Communications

I.	PURPOSE
	This section describes the County's emergency communication, notification and warning system.
II.	SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
	A.	Situation
		1.	Washington County operates a Central Communications Center located in the Law Enforcement Center. Washington County Communications Center serves as the Enhanced 9-1-1 Center and County Warning Point.
		2.	Day to day operations require two dispatch positions, however the volume of traffic during times of disaster will require additional personnel to assist.
		3.	The communication center is designed as a secure facility.
		4.	The County Communications Center is often the first point of contact for the general public.
		5.	Washington County Emergency Communications are heavily dependent on the commercial telephone network.
		6.	A remote radio console for each of the emergency services is located in the primary EOC. Amateur radio capabilities are also available.
		7.	Special needs groups, persons in group quarters, or schools, may require special warning and / or notification.
		8.	Emergency Management has the capability to use the Emergency Alerting System to deliver warnings to the public.
		9.	Residents of the County utilize scanner radios extensively, providing another means of alerting or warning the public.
	B.	Assumptions
		1.	Use of all available forms of warning and notification will not provide sufficient warning to the general public and special needs population.
		2.	Emergency and disaster occurrences could have a detrimental effect on the County's communication system.
		3.	The commercial telephone system serving Washington County is vulnerable to the effects of emergencies and disasters and to possible system overload due to increased usage.
		4.	Commercial electric power may be shut off during significant emergencies, necessitating the use of auxiliary power.
		5.	It is possible for communities within the County to be isolated from communications for extended periods of time.
		6.	Loss of the communication tower or the County’s Law Enforcement, Fire or EMS repeater system could hamper communication or the ability to page emergency personnel throughout the County.
		7.	The ability to repair damage to the County communication system is contingent upon the availability of private commercial repair technicians.
		8.	State assistance may be needed to procure supplemental communication equipment or to locate available repair technicians following a major disaster.
III.	CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
	A.	General
		1.	The County Warning Point will initiate notification and warning of appropriate Personnel. Telephone, radio communications or pagers may be utilized to notify public officials, EOC staff, emergency personnel and others as required.
		2.	Emergency service vehicles equipped with public address systems may be used to warn the general public.
		3.	The National Weather Service may issue weather watches or warnings directly to the public and Communication Center.
		4.	The Communication Center is operated 24 hours a day and serves as the Washington County Warning Point. As severe weather watches and warnings are received from the National Weather Service, the information is broadcast to all emergency services, schools, etc., according to the 911 Center Standard Operating Procedures.
		5.	The N.C. Highway Patrol's Raleigh Communication Center serves as the State Warning Point.
		6.	Notification of governmental officials and emergency personnel by the County Warning Point will follow established procedures.
		7.	Emergency communications standard operating procedures will be implemented. Backup capabilities will be activated as necessary.
		8.	The County Manager or Emergency Management Coordinator or the Communications Director must authorize the use of the Emergency Action System (EAS).
		9.	Emergency warning may originate at the national, state or local level of government. Timely warning requires dissemination to the public by all available means:
			a.	Local Radio and Television Stations
			b.	NOAA Weather Radio (National Weather Service)
			c.	Sirens, Horns, Mobile PA Systems
			d.	Telephone
			e.	General Broadcast Over All Available Radio Frequencies
			f.	Newspapers
		10.	Field emergency service Personnel utilize the County emergency communications networks to communicate with the EOC.
		11.	Amateur Radio volunteers will augment primary communications as necessary.
	B.	Specific
		1.	Telephone Service
			a.	Sprint / Carolina Telephone Company provides commercial telephone service.
			b.	Mobile phone capability exists within the County.
			c.	Sprint / Carolina Telephone Company will maintain a restoration priority list for telephone service prior to and / or following a major disaster.
			d.	During emergencies, personnel will staff information telephones in the EOC to respond to questions from the general public.
		2.	Two-Way Radio Systems
			a.	The County's Communication System is designated as the principal system to be used for direction and control activities. Principle users are as follows:
				(1)	Law Enforcement
				(2)	Emergency Management
				(3)	Fire / Rescue
				(4)	Emergency Medical Service
				(5)	Public Utilities
				(6)	Medical Facilities
			b.	Other two-way communications systems which may be used to communicate with the State EOC during emergencies include:
				(1)	Division of Criminal Information (DCI)
				(2)	State Emergency Management FM voice Radio Network
				(3)	Commercial Telephone (Fax)
				(4)	Amateur Radio Emergency Service
				(5)	Cellular Phone
				(6)	Email