distant 7%. The study also showed that evacuees didn't leave their homes simply because of the telephone calls. Most waited for confirmation from television or personal acquaintances.
8. Large-Scale Systems Announced: Several states and large communities announced more aggressive notification and alerting programs. Connecticut announced a calling and text messaging program, accompanied by an aggressive roll-out campaign. (See "State Plans 'Major Kick Off' of Notification Program") Pennsylvania announced a text messaging program. (See "Another State Announces Statewide Notification Program") California conitinued to plug away on its more aggressive alerting program, despite money troubles. (See "Statewide Notification Plan Stifled By...Guess What") Los Angeles County announced a calling and texting notification program. (See "Nation's Largest County Tackles Notification") And, New York City released a Request for Proposal for a citywide notification program.
9. Complex Topic Becomes More Complex: Do a web search of "emergency notification" and you'll find well over a hundred vendors serving the field. Many claim to be leaders. Add to this evolving communications preferences, imminent threats, advancing technology, and demanding budgets and you've got still more confusion. In 2009, government organizations reached out for help navigating the maze. Several procurement actions were released seeking independent help. (See "Alerts and Notifications. Help!")
10. Alerts and Notifications Blog Launched: OK, this one is a bit self-serving. In 2009, Emergency Management magazine launched a web site to go along with its award-winning publications. We were asked to blog regularly on the topic of alerts and notifications. Considering our "activisim" (as one federal contractor called it) on the topic, we gladly accepted. We have been pleased, even surprised, at the response. Perhaps this is becoming a forum for an increasingly complex topic. We hope the blog will become more interactive. We encourage comments and suggestions. (Perhaps reaching that goal can be on our Top Ten List for 2010.)
Please, let us know what you think of the list. Did we miss anything? What did we include that you believe doesn't belong on the list? Meantime, look for our post beginning on New Years Day of our Top Ten Alerts & Notifications Predictions of 2010.
Happy Holidays, and best of wishes for a safe, happy and productive 2010.
All the best,
Rick and Lorin
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Another State Announces Statewide Notification Program
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has joined several other states by announcing a statewide alerting program. Called AlertPA, residents can sign up to receive messages via text, email, and pager. (Delivery through telephone calls is not an option currently offered by AlertPA.)
Governor Ed Rendell's press release said, "Emergency alerts include information on incidents involving toxic chemicals, nuclear power plants, failure of large dams and other urgent situations. Other types of alerts include weather, warnings, public health notifications, airport delays, consumer product recalls, prison notifications and more."
Other states offering comparable services are New York, Connecticut, California, and Montana.
The vendor proving the AlertPA system is Cooper Notification. Cooper recently filed patent lawsuits against Twitter, Rave Wireless, Inc. and Everbridge, Inc - all three companies with significant buzz in the notification space. The patent in question concerns use of multiple gateways for delivering messages.
All the best,
Rick
Governor Ed Rendell's press release said, "Emergency alerts include information on incidents involving toxic chemicals, nuclear power plants, failure of large dams and other urgent situations. Other types of alerts include weather, warnings, public health notifications, airport delays, consumer product recalls, prison notifications and more."
Other states offering comparable services are New York, Connecticut, California, and Montana.
The vendor proving the AlertPA system is Cooper Notification. Cooper recently filed patent lawsuits against Twitter, Rave Wireless, Inc. and Everbridge, Inc - all three companies with significant buzz in the notification space. The patent in question concerns use of multiple gateways for delivering messages.
All the best,
Rick
Friday, December 11, 2009
Next-Generation ENS Part III: Moving from Single-entity to Multi-jurisdictional Control
Emergency notification systems of the recent past were almost exclusively acquired and used by single agencies. Earlier in the decade, it was not uncommon to see Emergency Management using one system, Police or Fire using another, and Public Works using yet another. Typically, there was no attempt at collaboration between agencies (that’s putting it mildly). Even within the same department, different systems may have existed in separate locations.
Although this is still the situation in many municipalities, a growing trend is developing around breaking the traditional ENS boundaries. As such, next-generation systems will move from being single-entity controlled to highly-networked, multi-agency controlled.
Why the move?
First, since 9/11, interoperability has been the industry buzz word. The tragic lessons of that day taught us that communication silos are dangerous, both to the public and to first responders. While interoperability is still a term used most frequently in describing radio systems, the change in thinking surrounding this issue has spilled over into other areas including emergency notification. Walls are being broken down.
Second, the technology has changed. Ten years ago, systems were isolated, hardware-based solutions, residing inside operations centers, and typically attached to dedicated telephone lines. While there are still plenty of these around (and arguments can still be made for taking this approach), the movement today is toward an Internet-based, software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, with no software or hardware residing in the EOC at all. In the future, such a model will be pervasive. And, emergency notification will be but one configurable "module" within a wider, more robust online incident management suite.
Third, funding mechanisms are changing. Years ago, grant restrictions were set up to encourage capital expenditures and hardware acquisition, and to discourage monthly "service fees." As desired solution delivery is changing to a SaaS approach, so are certain funding limitations.
So what does this mean for emergency managers?
First, the breadth and depth of communications across boundaries will continue to grow. A coordinated response is clearly best, and IP-based tools (including emergency notification) that aid in this will mature. Learning to use these effectively and collaboratively will be of high priority.
Second, operating policies will become more complex. Determining who has the authority and responsibility for launching a public alert through a multi-jurisdictional system can be tricky in the heat of battle. Policies and procedures must be clearly outlined, and users across differing cultures and geographic areas must be trained to understand them. Also, solution functions such as security, administrative management and reporting see heightened importance.
Third, multi-jurisdictional funding arrangements will become more common-place (and more complex). When multiple agencies are tapping a central resource, the question of proper and equitable funding always arises. Inter-agency deals will need to be crafted to allow for cost sharing across disparate departments.
While the move to a more connected, multi-jurisdictional approach to notification is not without its challenges, the benefits appear to outweigh the problems. NG ENS will help facilitate a more integrated and interoperable approach to notifying the public and first responders.
What do you think? Do you know of success stories relating to multi-jurisdictional deployments of ENS? Let us know. We'd love to hear from you.
All the best,
-Lorin
To receive a comprehensive Galain Solutions white paper: "Notifications Alerts & Warnings, The Next Generation" go to http://galainsolutions.com/resources.html.
Galain Solutions, LLC
www.galainsolutions.com
Although this is still the situation in many municipalities, a growing trend is developing around breaking the traditional ENS boundaries. As such, next-generation systems will move from being single-entity controlled to highly-networked, multi-agency controlled.
Why the move?
First, since 9/11, interoperability has been the industry buzz word. The tragic lessons of that day taught us that communication silos are dangerous, both to the public and to first responders. While interoperability is still a term used most frequently in describing radio systems, the change in thinking surrounding this issue has spilled over into other areas including emergency notification. Walls are being broken down.
Second, the technology has changed. Ten years ago, systems were isolated, hardware-based solutions, residing inside operations centers, and typically attached to dedicated telephone lines. While there are still plenty of these around (and arguments can still be made for taking this approach), the movement today is toward an Internet-based, software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, with no software or hardware residing in the EOC at all. In the future, such a model will be pervasive. And, emergency notification will be but one configurable "module" within a wider, more robust online incident management suite.
Third, funding mechanisms are changing. Years ago, grant restrictions were set up to encourage capital expenditures and hardware acquisition, and to discourage monthly "service fees." As desired solution delivery is changing to a SaaS approach, so are certain funding limitations.
So what does this mean for emergency managers?
First, the breadth and depth of communications across boundaries will continue to grow. A coordinated response is clearly best, and IP-based tools (including emergency notification) that aid in this will mature. Learning to use these effectively and collaboratively will be of high priority.
Second, operating policies will become more complex. Determining who has the authority and responsibility for launching a public alert through a multi-jurisdictional system can be tricky in the heat of battle. Policies and procedures must be clearly outlined, and users across differing cultures and geographic areas must be trained to understand them. Also, solution functions such as security, administrative management and reporting see heightened importance.
Third, multi-jurisdictional funding arrangements will become more common-place (and more complex). When multiple agencies are tapping a central resource, the question of proper and equitable funding always arises. Inter-agency deals will need to be crafted to allow for cost sharing across disparate departments.
While the move to a more connected, multi-jurisdictional approach to notification is not without its challenges, the benefits appear to outweigh the problems. NG ENS will help facilitate a more integrated and interoperable approach to notifying the public and first responders.
What do you think? Do you know of success stories relating to multi-jurisdictional deployments of ENS? Let us know. We'd love to hear from you.
All the best,
-Lorin
To receive a comprehensive Galain Solutions white paper: "Notifications Alerts & Warnings, The Next Generation" go to http://galainsolutions.com/resources.html.
Galain Solutions, LLC
www.galainsolutions.com
Monday, December 7, 2009
CMAS Specifications Released
FEMA and the FCC today announced the adoption of design specifications for an interface that will enable wireless carriers to provide emergency notifications through cell phones and other mobile devices.
As discussed in our previous post, CMAS will allow Federal, state, and local governments the ability to send geographically-targeted text messages of up to 90 characters to citizens for Presidential alerts, imminent threats to life and property, and Amber Alerts. Participation by the cellular carriers is voluntary, though it appears as if the major players will participate.
Today marks the start of a mandated 28-month period for commercial mobile service providers to develop, test and deploy the system. According to the timeline, mobile alerts will be delivered to the public by 2012.
-Lorin
As discussed in our previous post, CMAS will allow Federal, state, and local governments the ability to send geographically-targeted text messages of up to 90 characters to citizens for Presidential alerts, imminent threats to life and property, and Amber Alerts. Participation by the cellular carriers is voluntary, though it appears as if the major players will participate.
Today marks the start of a mandated 28-month period for commercial mobile service providers to develop, test and deploy the system. According to the timeline, mobile alerts will be delivered to the public by 2012.
-Lorin
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Another Step for National Cell Alerting
FEMA is expected to announce soon approval of technical specifications for a national system for distributing alerts through cell phones. Approval of technical specs for the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) is an important step because it tells the cell companies how to build mobile devices and infrastructure to support the alerts.
Alerts would be issued for three purposes. Presidential Alerts would get top priority. Local and state officials could also issue alerts for "Imminent Threats" or Amber Alerts.
Details on local and state activation process and procedure haven't been worked out. We hope local and state emergency management officials will have a strong voice in development of the details. Rob Kenny, a spokesman for FEMA's partner in the project the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) told us, "We recognize and understand local and state concerns about need to work effectively, so will be working with localities to help make sure they have the tools they need notify rapidly through the system."
The cell companies, or Commercial Mobile Service (CMS) providers as they're called, are not required to participate in the program. But, the law creating CMAS makes participation enticing. CMS providers who don't take part will be faced with strict requirements for notifying subscribers of non-participation. Plus, those who don't take part would be forced to allow customers to break their service contracts. Cell companies don't like their customers breaking contracts (granted, an understatement)...so, most major cell providers plan to take part.
With pending announcement on approval of the technical specifications, the CMS providers can start evaluating what this means for them from a technical perspective. One of the forums for developing knowledge is a telephone seminar next week conducted by the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, the organization that represents CMS providers in rural areas. Key FEMA and FCC personnel are scheduled to participate.
CMAS and the process between now and anticipated launch in 2012 will become quite important for emergency management professionals. They'll certainly want to weigh in on the processes for actually operating CMAS, and could find themselves with an alternative approach for some of their alerts and warnings.
All the best,
Rick
Alerts would be issued for three purposes. Presidential Alerts would get top priority. Local and state officials could also issue alerts for "Imminent Threats" or Amber Alerts.
Details on local and state activation process and procedure haven't been worked out. We hope local and state emergency management officials will have a strong voice in development of the details. Rob Kenny, a spokesman for FEMA's partner in the project the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) told us, "We recognize and understand local and state concerns about need to work effectively, so will be working with localities to help make sure they have the tools they need notify rapidly through the system."
The cell companies, or Commercial Mobile Service (CMS) providers as they're called, are not required to participate in the program. But, the law creating CMAS makes participation enticing. CMS providers who don't take part will be faced with strict requirements for notifying subscribers of non-participation. Plus, those who don't take part would be forced to allow customers to break their service contracts. Cell companies don't like their customers breaking contracts (granted, an understatement)...so, most major cell providers plan to take part.
With pending announcement on approval of the technical specifications, the CMS providers can start evaluating what this means for them from a technical perspective. One of the forums for developing knowledge is a telephone seminar next week conducted by the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, the organization that represents CMS providers in rural areas. Key FEMA and FCC personnel are scheduled to participate.
CMAS and the process between now and anticipated launch in 2012 will become quite important for emergency management professionals. They'll certainly want to weigh in on the processes for actually operating CMAS, and could find themselves with an alternative approach for some of their alerts and warnings.
All the best,
Rick
Authenticating Public Alerts
Integrating notification practices with digital messaging (and other forms of social media) is receiving growing interest from emergency managers. However, a recent text-messaging scam highlights security and authentication problems associated with notifying the public through these means.
Officials in Nampa, Idaho are warning citizens about a text-messaging scam currently circulating in the area. Citizens receive an apparent "emergency notification" concerning their bank account, along with a callback number. When citizens call the number, they are solicited for detailed account information, or charged exorbitant fees for making the call itself.
It is not clear how criminals are obtaining cellular numbers to target residents, but they are apparently targeting specific banks--Mountain Gem Credit Union in this case.
The situation has implications for the alerts and warnings industry. Citizens face similar challenges in verifying whether or not an ENS message actually originated from public safety officials. It would not be difficult to imagine scammers or "hackers" mimicking a public warning for personal gain or for simple maliciousness.
We, as an industry, need to consider options for encryption, decryption and authentication of messages so the public can be certain information received is legitimate. A quick search of applications and patents show encryption solutions are available for email, SMS, SMS-CB and MMS-type messages (we'll talk more about the latter two message technologies in the future). We need integration with and further development of these applications.
As the "bad guys" get more sophisticated, so must our alerts and warnings methods. Security and authentication should be high on the list of concerns as technologies are pushed to their limits.
What do you think? What are you doing to secure and authenticate your public alerts? We'd love to hear from you.
All the best,
-Lorin
To receive a comprehensive white paper: "Notifications Alerts & Warnings, The Next Generation" go to http://galainsolutions.com/resources.html.
Officials in Nampa, Idaho are warning citizens about a text-messaging scam currently circulating in the area. Citizens receive an apparent "emergency notification" concerning their bank account, along with a callback number. When citizens call the number, they are solicited for detailed account information, or charged exorbitant fees for making the call itself.
It is not clear how criminals are obtaining cellular numbers to target residents, but they are apparently targeting specific banks--Mountain Gem Credit Union in this case.
The situation has implications for the alerts and warnings industry. Citizens face similar challenges in verifying whether or not an ENS message actually originated from public safety officials. It would not be difficult to imagine scammers or "hackers" mimicking a public warning for personal gain or for simple maliciousness.
We, as an industry, need to consider options for encryption, decryption and authentication of messages so the public can be certain information received is legitimate. A quick search of applications and patents show encryption solutions are available for email, SMS, SMS-CB and MMS-type messages (we'll talk more about the latter two message technologies in the future). We need integration with and further development of these applications.
As the "bad guys" get more sophisticated, so must our alerts and warnings methods. Security and authentication should be high on the list of concerns as technologies are pushed to their limits.
What do you think? What are you doing to secure and authenticate your public alerts? We'd love to hear from you.
All the best,
-Lorin
To receive a comprehensive white paper: "Notifications Alerts & Warnings, The Next Generation" go to http://galainsolutions.com/resources.html.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Leader Leadership Changes
An internet search for notification and alerting vendors produces well over a hundred companies. Clicking through the search results, you'll find an amazing number of these companies claiming to be leaders. Depending on how you define leadership, we suspect some are over-stated and some are justified.
If longevity and customer list count, Dialogic Communications Corporation (DCC) is one of those leaders, and DCC's management leadership is changing. Scott Alfieri has resigned as President of DCC. He's been President during a period of transition. The company was sold to PlantCML®, which then bought DCC competitor REVERSE 911®. DCC took over much of REVERSE 911® operations. Meantime, the PlantCML family was sold to EADS, the huge European company best known in the U.S. as owners of Airbus.
We've worked closely with Scott for years. (Full disclosure: Both Lorin and I worked for DCC and PlantCML.) We know him to be very energetic, even passionate - a forward-thinker and always up for a challenge. Scott told us, "This is a good time for me to go. I leave behind a stronger team with a new leader I have confidence in. I am in an exciting time of discussion and opportunity".
Scott will be replaced by Bob Freinberg, who's been named Vice-President and General Manager. This is not Bob's first stint with the company. He was at one time Vice President of Sales for PlantCML. We haven't worked as long or closely with Bob as we have with Scott, but we know Bob to be quite capable and professional.
What does all of this mean for the alerts and notifications industry? Well, hard to tell at this point. We do believe this is an industry in transition. The key players are changing, technology is advancing, government programs are evolving, standards are being created, and public safety customers are trying to figure it all out.
We're always interested in leadership changes in the industry. If you know of any that you think would be of interest to emergency management professionals and the industry, please let us know.
All the best,
Rick
If longevity and customer list count, Dialogic Communications Corporation (DCC) is one of those leaders, and DCC's management leadership is changing. Scott Alfieri has resigned as President of DCC. He's been President during a period of transition. The company was sold to PlantCML®, which then bought DCC competitor REVERSE 911®. DCC took over much of REVERSE 911® operations. Meantime, the PlantCML family was sold to EADS, the huge European company best known in the U.S. as owners of Airbus.
We've worked closely with Scott for years. (Full disclosure: Both Lorin and I worked for DCC and PlantCML.) We know him to be very energetic, even passionate - a forward-thinker and always up for a challenge. Scott told us, "This is a good time for me to go. I leave behind a stronger team with a new leader I have confidence in. I am in an exciting time of discussion and opportunity".
Scott will be replaced by Bob Freinberg, who's been named Vice-President and General Manager. This is not Bob's first stint with the company. He was at one time Vice President of Sales for PlantCML. We haven't worked as long or closely with Bob as we have with Scott, but we know Bob to be quite capable and professional.
What does all of this mean for the alerts and notifications industry? Well, hard to tell at this point. We do believe this is an industry in transition. The key players are changing, technology is advancing, government programs are evolving, standards are being created, and public safety customers are trying to figure it all out.
We're always interested in leadership changes in the industry. If you know of any that you think would be of interest to emergency management professionals and the industry, please let us know.
All the best,
Rick
Monday, November 30, 2009
Emergency Alerts through Gaming Consoles?
Will that Xbox you purchase this Christmas be the next tool for alerting the public? It will if New York State's CIO office has anything to do with it.
In an article on Information Week's website covering the Interop technology conference, Rico Singleton, New York's Deputy CIO, confirmed the state is in the testing phase for issuing alerts and warnings through networked gaming consoles such as Xbox Live, PlayStation Network and Wii Connect.
Currently, console manufacturers offer the ability for gamers to compete against one another over the Internet. Under the proposed plan, emergency alerts would be pushed across these networks, alerting game-playing citizens in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.
"The goal," said Singleton, "is to reach younger residents who spend more time on the Xbox, PlayStation, or Wii than with television or radio." He further stated the plan made sense, "considering the amount of time our youth spend on video games."
It is likely this alerting strategy will target more than young people. A study published in August of this year in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found 45% of the sample (552 adults in the Seattle-Tacoma areas) stated they played video games often. The most typical age for video game play was in the 35-54 age category. Although the sampled geographic area has one of the highest Internet adoption rates in the country, and the study did not examine networked video game play exclusively, the results are nevertheless interesting as they relate to issuing public alerts through gaming consoles.
Will this approach work? Only time will tell. Either way, it provides support for the pervasive and growing trend of "multi-modal" strategies related to emergency notifications.
All the best,
-Lorin
To receive a comprehensive white paper: "Notifications Alerts & Warnings, The Next Generation" go to http://galainsolutions.com/resources.html.
In an article on Information Week's website covering the Interop technology conference, Rico Singleton, New York's Deputy CIO, confirmed the state is in the testing phase for issuing alerts and warnings through networked gaming consoles such as Xbox Live, PlayStation Network and Wii Connect.
Currently, console manufacturers offer the ability for gamers to compete against one another over the Internet. Under the proposed plan, emergency alerts would be pushed across these networks, alerting game-playing citizens in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.
"The goal," said Singleton, "is to reach younger residents who spend more time on the Xbox, PlayStation, or Wii than with television or radio." He further stated the plan made sense, "considering the amount of time our youth spend on video games."
It is likely this alerting strategy will target more than young people. A study published in August of this year in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found 45% of the sample (552 adults in the Seattle-Tacoma areas) stated they played video games often. The most typical age for video game play was in the 35-54 age category. Although the sampled geographic area has one of the highest Internet adoption rates in the country, and the study did not examine networked video game play exclusively, the results are nevertheless interesting as they relate to issuing public alerts through gaming consoles.
Will this approach work? Only time will tell. Either way, it provides support for the pervasive and growing trend of "multi-modal" strategies related to emergency notifications.
All the best,
-Lorin
To receive a comprehensive white paper: "Notifications Alerts & Warnings, The Next Generation" go to http://galainsolutions.com/resources.html.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
NG ENS Part II: Moving from One-Way Alerts to Two-Way Situational Awareness
Our first post in a series on "Next Generation ENS" discussed the movement of systems from stand-alone, single-purpose applications to multi-faceted, highly integrated communications networks. We also provided some examples of how this is materializing. Continuing our series, we now look at a second, related next-generation innovation.
TREND #2: MOVING FROM ONE-WAY ALERTING TO TWO-WAY SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
Today, when one thinks of mass notification, we most often think of one-way “blasts” of information to the public. These typically entail simple messages, in various forms, pushed to individuals based on rules, geographic locations, etc.
This approach relies on the assumption that officials have a basic understanding of a situation and know what instructions to give. However, because officials often do not know what information to disseminate in the early stages of a crisis (they may be in the process of responding), they wisely refrain from releasing anything. A considerable amount of time may pass before responders gather sufficient information to issue an alert, even though earlier interaction with on-the-scene citizens might have been useful.
As solutions progress, we believe officials using next-generation technology will be able to 1) precisely target citizens through mobile devices in an affected area with an alert whether or not they've subscribed (more on this later), and 2) citizens will be able to respond to questions or provide useful situational feedback. This enhancement to current systems moves notification from a rigid, one-way method to a dynamic interactive form, providing for a more accurate common operating picture.
Such an approach is not without its challenges. Many questions must be answered before this could actually work. Questions like:
- How will we handle the sheer volume of “inputs” from the public?
- How will we analyze this feedback in real-time turning it into actionable intelligence?
- How will we know the information we’re receiving is legitimate and trustworthy?
- How will we secure such a system?
All good questions. Answers are uncertain at this point, but thinking outside traditional one-way notification lines will help spur innovation to benefit both first responders and the public.
What do you think? We'd love to hear from you regarding this or other ideas for next generation ENS.
Best regards,
Lorin
To receive a comprehensive white paper: "Notifications Alerts & Warnings, The Next Generation" go to http://galainsolutions.com/resources.html.
TREND #2: MOVING FROM ONE-WAY ALERTING TO TWO-WAY SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
Today, when one thinks of mass notification, we most often think of one-way “blasts” of information to the public. These typically entail simple messages, in various forms, pushed to individuals based on rules, geographic locations, etc.
This approach relies on the assumption that officials have a basic understanding of a situation and know what instructions to give. However, because officials often do not know what information to disseminate in the early stages of a crisis (they may be in the process of responding), they wisely refrain from releasing anything. A considerable amount of time may pass before responders gather sufficient information to issue an alert, even though earlier interaction with on-the-scene citizens might have been useful.
As solutions progress, we believe officials using next-generation technology will be able to 1) precisely target citizens through mobile devices in an affected area with an alert whether or not they've subscribed (more on this later), and 2) citizens will be able to respond to questions or provide useful situational feedback. This enhancement to current systems moves notification from a rigid, one-way method to a dynamic interactive form, providing for a more accurate common operating picture.
Such an approach is not without its challenges. Many questions must be answered before this could actually work. Questions like:
- How will we handle the sheer volume of “inputs” from the public?
- How will we analyze this feedback in real-time turning it into actionable intelligence?
- How will we know the information we’re receiving is legitimate and trustworthy?
- How will we secure such a system?
All good questions. Answers are uncertain at this point, but thinking outside traditional one-way notification lines will help spur innovation to benefit both first responders and the public.
What do you think? We'd love to hear from you regarding this or other ideas for next generation ENS.
Best regards,
Lorin
To receive a comprehensive white paper: "Notifications Alerts & Warnings, The Next Generation" go to http://galainsolutions.com/resources.html.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Statewide Notification Plan Stifled by...Guess What
The California state legislature took a strong stand a couple of years ago and directed state emergency management officials to form a public/private task force to create recommendations for a statewide alert and notification plan. The task force worked diligently, and developed a comprehensive (and, in our opinion, impressive) set of recommendations.
The problem: You guessed it...money. It would be natural for the recommendations to be followed by legislation that would provide funding to put the suggestions into effect. Imagine the response such a bill would get in a state where state employees are working (or more accurately, getting paid for) only four days a week because of the budget crunch. It wouldn't be pretty.
The state senator who introduced the legislation creating the task force says she was pleased with the work the task force did. However, no funding legislation appears imminent. Despite that, Senator Fran Pavley told us she and her legislative colleagues will work "to explore ways we can implement improvements to our emergency alert systems during these challenging times".
Meantime, state emergency management officials are trying to figure out how to put as many of the recommendations into effect as possible, without spending much money on it. California Emergency Management Agency (CALEMA) Deputy Director Kelly Huston told us CALEMA has taken the report and broken it down into areas of responsibility within the agency to begin expanding on the recommendations. A public/private work group is being consulted. (See our earlier post: Strong Emergency Notifications Recommendations in California.)
Yes, money is tight, but considering the amount of time it takes to get things done in government, we suggest that now is the perfect time to start pushing forward ambitious notifications, alerts and warnings initiatives. The economy will improve. Plus, we suspect (and hope) Congress and the feds will start putting more money into this critical area.
All the best,
Rick
The problem: You guessed it...money. It would be natural for the recommendations to be followed by legislation that would provide funding to put the suggestions into effect. Imagine the response such a bill would get in a state where state employees are working (or more accurately, getting paid for) only four days a week because of the budget crunch. It wouldn't be pretty.
The state senator who introduced the legislation creating the task force says she was pleased with the work the task force did. However, no funding legislation appears imminent. Despite that, Senator Fran Pavley told us she and her legislative colleagues will work "to explore ways we can implement improvements to our emergency alert systems during these challenging times".
Meantime, state emergency management officials are trying to figure out how to put as many of the recommendations into effect as possible, without spending much money on it. California Emergency Management Agency (CALEMA) Deputy Director Kelly Huston told us CALEMA has taken the report and broken it down into areas of responsibility within the agency to begin expanding on the recommendations. A public/private work group is being consulted. (See our earlier post: Strong Emergency Notifications Recommendations in California.)
Yes, money is tight, but considering the amount of time it takes to get things done in government, we suggest that now is the perfect time to start pushing forward ambitious notifications, alerts and warnings initiatives. The economy will improve. Plus, we suspect (and hope) Congress and the feds will start putting more money into this critical area.
All the best,
Rick
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Meshing Alerts and Warnings with Other Solutions
Hearing emergency management and other public safety officials complain about too many technology solutions to manage, vendors are becoming more aggressive about integrating notification and alerts solutions with other types of solutions. This, at the same time that vendors have shown more interest in bringing together different modes of alerting, warning, and notifying through partnerships and integration. (See our post,"Interesting Emergency Notification Partnerships Developing".)
Here are some of the cross-solution relationships on our radar - some through partnerships, others through internal solution integration.
Here are some of the cross-solution relationships on our radar - some through partnerships, others through internal solution integration.
- ESI WebEOC is integrated with several notification vendors - MIR3, Dialogic Communications Corporation and Cooper Notification.
- Twenty First Century Communications (TFCC) and Intrapoint announced emergency notification/incident management integration. TFCC also announced a partnership with Strategic BCP joining emergency notification and business continuity planning.
- MissionMode touts crisis management, incident management, and emergency notification in one tool.
- Cyperex offers an incident management/notification tool.
- BlackCoral has signed an agreement with DeskTop Alert to interface BlackCoral's information exchange, collaboration, and situational awareness to DeskTop's network-centric notification solutions. BlackCoral announced a similar arrangement with ERMS Corporation.
- Send Word Now recently announced it will offer incident management and business continuity solutions intergrated with notification services.
- Dialogic Communications Corporation (DCC) and GlobalAlertLink announced integration between DCC's notification solution and GlobalAlertLink's planning and incident management tools.
- PIER Systems offers document management, web content management and press release distribution in conjunction with its notification solutions.
- Everbridge announced a strategic partnership with NC4 for meshing situational awareness offerings with notification offerings. Everbridge also announced a partnership with AccuWeather, Inc. to link weather info to alerts. And, the company announced a relationship with SAFER Systems to integrate chemical incident management with notifications.
- Rave Wireless has made several announcements that exemplify relationships between notification and other solutions. Rave's alerting product has been integrated with a community or campus crime tip solution. Rave and Sungard announced a partnership to couple safety tools with campus administration tools. And, the Rave Guardian solution ties notification to panic button and follow-me safety solutions.
We don't purport this to be a complete list. And, I suspect we'll hear from vendors not included on the list (which we welcome). But, the list provides a snapshot of cross-solution integration of alert and warning technology to other solutions. We expect (and hope) more are on the way, and we encourage emergency management professionals to keep the pressure on for more emergency notification integration to enhance response.
All the best,
Rick
Friday, November 13, 2009
FM Radio Tuners In Mobile Devices: The Next Notification Trend?
Will FM radio tuners in mobile devices be the "next big thing" in alerting citizens? Last Friday, 60 members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed and delivered a letter* to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano requesting their respective agencies "explore the potential benefits for the American public of including FM radio tuners in mobile telephone handsets" as a component of a national alert system.
The letter points out that the Warning Alert and Response Network Act of 2006 pushes the wireless industry to develop a mobile device alert system--something FM radio tuners in mobile devices could help achieve. The letter states that globally, more than 700 million mobile devices have these chips installed, though very few of these are within the U.S.
Broadcasters such as Clear Channel Radio, Commonwealth Broadcasting Corp., and Entercom Communications Corp support the idea, presumably since the FM tuner chip provides another "distribution channel" for their media products.
The approach is not without its opponents, however. According to a post on www.TheHill.com, CTIA (the international association for the wireless industry) has thrown its support behind a text-messaging-based scheme. The industry believes requiring a mobile device to constantly monitor FM airwaves for alerts would greatly diminish battery life--an unacceptable outcome. They say the technology options have already been evaluated by an FCC advisory group, and text alerting was declared the winner.
It is difficult to know whether or not FM-based alert delivery will catch on. As with other notification methods, the approach offers both benefits and challenges. What is clear is the growing national interest and sense of urgency surrounding alerts and warnings, highlighted by House members' involvement this week. We believe discussions such as these, while sometimes controversial, are ultimately positive steps toward a more informed and safer America.
All the best,
Lorin
FYI on VENDORS
Last week at the IAEM conference, I met with two vendors utilizing FM frequencies for alerting--Ft. Lauderdale, FL-based Global Security Systems (AlertFM) and Melbourne, FL-based viaRadio. Both have portable and fixed devices for citizens or for mounting in buildings to generate audible and visual alerts. (A third vendor, Lewisville, TX-based American Messaging (RavenAlert) also offers portable and fixed devices for in-building notifications, but utilizes a commercial pager network). We would love to hear from other vendors in this space as well.
*Thanks to Congressman Phil Roe's Office (R-TN) for providing a copy of the Representative's letter to DHS and the FCC.
To receive a comprehensive white paper: "Notifications Alerts & Warnings, The Next Generation" click here and select "Notifications, Alerts & Warnings."
The letter points out that the Warning Alert and Response Network Act of 2006 pushes the wireless industry to develop a mobile device alert system--something FM radio tuners in mobile devices could help achieve. The letter states that globally, more than 700 million mobile devices have these chips installed, though very few of these are within the U.S.
Broadcasters such as Clear Channel Radio, Commonwealth Broadcasting Corp., and Entercom Communications Corp support the idea, presumably since the FM tuner chip provides another "distribution channel" for their media products.
The approach is not without its opponents, however. According to a post on www.TheHill.com, CTIA (the international association for the wireless industry) has thrown its support behind a text-messaging-based scheme. The industry believes requiring a mobile device to constantly monitor FM airwaves for alerts would greatly diminish battery life--an unacceptable outcome. They say the technology options have already been evaluated by an FCC advisory group, and text alerting was declared the winner.
It is difficult to know whether or not FM-based alert delivery will catch on. As with other notification methods, the approach offers both benefits and challenges. What is clear is the growing national interest and sense of urgency surrounding alerts and warnings, highlighted by House members' involvement this week. We believe discussions such as these, while sometimes controversial, are ultimately positive steps toward a more informed and safer America.
All the best,
Lorin
FYI on VENDORS
Last week at the IAEM conference, I met with two vendors utilizing FM frequencies for alerting--Ft. Lauderdale, FL-based Global Security Systems (AlertFM) and Melbourne, FL-based viaRadio. Both have portable and fixed devices for citizens or for mounting in buildings to generate audible and visual alerts. (A third vendor, Lewisville, TX-based American Messaging (RavenAlert) also offers portable and fixed devices for in-building notifications, but utilizes a commercial pager network). We would love to hear from other vendors in this space as well.
*Thanks to Congressman Phil Roe's Office (R-TN) for providing a copy of the Representative's letter to DHS and the FCC.
To receive a comprehensive white paper: "Notifications Alerts & Warnings, The Next Generation" click here and select "Notifications, Alerts & Warnings."
Friday, November 6, 2009
Only 50% of Citizens Are Aware of Alerts & Warnings
Only 50% of citizens are aware of community alert and warning methods according to a national Citizen Corp study. The study, presented this week at the International Association of Emergency Mangers (IAEM) conference, examined a number of crisis-related factors, including the preparedness level of people for emergencies of various types and the awareness of community response initiatives.
The findings related to notification illustrate there is much work remaining for public safety agencies in educating citizens on the tools and processes for getting the word out. While the question was not posed exclusively to citizens within jurisdictions having a traditional ENS (and therefore, we can't say 50% of people in communities with an emergency notification system DO NOT know about it), it nevertheless points to needs for local agencies to communicate their outreach methods whatever they may be.
This is a constant challenge. Many agencies struggle just to have enough budget dollars for system acquisitions or ongoing maintenance. Money for community awareness just isn't there. Often, however, large communication budgets are less necessary than focused efforts and a little creativity.
"Branding" a communication campaign and exploring relationships with civic organizations, religious institutions, local business, press, etc. may yield positive results for little or no cost. Agencies should remember it takes multiple exposures for people to absorb any message, so diverse communication channels should be deployed. Persistence is key (keep pushing the message out even if you're sick of hearing it internally: it's just beginning to work at that point).
Educated citizens can make the response to a critical situation safer and more effective. Efforts focused on increasing public awareness of notification methods will pay dividends in the long run.
All the best,
Lorin
The findings related to notification illustrate there is much work remaining for public safety agencies in educating citizens on the tools and processes for getting the word out. While the question was not posed exclusively to citizens within jurisdictions having a traditional ENS (and therefore, we can't say 50% of people in communities with an emergency notification system DO NOT know about it), it nevertheless points to needs for local agencies to communicate their outreach methods whatever they may be.
This is a constant challenge. Many agencies struggle just to have enough budget dollars for system acquisitions or ongoing maintenance. Money for community awareness just isn't there. Often, however, large communication budgets are less necessary than focused efforts and a little creativity.
"Branding" a communication campaign and exploring relationships with civic organizations, religious institutions, local business, press, etc. may yield positive results for little or no cost. Agencies should remember it takes multiple exposures for people to absorb any message, so diverse communication channels should be deployed. Persistence is key (keep pushing the message out even if you're sick of hearing it internally: it's just beginning to work at that point).
Educated citizens can make the response to a critical situation safer and more effective. Efforts focused on increasing public awareness of notification methods will pay dividends in the long run.
All the best,
Lorin
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
NG ENS: Next Generation Emergency Notification--Part I from IAEM
I write this post from the halls of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) conference. It has been my privilege today to speak with a variety of emergency management officials and vendors alike. Invariably, throughout these conversations, the question seems to arise, "Where is emergency notification headed?"
From our vantage point, we believe there exists in the industry today some interesting big-picture trends that will change the landscape of ENS over the next decade. As such, we begin a series on Next Generation Emergency Notification Systems (NG ENS). Over the coming weeks, we will look into our crystal ball and highlight a few of the market demands and unfolding technology innovations, hopefully providing both buyers and vendors with a few things to ponder.
TREND #1: MOVING FROM PROPRIETARY, STAND ALONE SYSTEMS TO HIGHLY INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS
Most emergency notification systems in use today are essentially stand-alone applications. In many cases, these are on-premise, proprietary systems, contributing yet another “black box” server to the emergency operations center’s stable of hardware. In growing numbers, systems can be accessed through the Internet or a secure network, with no on-premise hardware (Software as as Service, or SaaS). Yet, regardless of the deployment option, few are tightly integrated into other critical applications at both the data and interface levels. We believe such integration will be a hallmark of NG ENS in the future.
Emergency managers know well that notification is but one small element of managing the response to a critical event. Other key functions include:
· Information gathering and analysis (through multiple channels and/or disparate databases)
· Dispatching of active and/or off-duty resources, potentially across multiple agencies and jurisdictions
· Decision-making within the constraints of the current environment along with an evaluation of potential future risks
· And more.
While many of the applications designed to aid with these functions also currently stand alone, they are clearly merging. Incident management applications are assimilating with traditional call-taking and CAD systems which are also tying to Records Management Systems (RMS) and other applications, etc. As such, it makes little sense to operate and maintain a separate alerting system when much of the data and operational processes overlap.
Certain vendors have paid lip service to the idea of comprehensive seamless integration, but there has been little real movement on this front to date. Standards-based, integrated solutions will evolve, however, as time passes (we're beginning to see signs of this). And notification systems will further mature in their ability to "talk" with other notification systems (a system of systems approach).
The market is looking for ways to streamline costs and enhance operational efficiencies: this will help relieve that pain. Look for emergency notification to evolve into a sophisticated module within a much larger application, instead of a stand-alone service or software application.
What do you think? Let us hear from you regarding this and other trends you see developing. Stay tuned for additional installments.
Best regards,
Lorin
To receive a comprehensive white paper: "Notifications Alerts & Warnings, The Next Generation" go to http://galainsolutions.com/resources.html.
From our vantage point, we believe there exists in the industry today some interesting big-picture trends that will change the landscape of ENS over the next decade. As such, we begin a series on Next Generation Emergency Notification Systems (NG ENS). Over the coming weeks, we will look into our crystal ball and highlight a few of the market demands and unfolding technology innovations, hopefully providing both buyers and vendors with a few things to ponder.
TREND #1: MOVING FROM PROPRIETARY, STAND ALONE SYSTEMS TO HIGHLY INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS
Most emergency notification systems in use today are essentially stand-alone applications. In many cases, these are on-premise, proprietary systems, contributing yet another “black box” server to the emergency operations center’s stable of hardware. In growing numbers, systems can be accessed through the Internet or a secure network, with no on-premise hardware (Software as as Service, or SaaS). Yet, regardless of the deployment option, few are tightly integrated into other critical applications at both the data and interface levels. We believe such integration will be a hallmark of NG ENS in the future.
Emergency managers know well that notification is but one small element of managing the response to a critical event. Other key functions include:
· Information gathering and analysis (through multiple channels and/or disparate databases)
· Dispatching of active and/or off-duty resources, potentially across multiple agencies and jurisdictions
· Decision-making within the constraints of the current environment along with an evaluation of potential future risks
· And more.
While many of the applications designed to aid with these functions also currently stand alone, they are clearly merging. Incident management applications are assimilating with traditional call-taking and CAD systems which are also tying to Records Management Systems (RMS) and other applications, etc. As such, it makes little sense to operate and maintain a separate alerting system when much of the data and operational processes overlap.
Certain vendors have paid lip service to the idea of comprehensive seamless integration, but there has been little real movement on this front to date. Standards-based, integrated solutions will evolve, however, as time passes (we're beginning to see signs of this). And notification systems will further mature in their ability to "talk" with other notification systems (a system of systems approach).
The market is looking for ways to streamline costs and enhance operational efficiencies: this will help relieve that pain. Look for emergency notification to evolve into a sophisticated module within a much larger application, instead of a stand-alone service or software application.
What do you think? Let us hear from you regarding this and other trends you see developing. Stay tuned for additional installments.
Best regards,
Lorin
To receive a comprehensive white paper: "Notifications Alerts & Warnings, The Next Generation" go to http://galainsolutions.com/resources.html.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Alerts and Notifications. Help!
More agencies are beginning to ask for outside help with their emergency notification programs. In the past few weeks alone, we've seen three Requests for Proposals (RFPs) issued for consultants to help with multi-facted notifications, alerts, and warnings programs. We've not seen this many procurement activities of this type in the last decade.
Over the years, we've seen many notification and alert programs flounder (and sometimes fail) because a comprehensive approach wasn't taken. The topic has become more complex. No longer is it as simple as buying technology, getting some training, then expecting success. The approach needs to span well beyond technology. Plus, the approach needs to include a mechanism for staying fresh - particularly important as individual communication preferences continue to evolve.
A senior public safety technology manager for a large city told us last week that he's seen a significant gap in the implementation side of technology initiatives, such as alerting and notifications. He said they had been able to buy "cool stuff" through federal grants, but have struggled to put the "cool stuff" to good use. Implementation help from the outside would be helpful, he told us.
Whether the three recent RFPs represent the beginning of a trend in the area of alerts and notifications, we're not sure yet. We hope so. Granted, our hope is a bit self-serving since this type of consultation is a practice area for our company. But, that aside, we think outside help will lead to more successful alert and warning programs. If nothing else, it forces focus. Public safety officials are multi-taskers by necessity; focus on a specific project is difficult. By using outside consultants, public safety officials can force focus.
All the best,
Rick
Over the years, we've seen many notification and alert programs flounder (and sometimes fail) because a comprehensive approach wasn't taken. The topic has become more complex. No longer is it as simple as buying technology, getting some training, then expecting success. The approach needs to span well beyond technology. Plus, the approach needs to include a mechanism for staying fresh - particularly important as individual communication preferences continue to evolve.
A senior public safety technology manager for a large city told us last week that he's seen a significant gap in the implementation side of technology initiatives, such as alerting and notifications. He said they had been able to buy "cool stuff" through federal grants, but have struggled to put the "cool stuff" to good use. Implementation help from the outside would be helpful, he told us.
Whether the three recent RFPs represent the beginning of a trend in the area of alerts and notifications, we're not sure yet. We hope so. Granted, our hope is a bit self-serving since this type of consultation is a practice area for our company. But, that aside, we think outside help will lead to more successful alert and warning programs. If nothing else, it forces focus. Public safety officials are multi-taskers by necessity; focus on a specific project is difficult. By using outside consultants, public safety officials can force focus.
All the best,
Rick
DHS Proposes Private Sector Disaster Preparedness Standards. How Does it Impact Alerts and Warnings?
Recently, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially proposed three key standards to guide private sector entities in disaster preparedness. DHS is currently seeking public comment on these. The first two standards generally relate to plans and processes for ensuring the continuity of business. The third standard, NFPA 1600--issued by the National Fire Protection Agency, is designed to provide guidance related specifically to response and recovery (with some overlap of the other two as well).
How does this relate to the notifications and warnings industry--particularly for the public sector? First, the selection of NFPA standards is interesting to us. We continue to see the NFPA show up in conversations related to emergency notification. NFPA 72, for example, recently expanded its traditional definition of "alarms" (historically in-building sirens and flashing lights) to encompass virtually any other form of mass warning, both within the immediate vicinity of a "situation" and beyond (see "Mass Notification Redefined"). We expect to see continued leadership from this organization in the area of alerts and warnings.
Second, the topic of critical communications with emergency personnel and communities is featured throughout each of these standards in some form. While a private enterprise may not be directly responsible for issuing a mass notification alert in a critical situation (a chemical release from a factory for example), it is responsible for providing local officials with timely, specific information that might affect the public. Its existence may even be a primary driver for obtaining an emergency notification solution. Public safety agencies in locations where local businesses could pose a public risk will do well to work alongside these organizations in their continuity planning process--ensuring mass notification procedures are well aligned.
It will be interesting to see how well these standards catch on in the private sector. Already, companies appear to be balking at the notion that DHS, in big-brother form, is telling them how to run their business (there is also a fear that these "suggested" standards will become requirements when selling to the government). In either case, watch out for a continued blurring of the lines between private and public sector crisis communications, pointing to the need for comprehensive, integrated alert and warning programs.
All the best,
Lorin
How does this relate to the notifications and warnings industry--particularly for the public sector? First, the selection of NFPA standards is interesting to us. We continue to see the NFPA show up in conversations related to emergency notification. NFPA 72, for example, recently expanded its traditional definition of "alarms" (historically in-building sirens and flashing lights) to encompass virtually any other form of mass warning, both within the immediate vicinity of a "situation" and beyond (see "Mass Notification Redefined"). We expect to see continued leadership from this organization in the area of alerts and warnings.
Second, the topic of critical communications with emergency personnel and communities is featured throughout each of these standards in some form. While a private enterprise may not be directly responsible for issuing a mass notification alert in a critical situation (a chemical release from a factory for example), it is responsible for providing local officials with timely, specific information that might affect the public. Its existence may even be a primary driver for obtaining an emergency notification solution. Public safety agencies in locations where local businesses could pose a public risk will do well to work alongside these organizations in their continuity planning process--ensuring mass notification procedures are well aligned.
It will be interesting to see how well these standards catch on in the private sector. Already, companies appear to be balking at the notion that DHS, in big-brother form, is telling them how to run their business (there is also a fear that these "suggested" standards will become requirements when selling to the government). In either case, watch out for a continued blurring of the lines between private and public sector crisis communications, pointing to the need for comprehensive, integrated alert and warning programs.
All the best,
Lorin
Friday, October 30, 2009
The Best Notification System
Get five emergency management professionals together, and you'll get five opinions on the best way to alert and notify the public. Opinions will range from sirens-to-telephones-to-broadcast-to-giant voice-to-flashing lights-to-instand messaging-to-social media to who knows what else. Walk the floor of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) conference vendor display area and you'll see more companies hawking their notifying and alerting wares than any other product. And, guess what, they'll all claim theirs is the best.
So, who's really right? Well, none of them...and all of them. There is no single "best" way to notify and alert the public. There are lots of them! It all depends on three questions, each one as important as the other: (1) what are you trying to say, (2) who are you trying to say it to, and (3) what do you have available?
There are significant differences in the ways people receive and react to important information...and the variances between the preferences grows daily. Gone are the days when the nation waits for dinner time to hear the late and wonderfully trustworthy Walter Cronkite tell us the way it was.
Now, some people use only the latest communication modes, like social media, to get important information. Others don't even know what social media is. Many of us rely on email, yet some young people think email is passe'. (I overheard young colleagues recently talking about a friend fighting with her boyfriend because he kept emailing her. "Doesn't he know how to text?", they said.) What about the people who don't have land telephone lines? What about special needs?
Nothing new in that paragraph. We all have seen our communications preferences change, perhaps significantly and perhaps often, during the last few years.
So, what's the best way to notify and alert the public? It's not a notification "system", but rather a "system of systems". According to Wikipedia, a system-of-systems is "a collection of task-oriented or dedicated systems which pool resources and capabilities to obtain a coalesced, more complex, 'meta-system' offering more functionality and performance than simply the sum of the constituent systems".
Translate this to the world of notifications and alerts and you have a central controlling system, built in a way that other systems can plug into it. The system of systems would be "managed", meaning specific processes would be followed for design, sustainment, operations, and flexibility. Standards, governance, and a management process would provide discipline and structure to keep the approach from becoming daunting. It's really not that difficult, but it takes acceptance by all involved that there's no "best" way of notifying and alerting the public.
Momentum is building for a managed system-of-system approach. In other posts, we've pointed the signs of momentum. Or, you can go to our web site to request a copy of the white paper, "Notifications, Alerts, Warnings: The Next Generation".
All the "best", (Please pardon the pun.)
Rick
So, who's really right? Well, none of them...and all of them. There is no single "best" way to notify and alert the public. There are lots of them! It all depends on three questions, each one as important as the other: (1) what are you trying to say, (2) who are you trying to say it to, and (3) what do you have available?
There are significant differences in the ways people receive and react to important information...and the variances between the preferences grows daily. Gone are the days when the nation waits for dinner time to hear the late and wonderfully trustworthy Walter Cronkite tell us the way it was.
Now, some people use only the latest communication modes, like social media, to get important information. Others don't even know what social media is. Many of us rely on email, yet some young people think email is passe'. (I overheard young colleagues recently talking about a friend fighting with her boyfriend because he kept emailing her. "Doesn't he know how to text?", they said.) What about the people who don't have land telephone lines? What about special needs?
Nothing new in that paragraph. We all have seen our communications preferences change, perhaps significantly and perhaps often, during the last few years.
So, what's the best way to notify and alert the public? It's not a notification "system", but rather a "system of systems". According to Wikipedia, a system-of-systems is "a collection of task-oriented or dedicated systems which pool resources and capabilities to obtain a coalesced, more complex, 'meta-system' offering more functionality and performance than simply the sum of the constituent systems".
Translate this to the world of notifications and alerts and you have a central controlling system, built in a way that other systems can plug into it. The system of systems would be "managed", meaning specific processes would be followed for design, sustainment, operations, and flexibility. Standards, governance, and a management process would provide discipline and structure to keep the approach from becoming daunting. It's really not that difficult, but it takes acceptance by all involved that there's no "best" way of notifying and alerting the public.
Momentum is building for a managed system-of-system approach. In other posts, we've pointed the signs of momentum. Or, you can go to our web site to request a copy of the white paper, "Notifications, Alerts, Warnings: The Next Generation".
All the "best", (Please pardon the pun.)
Rick
Monday, October 26, 2009
Nation's Largest County Tackles Notifications
The nation's most populated county, Los Angeles, recently launched a county-wide notification system. Called "Alert LA County", the system uses automated telephone dialing, e-mailing and text messaging.
The County purchased a database of both published and non-published telephone numbers. To supplement the databases, the County published a web site for residents to register cell phones Voice Over IP, or fax phones since there are no central databases available for these numbers.
The approach is not new, and not unique to L.A. County. Others have done the same. What's new, however, is the magnitude of the effort. Latest Census estimates show Los Angeles County with over 9.8-million residents!
Glaring questions are raised:
1. How do you fill the phone number gap when so many people now use cell or VOIP phones? Certainly, the sign-up site will help. But, what percentage of the County will actually register? Registration rates are generally not high. (Does anyone have a good registration success story?)
In a FEMA-commissioned study on the 2007 San Diego wildfires, a research team from Oak Ridge National Laboratories reported than only 10,000 of 450,000 households had signed up for the City of San Diego's emergency advisory system when the firestorm broke out. (See our blog at: http://www.emergencymgmt.com/emergency-blogs/alerts.
2. What keeps the local telephone infrastructure from being overloaded? Even in targeted areas of such a densely populated county, the numbers of notifications attempted can be huge. The County does not promise to notify vast areas at once, and the vendor selected by the county, Twenty First Century Communications, has an impressive story of available capacity. But, even when targeting, how can you ensure that the local system is not overwhelmed, particularly during an emergency when call volumes generally go up even before notifications are issued?
You can try to get an answer from the carriers, but it's unlikely that you will. The communications infrastructure is a complex labyrinth, and highly unpredictable in an emergency. So, the real answer to the question is "you can't".
The best you can do is be realistic about what can and cannot be done, and mitigate accordingly.
All the best,
Rick
The County purchased a database of both published and non-published telephone numbers. To supplement the databases, the County published a web site for residents to register cell phones Voice Over IP, or fax phones since there are no central databases available for these numbers.
The approach is not new, and not unique to L.A. County. Others have done the same. What's new, however, is the magnitude of the effort. Latest Census estimates show Los Angeles County with over 9.8-million residents!
Glaring questions are raised:
1. How do you fill the phone number gap when so many people now use cell or VOIP phones? Certainly, the sign-up site will help. But, what percentage of the County will actually register? Registration rates are generally not high. (Does anyone have a good registration success story?)
In a FEMA-commissioned study on the 2007 San Diego wildfires, a research team from Oak Ridge National Laboratories reported than only 10,000 of 450,000 households had signed up for the City of San Diego's emergency advisory system when the firestorm broke out. (See our blog at: http://www.emergencymgmt.com/emergency-blogs/alerts.
2. What keeps the local telephone infrastructure from being overloaded? Even in targeted areas of such a densely populated county, the numbers of notifications attempted can be huge. The County does not promise to notify vast areas at once, and the vendor selected by the county, Twenty First Century Communications, has an impressive story of available capacity. But, even when targeting, how can you ensure that the local system is not overwhelmed, particularly during an emergency when call volumes generally go up even before notifications are issued?
You can try to get an answer from the carriers, but it's unlikely that you will. The communications infrastructure is a complex labyrinth, and highly unpredictable in an emergency. So, the real answer to the question is "you can't".
The best you can do is be realistic about what can and cannot be done, and mitigate accordingly.
All the best,
Rick
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Creative Problem-Solving through Emergency Notification
We all know success stories (and some failures) about how emergency notification technology has helped inform the general public. Newspapers, TV, and web sites are full of the stories.
What the general media doesn't know are success stories about how automated notification has helped creatively solve internal challenges of making sure public safety personnel get important information they need. Some of the best stories we've heard come from the City of Los Angeles.
Here's a particularly interesting one: When L.A. Fire Department has a troublesome incident to deal with (almost every day), their staff resource decisions must be made quickly and effectively. If they devote too many resources, their payroll costs go way up and people get yelled at. If they devote too few resources, well, you know what happens.
LAFD's exceptional notification system administrator, Ron Corona, came up with an idea to interface their notification solution to payroll records. Here's what happens when a department manager gets ready to issue a notification: An interface built by LAFD takes the list of names for that particular notification, queries payroll records, and produces an accurate estimate of the payroll cost of activating the notification. The manager can then adjust the list before the notification is issued, if desired.
In a perfect world, managers wouldn't have to think about costs of call-outs...but, taking into consider costs is simply a fact of life - particularly in a department that responds to so many things so often.
The most important point of the story, though, is that through creative problem-solving, Ron and company came up with an important tool that takes their notification system to another level. There are other examples of creative notifications from LAFD. (I'll never forget seeing eyes pop out at a Microsoft seminar when Ron demonstrated his notification interface with an old, very old, pre-DOS scheduling solution.)
We can all learn from people like Ron Corona.
All the best,
Rick
What the general media doesn't know are success stories about how automated notification has helped creatively solve internal challenges of making sure public safety personnel get important information they need. Some of the best stories we've heard come from the City of Los Angeles.
Here's a particularly interesting one: When L.A. Fire Department has a troublesome incident to deal with (almost every day), their staff resource decisions must be made quickly and effectively. If they devote too many resources, their payroll costs go way up and people get yelled at. If they devote too few resources, well, you know what happens.
LAFD's exceptional notification system administrator, Ron Corona, came up with an idea to interface their notification solution to payroll records. Here's what happens when a department manager gets ready to issue a notification: An interface built by LAFD takes the list of names for that particular notification, queries payroll records, and produces an accurate estimate of the payroll cost of activating the notification. The manager can then adjust the list before the notification is issued, if desired.
In a perfect world, managers wouldn't have to think about costs of call-outs...but, taking into consider costs is simply a fact of life - particularly in a department that responds to so many things so often.
The most important point of the story, though, is that through creative problem-solving, Ron and company came up with an important tool that takes their notification system to another level. There are other examples of creative notifications from LAFD. (I'll never forget seeing eyes pop out at a Microsoft seminar when Ron demonstrated his notification interface with an old, very old, pre-DOS scheduling solution.)
We can all learn from people like Ron Corona.
All the best,
Rick
Friday, October 23, 2009
To "Reverse 911" or not to "Reverse 911"?
It's not unusual to hear automated telephone notification systems generally referred to as "reverse 9-1-1". While not unusual, it's probably not a good idea to do so. REVERSE 911™ is a trademarked term, and the owners of the trademark don't like it when the name is used incorrectly.
I know first-hand. I competed against the original owners of the trademark, and had my hands slapped more than once for improper use of the term. Then, the company I worked for bought the company that owned the trademark. I could then start using the term (although I really never got accustomed to it, my hands still stinging).
Many 9-1-1 professionals don't like the term either. They prefer that 9-1-1 be used only when referring to emergency phone calls from the public (not to the public).
So, save yourself a hand-slapping. Find another term to use when referring to automated telephone notification systems in a general way. You won't find us using "reverse 9-1-1" generically in this blog. (Oops, kind of hard to avoid.)
All the best,
Rick
I know first-hand. I competed against the original owners of the trademark, and had my hands slapped more than once for improper use of the term. Then, the company I worked for bought the company that owned the trademark. I could then start using the term (although I really never got accustomed to it, my hands still stinging).
Many 9-1-1 professionals don't like the term either. They prefer that 9-1-1 be used only when referring to emergency phone calls from the public (not to the public).
So, save yourself a hand-slapping. Find another term to use when referring to automated telephone notification systems in a general way. You won't find us using "reverse 9-1-1" generically in this blog. (Oops, kind of hard to avoid.)
All the best,
Rick
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Interesting Emergency Notification Partnerships Developing
Public safety officials are beginning to call for more versatility from their emergency notification and warning vendors. Language is beginning to show up in Requests for Proposals (RFP) such as this clause from a recent RFP:
"...uses a combination of methods for alerting the public of emergency situations, recognizing that one application cannot provide warning to all citizens."
Some vendors are beginning to get the message. They're teaming with other vendors who may have been considered competition in the past. Among announcements made recently:
"...uses a combination of methods for alerting the public of emergency situations, recognizing that one application cannot provide warning to all citizens."
Some vendors are beginning to get the message. They're teaming with other vendors who may have been considered competition in the past. Among announcements made recently:
- Rave Mobile Safety and Acoustic Technology, Inc (ATI) announced they are integrating Rave's mobile solutions with ATI's audio and visual notification capability.
- Twenty-First Century Communications and Wallace Wireless announced they signed a mutual reselling agreement to help support Blackberry® smartphone use with multi-modal notifications.
- Desktop Alert announced a partnership with Dialogic Communications Corporation (DCC). Desktop Alert also has "industry alliances" with notification vendors W.A.R.N., LLC and ATI.
- Honeywell announced a partnership with REACT Systems, primarily focused on in-building notifications.
- Global Security Systems and Northrop Grumman announced a teaming agreement for wireless and non-wireless communications.
Emergency management officials should be pleased with this growing trend. It should provide more options and less hassle. There may still be a need to deal with multiple vendors, and someone from the outside may be needed to help coordinate, but at least some vendors are working together. We suspect we'll see more announcements soon.
All the best,
Rick
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Strong Emergency Notification Recommendations in California
The California legislature is mulling over recommendations for an enhanced statewide notification system. The suggestions were produced by a diverse task force of government and industry personnel working over a number of months. The legislature ordered California Emergency Management Agency (CALEMA) to create the task force, take a look at the issue, then report back. The result was a comprehensive set of recommendations that covered the gamut from writing messages to taking advantage of the alert and warning systems already in place in the state. (A copy of the draft is available here.)
Kelly Huston is Assistant Secretary at CALEMA, one of the senior officials who worked with the task force. He told us that while the legislature considers what to do about the recommendations, CALEMA is developing ways to support local agencies with their emergency notification challenges, based on the task force's findings.
He says, "It's not just a technical problem. It's multi-faceted." CALEMA has broken the various aspects of alerts and warnings into pieces, with different sections of the agency working to develop standards and recommendations for local agencies. Policy and governance are being considered, as well as standards and best practices.
Huston told us that people need to be open-minded about alerts and warnings. He says there are so many tools available that we need to be "very careful about choosing the right things, the right methods."
The report is a worthwhile read. In our opinion, it's excellent and one of the more comprehensive endeavors of its type we've seen. The task force was diverse, representing a wide spectrum of the communities of interest. Yes, there were conflicts and differences of opinions during the report's development, but the final product hits the mark. (We'll discuss various report findings in this forum at a later time.)
Too bad the State of California is broke. If the legislature were to follow the task force's recommendations, the particularly difficult challenges of emergency notification in California would be in good hands…and well ahead of most of the rest of the nation. Meantime, kudos to CALEMA for working within their limits to use the report to help local agencies.
All the best,
Rick
Kelly Huston is Assistant Secretary at CALEMA, one of the senior officials who worked with the task force. He told us that while the legislature considers what to do about the recommendations, CALEMA is developing ways to support local agencies with their emergency notification challenges, based on the task force's findings.
He says, "It's not just a technical problem. It's multi-faceted." CALEMA has broken the various aspects of alerts and warnings into pieces, with different sections of the agency working to develop standards and recommendations for local agencies. Policy and governance are being considered, as well as standards and best practices.
Huston told us that people need to be open-minded about alerts and warnings. He says there are so many tools available that we need to be "very careful about choosing the right things, the right methods."
The report is a worthwhile read. In our opinion, it's excellent and one of the more comprehensive endeavors of its type we've seen. The task force was diverse, representing a wide spectrum of the communities of interest. Yes, there were conflicts and differences of opinions during the report's development, but the final product hits the mark. (We'll discuss various report findings in this forum at a later time.)
Too bad the State of California is broke. If the legislature were to follow the task force's recommendations, the particularly difficult challenges of emergency notification in California would be in good hands…and well ahead of most of the rest of the nation. Meantime, kudos to CALEMA for working within their limits to use the report to help local agencies.
All the best,
Rick
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Emergency Notification & Social Media
If you want to know how social media and emergency notification practices are intersecting, look no further than the Denver Police Department. Denver, through the leadership of Lieutenant Matthew Murray, has committed to setting an industry example in utilizing social media to inform the public.
The department began Twittering early this summer. Tweets include descriptions of incidents and response calls, answered questions from citizens, and interesting tidbits of unusual laws on the books. The department also manages a MySpace page and a YouTube channel that features on-the-scene video and interviews with Denver officers (entitled "The Blue and You").
The department believes this is an important approach for disseminating information quickly without media filters. In an article on Denver Westword, Lieutenant Murray said, ""We can get stuff out really fast -- and stuff the media might not be that interested in. We can get a crime-scene video out [on MySpace] in seconds, and link it to Twitter."
Taking this concept to the next level we can imagine an even greater interaction between public safety and citizens through these new media. In a recent conversation with Mike Byrne, former Captain of the New York Fire Department and Microsoft executive, we discussed his vision for two-way social media communications where citizens on the scene of an event have methods for reporting information through these channels (even before responders arrive). In turn, public safety officials have methods for analyzing and interpreting these data in real-time (all part of next generation 9-1-1). The result: overall situational awareness is enhanced and a more complete common operating picture is produced.
Social media efforts will not take the place of a comprehensive, multi-modal notification program any time soon (for example, only 1400 people are currently following Denver Police on Twitter, so the reach is currently very limited). However, public safety agencies should begin understanding these technologies and considering the required resources--treating them as a complementary means of communicating.
We applaud the efforts of forward-thinking departments such as Denver who continue to develop these pervasive, entertainment-oriented applications into tools for protecting the public. There will be many more interesting developments ahead.
Best regards,
Lorin
The department began Twittering early this summer. Tweets include descriptions of incidents and response calls, answered questions from citizens, and interesting tidbits of unusual laws on the books. The department also manages a MySpace page and a YouTube channel that features on-the-scene video and interviews with Denver officers (entitled "The Blue and You").
The department believes this is an important approach for disseminating information quickly without media filters. In an article on Denver Westword, Lieutenant Murray said, ""We can get stuff out really fast -- and stuff the media might not be that interested in. We can get a crime-scene video out [on MySpace] in seconds, and link it to Twitter."
Taking this concept to the next level we can imagine an even greater interaction between public safety and citizens through these new media. In a recent conversation with Mike Byrne, former Captain of the New York Fire Department and Microsoft executive, we discussed his vision for two-way social media communications where citizens on the scene of an event have methods for reporting information through these channels (even before responders arrive). In turn, public safety officials have methods for analyzing and interpreting these data in real-time (all part of next generation 9-1-1). The result: overall situational awareness is enhanced and a more complete common operating picture is produced.
Social media efforts will not take the place of a comprehensive, multi-modal notification program any time soon (for example, only 1400 people are currently following Denver Police on Twitter, so the reach is currently very limited). However, public safety agencies should begin understanding these technologies and considering the required resources--treating them as a complementary means of communicating.
We applaud the efforts of forward-thinking departments such as Denver who continue to develop these pervasive, entertainment-oriented applications into tools for protecting the public. There will be many more interesting developments ahead.
Best regards,
Lorin
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Fixing the Homeland Security Advisory System
It would hard to argue against changing the Department of Homeland Security's The Homeland Security Advisory System alert system. It may have served its purpose in the past, but now's the time to fix it. It's not that the threats no longer exist, thus no alerting system is needed. Threats clearly exist, both natural and man-made. It's that the color-coded alert system is too blasted difficult to use.
Most significantly, it's not addressable. Threats are generally local and regional. They often affect a sector. When we talked recently (see post) with Mike Byrne, the man Tom Ridge credited in his book "The Test of Our Times", with coming up with the idea for the color-coded alert system, he told us that the original concept was for the system to be "sector specific with more geographic impact". Although DHS has, from time to time, adjusted the alert level for a sector, the system can only very awkwardly and perhaps ineffectively be adjusted.
The challenge is not a technological one. A hodgepodge of technology is available that would allow DHS to target geography and sectors; some of the necessary technology is already in place. The challenge is more one of data management and coordination.
Let's say DHS wanted to change the alert status for communities in Georgia near military bases. They could announce the change through the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN), which provides secure access to many public safety agencies. Authorized personnel from the agencies simply log-on to see what's going on that could affect them. If necessary, they can take action. A pretty good system, I say, in the normal course of events. Yet, a need to change the alert system does not occur in the normal course of events. Something significant and time sensitive has occurred.
Here's where the break-down occurs: Let's say Macon, Georgia, a few miles from Robins Air Force Base (RAFB) has resources checking HSIN regularly. They'll see the alert status change, and supporting information that allows them to take action. But, what about Cochran, Georgia, another few miles from RAFB, a much smaller community? They may not be checking HSIN regularly. (Not picking on Cochran. I just know the area because I grew up there.)
So, how do you get the word to Cochran that something important is happening and they need to check HSIN? That's where the data management and coordination come into play. A process could be established through which all communities have a designated person(s) responsible for receiving a telephone call and/or other communications 24/7 that would simply alert them to check HSIN. No need to pass along secure or detailed information in a quick phone call (with confirmation required). They would simply be alerted that HSIN holds important information for them, including a change in the alert level. That person would know what process and procedure to follow in the community to respond to whatever had been passed along.
Perhaps the notification comes from DHS to the state emergency management agency. The state EMA would know which communities are most likely to be affected.
A rather tall order designating someone in every community to be responsible for receiving the tap on the shoulder, you may say. Perhaps, but with federal funding supporting such a program, it could be done quite effectively and efficiently. Thoughts?
All the best,
Rick
Most significantly, it's not addressable. Threats are generally local and regional. They often affect a sector. When we talked recently (see post) with Mike Byrne, the man Tom Ridge credited in his book "The Test of Our Times", with coming up with the idea for the color-coded alert system, he told us that the original concept was for the system to be "sector specific with more geographic impact". Although DHS has, from time to time, adjusted the alert level for a sector, the system can only very awkwardly and perhaps ineffectively be adjusted.
The challenge is not a technological one. A hodgepodge of technology is available that would allow DHS to target geography and sectors; some of the necessary technology is already in place. The challenge is more one of data management and coordination.
Let's say DHS wanted to change the alert status for communities in Georgia near military bases. They could announce the change through the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN), which provides secure access to many public safety agencies. Authorized personnel from the agencies simply log-on to see what's going on that could affect them. If necessary, they can take action. A pretty good system, I say, in the normal course of events. Yet, a need to change the alert system does not occur in the normal course of events. Something significant and time sensitive has occurred.
Here's where the break-down occurs: Let's say Macon, Georgia, a few miles from Robins Air Force Base (RAFB) has resources checking HSIN regularly. They'll see the alert status change, and supporting information that allows them to take action. But, what about Cochran, Georgia, another few miles from RAFB, a much smaller community? They may not be checking HSIN regularly. (Not picking on Cochran. I just know the area because I grew up there.)
So, how do you get the word to Cochran that something important is happening and they need to check HSIN? That's where the data management and coordination come into play. A process could be established through which all communities have a designated person(s) responsible for receiving a telephone call and/or other communications 24/7 that would simply alert them to check HSIN. No need to pass along secure or detailed information in a quick phone call (with confirmation required). They would simply be alerted that HSIN holds important information for them, including a change in the alert level. That person would know what process and procedure to follow in the community to respond to whatever had been passed along.
Perhaps the notification comes from DHS to the state emergency management agency. The state EMA would know which communities are most likely to be affected.
A rather tall order designating someone in every community to be responsible for receiving the tap on the shoulder, you may say. Perhaps, but with federal funding supporting such a program, it could be done quite effectively and efficiently. Thoughts?
All the best,
Rick
Sunday, October 4, 2009
GIS Data Considerations for Notification
For ENS managers, a great deal of attention is often placed on the technology surrounding the systems themselves. While technical details such as message capacities, infrastructure requirements and security are important, mass notification systems will still be ineffective if the underlying data is poor or missing.
A white paper released recently by GIS data company InfoCode provides great insight into the various considerations regarding GIS data as it relates to emergency notification.
The first consideration discussed is is the telephone data source (E911 versus commercial data). While most would agree E911 data--utilized by the 9-1-1 center--is most accurate, factors such as high costs, slow carrier response and use restrictions might keep agencies from utilizing this source. Third-party "white pages" sources also have their benefits (e.g. availability, business/NAICS data) and drawbacks (e.g. no unlisted numbers).
The second consideration discussed is the map data source. Locally managed GIS map data certainly has its advantages, but not every agency has the staff or political relationships to pull this off. Commercial map data sources are often a good alternative. Agencies should weigh costs, degree of accuracy and frequency of updates in determining the best map data approach.
Finally, the third consideration discussed is a web-based portal for citizens. This is a growing problem since large segments of the population are turning to cell phones as their primary means of contact (no land lines). The paper highlights several best practices for developing a web portal such as building flexibility to allow for personal notification preferences, and clearly outlining privacy policies.
GIS data management is an ongoing challenge for ENS managers. How has your agency dealt with the issue? What best practice ideas do you have? We'd love to hear your feedback.
Best regards,
Lorin
A white paper released recently by GIS data company InfoCode provides great insight into the various considerations regarding GIS data as it relates to emergency notification.
The first consideration discussed is is the telephone data source (E911 versus commercial data). While most would agree E911 data--utilized by the 9-1-1 center--is most accurate, factors such as high costs, slow carrier response and use restrictions might keep agencies from utilizing this source. Third-party "white pages" sources also have their benefits (e.g. availability, business/NAICS data) and drawbacks (e.g. no unlisted numbers).
The second consideration discussed is the map data source. Locally managed GIS map data certainly has its advantages, but not every agency has the staff or political relationships to pull this off. Commercial map data sources are often a good alternative. Agencies should weigh costs, degree of accuracy and frequency of updates in determining the best map data approach.
Finally, the third consideration discussed is a web-based portal for citizens. This is a growing problem since large segments of the population are turning to cell phones as their primary means of contact (no land lines). The paper highlights several best practices for developing a web portal such as building flexibility to allow for personal notification preferences, and clearly outlining privacy policies.
GIS data management is an ongoing challenge for ENS managers. How has your agency dealt with the issue? What best practice ideas do you have? We'd love to hear your feedback.
Best regards,
Lorin
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
GAO Testimony Blasts IPAWS Program for Lack of Movement & Results
In testimony today, the Government Accounting Office (GAO) was highly critical of FEMA's handling of the IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert & Warning System) program to date. Testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, Mark Goldstein of the GAO said of the Emergency Alert System, "EAS is an important alert tool but it exhibits longstanding weaknesses that limit its effectiveness...EAS does not fulfill the need for a reliable, comprehensive alert system."
Specifically, the GAO criticized the program for:
-a lack of redundancy
-gaps in coverage
-a lack of testing and training
-limitations in how alerts are disseminated to the public
-little capability to alert specific geographic areas
-no movement in adoption of new technologies.
Further, FEMA's pilot programs provided little information of value for assessing outcomes and evaluating lessons learned. Transparency and accountability are lacking. And, despite the critical need for collaboration and input from private industry and practitioners, many stakeholders such as state EMAs and telecom vendors know little of the program based on interviews conducted by the GAO.
IMPLICATIONS
In viewing the House testimony today, there appeared to exist both deep frustration and sincere commitment to move the IPAWS program off the dime. Subcommittee Chairwoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and ranking member Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), who are sponsoring IPAWS-related HR 2591 pushed for answers on how and why the program is stalled.
On the hot seat was Damon Penn, FEMA's new Assistant Administrator for National Continuity Programs. Mr. Penn, a former Army colonel, recently accepted his new post, and will be responsible for driving the program forward. Mr. Penn appears to have a reputation for getting things done, so we anticipate movement.
Mr. Penn cited recent success in awarding a contract to establish a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) test facility at Eastern Kentucky University. He also said he expected CAP protocols to be approved within the next two weeks. He said a statewide test is expected in January 2010 in Alaska, and hopes to have a new, fully operational EAS system by the end of FY 2012.
We believe this time frame is aggressive given the ground that needs to be covered, but we certainly applaud the renewed commitment to move on this important national initiative. Stay tuned for more on this one.
All the best,
-Lorin
Specifically, the GAO criticized the program for:
-a lack of redundancy
-gaps in coverage
-a lack of testing and training
-limitations in how alerts are disseminated to the public
-little capability to alert specific geographic areas
-no movement in adoption of new technologies.
Further, FEMA's pilot programs provided little information of value for assessing outcomes and evaluating lessons learned. Transparency and accountability are lacking. And, despite the critical need for collaboration and input from private industry and practitioners, many stakeholders such as state EMAs and telecom vendors know little of the program based on interviews conducted by the GAO.
IMPLICATIONS
In viewing the House testimony today, there appeared to exist both deep frustration and sincere commitment to move the IPAWS program off the dime. Subcommittee Chairwoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and ranking member Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), who are sponsoring IPAWS-related HR 2591 pushed for answers on how and why the program is stalled.
On the hot seat was Damon Penn, FEMA's new Assistant Administrator for National Continuity Programs. Mr. Penn, a former Army colonel, recently accepted his new post, and will be responsible for driving the program forward. Mr. Penn appears to have a reputation for getting things done, so we anticipate movement.
Mr. Penn cited recent success in awarding a contract to establish a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) test facility at Eastern Kentucky University. He also said he expected CAP protocols to be approved within the next two weeks. He said a statewide test is expected in January 2010 in Alaska, and hopes to have a new, fully operational EAS system by the end of FY 2012.
We believe this time frame is aggressive given the ground that needs to be covered, but we certainly applaud the renewed commitment to move on this important national initiative. Stay tuned for more on this one.
All the best,
-Lorin
Monday, September 28, 2009
Where are the Notification Market Leaders?
We suspect that whenever the web gets active with buzz about the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), vendors with a solution to offer for the nation's notification challenges knock on the door of FEMA and DHS's Office of Science and Technology (DHS S&T). They likely are anxious to present their solution as the best way to solve the problem. What they may not understand is the fact that the federal government is not looking to buy a national notification solution.
What FEMA's IPAWS office and DHS S&T, along with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), are trying to do is create a framework so that, one day, there will be a truly integrated national alerting system - something much better than the current Emergency Alert System (EAS), restricted to television and radio broadcasts. Creating such a framework has become a long, drawn-out process...for both good and bad reasons.
Even though the feds aren't buying a solution, vendors can participate in development of the framework. Right now, the best way seems to be through an initiative by an organization called OASIS, Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards. Vendors can join OASIS and help create standards that will be established for the integrated federal alert system.
However, a list of committee members represents what we believe is little current market share in the US notification market. Where are the market leaders?
Denis Gusty represents the Department of Homeland Security Office of Science and Technology on the OASIS committee. (He's one of the ones on whose doors vendors often knock.) He told us that even though standards would perhaps limit market share leaders' ability to control the market, "...it's the only way". He said the problem is a simple mathematical one. After all, there's only one federal government and many, many other stakeholders. "The only thing we can do is develop standards that everyone can work from. It does take time, but in the long run, everyone gets what they need. It's a huge challenge, but one we have to accept", said Gusty.
Having spent a good bit of time with market leading vendors as a consultant and manager, I understand the reluctance to jump into the standards game. I've not wanted to go there myself. But, in this case, it makes sense. Although they may not be in the market for a national notification solution, FEMA and DHS can have a significant impact on the market for notification solutions...in part through the grant money they control. What if one day it takes adherence to new notification and alerting standards to obtain grant money for notification systems?
Hmm, I think I have just convinced myself to join OASIS. It would be nice to see more notification vendors, and emergency management professionals there.
All the best,
Rick
What FEMA's IPAWS office and DHS S&T, along with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), are trying to do is create a framework so that, one day, there will be a truly integrated national alerting system - something much better than the current Emergency Alert System (EAS), restricted to television and radio broadcasts. Creating such a framework has become a long, drawn-out process...for both good and bad reasons.
Even though the feds aren't buying a solution, vendors can participate in development of the framework. Right now, the best way seems to be through an initiative by an organization called OASIS, Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards. Vendors can join OASIS and help create standards that will be established for the integrated federal alert system.
However, a list of committee members represents what we believe is little current market share in the US notification market. Where are the market leaders?
Denis Gusty represents the Department of Homeland Security Office of Science and Technology on the OASIS committee. (He's one of the ones on whose doors vendors often knock.) He told us that even though standards would perhaps limit market share leaders' ability to control the market, "...it's the only way". He said the problem is a simple mathematical one. After all, there's only one federal government and many, many other stakeholders. "The only thing we can do is develop standards that everyone can work from. It does take time, but in the long run, everyone gets what they need. It's a huge challenge, but one we have to accept", said Gusty.
Having spent a good bit of time with market leading vendors as a consultant and manager, I understand the reluctance to jump into the standards game. I've not wanted to go there myself. But, in this case, it makes sense. Although they may not be in the market for a national notification solution, FEMA and DHS can have a significant impact on the market for notification solutions...in part through the grant money they control. What if one day it takes adherence to new notification and alerting standards to obtain grant money for notification systems?
Hmm, I think I have just convinced myself to join OASIS. It would be nice to see more notification vendors, and emergency management professionals there.
All the best,
Rick
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Congressman Optimistic about IPAWS Modernization Act
The Congressman who introduced legislation that would modernize the federal warning system tells us he is optimistic the law will pass this session of Congress. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Florida) says he has good support for the bill this year. A similar bill failed to pass last year.
The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Act of 2009 would amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to require FEMA to make IPAWS, thus the Emergency Alert System (EAS), more reflective of today's environment. It would expand the federal alerting system so that a messages would be transmitted well-beyond the current EAS delivery mode of radio and television. It would give IPAWS more teeth.
Diaz-Balart told us, "The federal system is still in the fifties while the way people receive their information has changed. The Act would require the system to adapt to multiple technologies and future technologies."
Emergency management professionals and industry will be interested in the most significant difference between the current bill and the past one. It is intended to facilitate collaboration by requiring that an IPAWS Advisory Committee be established. Membership would come from federal, state, and local government including emergency management and emergency responders. The private sector and not-for-profit organizations would also be represented.
This is good. One of the short-comings of IPAWS has been a lack of aggressive collaboration with communities of interest. No real mechanism exists for supporting strong collaboration. The closest would be the OASIS (Organization for Advancement of Structured Information Standards) committee working on standards such as Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) and Emergency Digital Exchange Language (EDXL). (See earlier post.) Congressman Diaz-Balart said, "Clearly, there has not been enough collaboration."
Whether the law passes or not, Congress is taking a visible interest in IPAWS. A Congressional hearing will be held soon (September 30th) on the topic. The General Accounting Office (GAO), the Congressional auditors, have been investigating the IPAWS program. We suspect the report will not be complimentary.
The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Act of 2009 would amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to require FEMA to make IPAWS, thus the Emergency Alert System (EAS), more reflective of today's environment. It would expand the federal alerting system so that a messages would be transmitted well-beyond the current EAS delivery mode of radio and television. It would give IPAWS more teeth.
Diaz-Balart told us, "The federal system is still in the fifties while the way people receive their information has changed. The Act would require the system to adapt to multiple technologies and future technologies."
Emergency management professionals and industry will be interested in the most significant difference between the current bill and the past one. It is intended to facilitate collaboration by requiring that an IPAWS Advisory Committee be established. Membership would come from federal, state, and local government including emergency management and emergency responders. The private sector and not-for-profit organizations would also be represented.
This is good. One of the short-comings of IPAWS has been a lack of aggressive collaboration with communities of interest. No real mechanism exists for supporting strong collaboration. The closest would be the OASIS (Organization for Advancement of Structured Information Standards) committee working on standards such as Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) and Emergency Digital Exchange Language (EDXL). (See earlier post.) Congressman Diaz-Balart said, "Clearly, there has not been enough collaboration."
Whether the law passes or not, Congress is taking a visible interest in IPAWS. A Congressional hearing will be held soon (September 30th) on the topic. The General Accounting Office (GAO), the Congressional auditors, have been investigating the IPAWS program. We suspect the report will not be complimentary.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Color-Coded Alert System Creator: "No Regrets"
Mike Byrne was with Fire Department of New York (FDNY) for twenty years, a Captain who held the influential positions of Chief Information Officer and Director of Strategic Planning. In 1999, he left FDNY to take a FEMA job as Division Director, Response and Recovery for the FEMA region that covers New York. Little did he know he would find himself managing federal recovery efforts for a terrorist attack that would take lives of so many of his FDNY comrades.
Mike was called into service by a White House scrambling to figure out how to deal with a terrorist assault on the U.S. The administration was likely attracted by his front line experience coupled with an understanding of technology. He was named senior director of infrastructure management at the new Office of Homeland Security (OHS).
In his new book, "The Test of Our Times", the former head of the former OHS, Tom Ridge, wrote it was Mike who came up with the idea for the color-coded alert system. (I've known Mike for several years and didn't know this until I read Ridge's book - recommended reading, by the way.)
Although the system has been the punchline for many a joke, Mike told us this week that he has "no regrets" about the recommendation. He said it was the right thing to do at the time. "It's hard to remember how the public safety community felt at the time. We genuinely felt we were at war and under attack at home", said Mike. He said a system was needed that would clearly communicate to both public safety professionals and the general public that a different level of diligence was needed at different times.
Mike admitted the system is not perfect, and needs modifications. In fact, he said it was never fully used the way it was conceived. "It was supposed to be sector specific with more geographic impact", he said.
The current administration is considering changing the system, now called The Homeland Security Advisory System. Among other things, the Homeland Security Advisory Council has recommended reducing the number of colors from five to three. Mike thinks reducing the number of levels is appropriate. He said, "One thing I hope they don't do is move away from something that makes it easy to understand which one is bad." He doesn't like the thought of going to a numbered system, too easy to forget which number is bad - 1 or 5, particularly with adrenalin pumping.
Now Senior Vice President of ICF Consulting, Mike is looking ahead at emergency communications. He's becoming quite the maven on use of social media for emergency communications, and looks for opportunities to engage the broad communities of interest in the discussion. (More on that later.)
Oh, by the way, we asked Mike about the controversy that developed over the chapter in Ridge's book we blogged about earlier where Ridge talked about being lobbied to raise the threat level on the eve of the 2004 Presidential election. Mike replied, "What!? Politics in Washington, of course not!" (We think he may have been putting us on.)
All the best,
Rick
Mike was called into service by a White House scrambling to figure out how to deal with a terrorist assault on the U.S. The administration was likely attracted by his front line experience coupled with an understanding of technology. He was named senior director of infrastructure management at the new Office of Homeland Security (OHS).
In his new book, "The Test of Our Times", the former head of the former OHS, Tom Ridge, wrote it was Mike who came up with the idea for the color-coded alert system. (I've known Mike for several years and didn't know this until I read Ridge's book - recommended reading, by the way.)
Although the system has been the punchline for many a joke, Mike told us this week that he has "no regrets" about the recommendation. He said it was the right thing to do at the time. "It's hard to remember how the public safety community felt at the time. We genuinely felt we were at war and under attack at home", said Mike. He said a system was needed that would clearly communicate to both public safety professionals and the general public that a different level of diligence was needed at different times.
Mike admitted the system is not perfect, and needs modifications. In fact, he said it was never fully used the way it was conceived. "It was supposed to be sector specific with more geographic impact", he said.
The current administration is considering changing the system, now called The Homeland Security Advisory System. Among other things, the Homeland Security Advisory Council has recommended reducing the number of colors from five to three. Mike thinks reducing the number of levels is appropriate. He said, "One thing I hope they don't do is move away from something that makes it easy to understand which one is bad." He doesn't like the thought of going to a numbered system, too easy to forget which number is bad - 1 or 5, particularly with adrenalin pumping.
Now Senior Vice President of ICF Consulting, Mike is looking ahead at emergency communications. He's becoming quite the maven on use of social media for emergency communications, and looks for opportunities to engage the broad communities of interest in the discussion. (More on that later.)
Oh, by the way, we asked Mike about the controversy that developed over the chapter in Ridge's book we blogged about earlier where Ridge talked about being lobbied to raise the threat level on the eve of the 2004 Presidential election. Mike replied, "What!? Politics in Washington, of course not!" (We think he may have been putting us on.)
All the best,
Rick
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Showcasing Alerting Standards
The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) has been percolating for several years. Its intent is to provide a standard for emergency notification, alert, and warning messages so that one message can serve all systems. CAP has been slow to catch on. Many notification systems in the field don't support it. Some key vendors don't use it, even though FEMA has endorsed it and a CAP requirement shows up from time-to-time in requests for proposals.
Some industry and government organizations with interests in notifications, alerts, and warnings get together soon to give CAP a nudge. At a summit in Baltimore next week, they'll talk about CAP - even demonstrate how it works. The summit is sponsored by OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards), the group with the lead creating the CAP standard. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Interoperability and Compatability (DHS OIC) is supporting the event.
In addition to CAP, sessions will be held on what's called Emergency Digital Exchange Language (EDXL). EDXL is an "umbrella" standard, designed to facilitate emergency communications beyond notifications, alerts, and warnings.
We applaud the effort. Standards will support the move toward managed system-of-systems to ensure that multi-modal delivery works. Standards generally evolve slowly, and the path to adoption is often difficult. But, it sure seems that this is taking a particularly long time and we don't see CAP and EDXL being embraced aggressively by end-users and key vendors at this point. Perhaps the summit will help a bit, but more whollap is needed to really make the CAP dream a reality.
Some industry and government organizations with interests in notifications, alerts, and warnings get together soon to give CAP a nudge. At a summit in Baltimore next week, they'll talk about CAP - even demonstrate how it works. The summit is sponsored by OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards), the group with the lead creating the CAP standard. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Interoperability and Compatability (DHS OIC) is supporting the event.
In addition to CAP, sessions will be held on what's called Emergency Digital Exchange Language (EDXL). EDXL is an "umbrella" standard, designed to facilitate emergency communications beyond notifications, alerts, and warnings.
We applaud the effort. Standards will support the move toward managed system-of-systems to ensure that multi-modal delivery works. Standards generally evolve slowly, and the path to adoption is often difficult. But, it sure seems that this is taking a particularly long time and we don't see CAP and EDXL being embraced aggressively by end-users and key vendors at this point. Perhaps the summit will help a bit, but more whollap is needed to really make the CAP dream a reality.
Twenty First Century Communications Responds to Techradium Patent Suit
Twenty First Century Communications has responded to an impending patent infringement lawsuit by Sugar Land, TX-based Techradium. Last week, Techradium said it filed patent suits against eleven mass notification companies, including Twenty First Century Communications.
In a press release on Friday, Jim Kennedy, CEO of TFCC stated, ""It appears that Techradium, a small participant in the crowded field of mass notifications, is trying to use litigation to leverage its competitors into licensing its narrow and limited patents...TFCC has serviced clients for more than a decade before that company existed."
Kennedy continued, "For some time, TechRadium has attempted to scare customers away from using the services of its competitors by claiming that their patents cover various mass notification systems...We are confident that TFCC does not infringe any of their patents..."
The press release states TFCC had not yet been served with the lawsuit, though Techradium had issued a press release announcing its intentions.
-Lorin
In a press release on Friday, Jim Kennedy, CEO of TFCC stated, ""It appears that Techradium, a small participant in the crowded field of mass notifications, is trying to use litigation to leverage its competitors into licensing its narrow and limited patents...TFCC has serviced clients for more than a decade before that company existed."
Kennedy continued, "For some time, TechRadium has attempted to scare customers away from using the services of its competitors by claiming that their patents cover various mass notification systems...We are confident that TFCC does not infringe any of their patents..."
The press release states TFCC had not yet been served with the lawsuit, though Techradium had issued a press release announcing its intentions.
-Lorin
Saturday, September 19, 2009
State Plans "Major Kick-Off" of Notification Program
Connecticut officials have realized something that others have overlooked, that it takes quite an effort to make a notification program successful. So, plans are in the works for what a state spokesman calls a "major kick-off". Lieutenant Paul Vance of Connecticut State Police says the state wants the notification program to reach "virtually every adult resident in the state".
Vance says press conferences, public service announcements, and "things of that nature" are being planned to convince the public to sign-up for notifications. He says the state "will use the governor, visuals, all of the agencies...every avenue we can so we can reach out to a broad spectrum." A central messaging theme is being developed, something along the lines of "If you don't sign up, we can't reach you."
About the sign-ups, Vance says, "This is huge." Plus, the state has purchased a telephone database to be used for notifications, regardless of whether a resident has registered. (Despite the theme that Vance says is in the works, some residents can be notified even if they don't sign up.)
Vance admits meeting the goal of reaching virtually every adult resident in the state will not occur quickly. He says, "It's not going to be a one-time project...it will be a continuous process".
Since the system will be available to local officials, standards and Memorandum of Understanding are being developed.
This is not Connecticut's first effort to make notification technology available on a statewide basis. A contract was awarded several years ago that allowed local communities to purchase a particular vendor's product using negotiated pricing. This, however, is the first time the state has purchased the technology and made it available to local communities at no charge.
Connecticut has taken on quite a tall order. Yet it seems to us that state officials are taking a realistic approach. They seem to realize they must roll out the program with a blast, not a whimper. They seem to understand that success will not occur overnight. And, they seem to realize they need help. Local communities and a number of state agencies are being engaged, and the contract with their vendor, Everbridge, includes funds for continuous support for roll-out efforts, beyond technical support.
There will likely be glitches here and there. Hopefully, the state will tweak where necessary and not quietly ease the initiative into the background...as happens often with visible programs of this type. Meantime, good luck Connecticut...and congratulations for your approach.
All the best,
Rick
Vance says press conferences, public service announcements, and "things of that nature" are being planned to convince the public to sign-up for notifications. He says the state "will use the governor, visuals, all of the agencies...every avenue we can so we can reach out to a broad spectrum." A central messaging theme is being developed, something along the lines of "If you don't sign up, we can't reach you."
About the sign-ups, Vance says, "This is huge." Plus, the state has purchased a telephone database to be used for notifications, regardless of whether a resident has registered. (Despite the theme that Vance says is in the works, some residents can be notified even if they don't sign up.)
Vance admits meeting the goal of reaching virtually every adult resident in the state will not occur quickly. He says, "It's not going to be a one-time project...it will be a continuous process".
Since the system will be available to local officials, standards and Memorandum of Understanding are being developed.
This is not Connecticut's first effort to make notification technology available on a statewide basis. A contract was awarded several years ago that allowed local communities to purchase a particular vendor's product using negotiated pricing. This, however, is the first time the state has purchased the technology and made it available to local communities at no charge.
Connecticut has taken on quite a tall order. Yet it seems to us that state officials are taking a realistic approach. They seem to realize they must roll out the program with a blast, not a whimper. They seem to understand that success will not occur overnight. And, they seem to realize they need help. Local communities and a number of state agencies are being engaged, and the contract with their vendor, Everbridge, includes funds for continuous support for roll-out efforts, beyond technical support.
There will likely be glitches here and there. Hopefully, the state will tweak where necessary and not quietly ease the initiative into the background...as happens often with visible programs of this type. Meantime, good luck Connecticut...and congratulations for your approach.
All the best,
Rick
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Notification Companies Sued
We doubt many emergency management professionals had previously heard of TechRadium, which markets a notification technology called IRIS(tm). They will now, not because of new product announcements, but because of new lawsuit announcements. TechRadium has released a press release saying they have sued eleven more companies over patent infringement.
Here's what the company's press release says: "TechRadium develops and sells mass notification systems that allow an originator to send a single message simultaneously and instantaneously to multiple subscribers. The subscriber receives the information through any combination of devices, including telephone, cell phone, fax, wireless systems, alerts and other methods, in multiple languages."
To many, that description of the patent will sound very similar to commonplace technology that has been used for years. TechRadium, however, claims they have a patent on the concept and are casting a wide net. They announced they had sued Twitter(tm) several weeks ago. Now, they've announced they've sued: AtHoc, Inc., BroadBlast, Inc., Edulink Systems, Inc., First Call Network, Inc., GroupCast, LLC, Parlant Technologies, Inc., Reliance Communications, Inc., Saf-T-Net, Inc., SWN Communications, Inc., SwiftReach Networks, Inc., and Twenty-First Century Communications, Inc. TechRadium recently issued another press release saying they had, "reached an agreement with Blackboard Inc. to cross-license several patents and patent applications, allowing each company to continue to provide mass notification technology and services to clients."
We know of some emergency management professionals who were up in arms when the Twitter(tm) lawsuit was filed, some saying they've been using this type of technology for years. We can imagine what will be said about this latest group of lawsuits.
Will there be more?
Here's what the company's press release says: "TechRadium develops and sells mass notification systems that allow an originator to send a single message simultaneously and instantaneously to multiple subscribers. The subscriber receives the information through any combination of devices, including telephone, cell phone, fax, wireless systems, alerts and other methods, in multiple languages."
To many, that description of the patent will sound very similar to commonplace technology that has been used for years. TechRadium, however, claims they have a patent on the concept and are casting a wide net. They announced they had sued Twitter(tm) several weeks ago. Now, they've announced they've sued: AtHoc, Inc., BroadBlast, Inc., Edulink Systems, Inc., First Call Network, Inc., GroupCast, LLC, Parlant Technologies, Inc., Reliance Communications, Inc., Saf-T-Net, Inc., SWN Communications, Inc., SwiftReach Networks, Inc., and Twenty-First Century Communications, Inc. TechRadium recently issued another press release saying they had, "reached an agreement with Blackboard Inc. to cross-license several patents and patent applications, allowing each company to continue to provide mass notification technology and services to clients."
We know of some emergency management professionals who were up in arms when the Twitter(tm) lawsuit was filed, some saying they've been using this type of technology for years. We can imagine what will be said about this latest group of lawsuits.
Will there be more?
Monday, September 14, 2009
Managed Multi-Modal Messaging
Multi-modal is a phrase we're regularly seeing when people write about notifications, alerts, and warnings. It's sinking in that using many types of devices is the best way to make sure more of the right people get a message at the right time, particularly in an emergency.
We're beginning to see another word show up. That's "managed". A managed system is one where bosses have realized that installing technology, conducting training, and maintaining a technical support contract is not enough to ensure success. There needs to be a funded program surrounding the technology, beyond technical support.
Case in point: Connecticut is implementing a statewide notification solution. In the contract with their vendor, they included funding for ongoing support for the vendor to help the state and its various agencies roll-out the program, generate buzz for it, and consistently advertise it, says state spokesman Paul Vance. He says the state is planning a "major roll-out" soon, but plan to manage the effort continuously over a wide span of time...with the vendor's help. (The vendor is Everbridge.)
Meantime, an article recently published by Occupational Safety and Health makes a similar point. As written by a co-founder of Rave Wireless, it includes specific guidance for implementing an effective notification system including:
We're beginning to see another word show up. That's "managed". A managed system is one where bosses have realized that installing technology, conducting training, and maintaining a technical support contract is not enough to ensure success. There needs to be a funded program surrounding the technology, beyond technical support.
Case in point: Connecticut is implementing a statewide notification solution. In the contract with their vendor, they included funding for ongoing support for the vendor to help the state and its various agencies roll-out the program, generate buzz for it, and consistently advertise it, says state spokesman Paul Vance. He says the state is planning a "major roll-out" soon, but plan to manage the effort continuously over a wide span of time...with the vendor's help. (The vendor is Everbridge.)
Meantime, an article recently published by Occupational Safety and Health makes a similar point. As written by a co-founder of Rave Wireless, it includes specific guidance for implementing an effective notification system including:
- define acceptable terms for emergency mass communications
- determine target audience specifics
- consider implementing an inbound notification infrastructure
- establish detailed approved processes
- establish policy for frequency and level of communication
- create message templates
- communicate your communications plans
Although written for private industry, the management suggestions are equally important for government. We could add more suggestions. (See Galain Solutions - Resources.)
Look for the word "managed" to be used more and more when notification programs are mentioned. And, this would probably be a good time to take a good look at your notification program to make sure you've got resources devoted to managing it over time.
All the best,
Rick
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Secrets for Keeping Cell Phones from Sabotaging Your ENS Program
An article on http://www.kesq.com/ last week out of Yucaipa, CA highlighted the ongoing challenge of registering cell phones for emergency notification purposes.
When fire crested a hill in the Yucaipa community, evacuation efforts were said to be "chaotic" due in large part to the significant number of residents using unregistered cell phones. Fire officials resorted to door-to-door methods with little time to spare. "We feel there is a significant number of the public who has not logged their cell phones to the Early Warning Notification System..." said CalFire Chief John Hawkins.
The reporter's interviews indicated two key problems: 1) most people were unaware of the system and the need to register cell phones, and 2) some were hesitant to register for fear of receiving unwanted contact (i.e. spam).
IMPLICATIONS
According to Mediamark Research, Inc. almost one-third of households in the 18 to 24 age range have only cell phones within the home (no land line), and just over 26% of households in the 26 to 34 age range fall into this category. As these statistics and the situation in Yucaipa points out, public safety agencies need to devote time and resources to developing effective public information campaigns surrounding the registration of cell phones.
While the typical PSA on a local radio station may help to some degree, it is likely more effort and greater creativity are required for success. What should you do? Here are just a few ideas for getting the word out:
Brand the Effort
A strong label tied to the cell phone registration campaign (and the ENS program for that matter) will help generate buzz and create a "hook" for consumers. Create a "brand name" for the initiative.
Use Multimedia
Nothing tells a story better than video, and developing a short visual highlight is easy to do with today's technology. Create a video telling your ENS story and providing a call to action. Then post it to your agency's website, or link to http://www.youtube.com/ (make sure you provide the website address in any PSAs or other advertisements).
Get Help from Other Public Agencies
Many public-facing agencies such as the DMV, libraries, and local tax offices provide excellent access points to citizens. Where feasible, solicit help from these organizations in the form of strategically-placed signs and information sheets (be sure and minimize any additional work required by these agencies' employees).
Get Help from Local Businesses
Signs and information sheets in banks and retail stores can be effective (consider targeting stores appealing to the 18-34 demographic). Definitely focus on shops and kiosks where cell phones are sold. A registration table set up in a local supermarket can provide both a place and an "event" for media interviews. You'll create community visibility, and the grocer will love the exposure (by the way, for catching people's attention, nothing beats a fire truck or police cruiser in the parking lot with its lights flashing).
Participate in Local Civic Organizations
Every town typically has a variety of civic organizations, clubs, or churches. Most would be happy to pass along public safety information in meetings, assemblies, or weekly bulletins/newsletters if asked (you might even recruit a member to show the video you created).
Be Clear on Privacy
For any method deployed, be sure your agency's privacy policy is clearly articulated. Reassuring citizens their personal information is confidential and safe will help ease fears about providing private data.
Methods for spreading the word regarding ENS programs and cell phone registrations are limited only by the imagination. While there is no "silver bullet" for getting the word out, a comprehensive public information campaign is critical for any community managing an alerts and warnings program.
Have any stellar ideas or success stories from your community? We'd love to hear from you.
Best,
-Lorin
When fire crested a hill in the Yucaipa community, evacuation efforts were said to be "chaotic" due in large part to the significant number of residents using unregistered cell phones. Fire officials resorted to door-to-door methods with little time to spare. "We feel there is a significant number of the public who has not logged their cell phones to the Early Warning Notification System..." said CalFire Chief John Hawkins.
The reporter's interviews indicated two key problems: 1) most people were unaware of the system and the need to register cell phones, and 2) some were hesitant to register for fear of receiving unwanted contact (i.e. spam).
IMPLICATIONS
According to Mediamark Research, Inc. almost one-third of households in the 18 to 24 age range have only cell phones within the home (no land line), and just over 26% of households in the 26 to 34 age range fall into this category. As these statistics and the situation in Yucaipa points out, public safety agencies need to devote time and resources to developing effective public information campaigns surrounding the registration of cell phones.
While the typical PSA on a local radio station may help to some degree, it is likely more effort and greater creativity are required for success. What should you do? Here are just a few ideas for getting the word out:
Brand the Effort
A strong label tied to the cell phone registration campaign (and the ENS program for that matter) will help generate buzz and create a "hook" for consumers. Create a "brand name" for the initiative.
Use Multimedia
Nothing tells a story better than video, and developing a short visual highlight is easy to do with today's technology. Create a video telling your ENS story and providing a call to action. Then post it to your agency's website, or link to http://www.youtube.com/ (make sure you provide the website address in any PSAs or other advertisements).
Get Help from Other Public Agencies
Many public-facing agencies such as the DMV, libraries, and local tax offices provide excellent access points to citizens. Where feasible, solicit help from these organizations in the form of strategically-placed signs and information sheets (be sure and minimize any additional work required by these agencies' employees).
Get Help from Local Businesses
Signs and information sheets in banks and retail stores can be effective (consider targeting stores appealing to the 18-34 demographic). Definitely focus on shops and kiosks where cell phones are sold. A registration table set up in a local supermarket can provide both a place and an "event" for media interviews. You'll create community visibility, and the grocer will love the exposure (by the way, for catching people's attention, nothing beats a fire truck or police cruiser in the parking lot with its lights flashing).
Participate in Local Civic Organizations
Every town typically has a variety of civic organizations, clubs, or churches. Most would be happy to pass along public safety information in meetings, assemblies, or weekly bulletins/newsletters if asked (you might even recruit a member to show the video you created).
Be Clear on Privacy
For any method deployed, be sure your agency's privacy policy is clearly articulated. Reassuring citizens their personal information is confidential and safe will help ease fears about providing private data.
Methods for spreading the word regarding ENS programs and cell phone registrations are limited only by the imagination. While there is no "silver bullet" for getting the word out, a comprehensive public information campaign is critical for any community managing an alerts and warnings program.
Have any stellar ideas or success stories from your community? We'd love to hear from you.
Best,
-Lorin
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