The success of warning systems is measured by what actions people actually take to protect themselves and their families, reduce losses, enhance response, and speed recovery.

For 50 years, this Nation has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to develop an operational national all-hazards warning communication approach. The Federal government has funded operationally relevant applied research at universities, National laboratories and institutes to help officials protect life, property and infrastructure through the warning communication process.

The Partnership for Public Warning just concluded a 5-day workshop bringing together for the first time 30 national experts on issuing warnings, evaluating the effectiveness of warnings, and utilizing warnings, alerts, and notifications for natural hazards, technological accidents and terrorism.

Warnings and warning systems for terrorism are very similar to those for natural hazards except that terrorists may interact with the warnings and it is more difficult to establish the credibility of the information without compromising sources. Credibility is a key factor for people deciding to take action.

Earth and atmospheric scientists often deal with incomplete and tenuous information about potential hazards. Techniques have been developed for communicating such information to emergency managers, first responders, and the public.

The Homeland Security Advisory System is an effort to communicate terrorism threat assessments effectively to the Nation so that people and organizations at risk may take action to be better prepared, to reduce losses, and to speed recovery.  It is a commendable first step in dealing with a very difficult national problem.  Experience with natural hazard warnings shows that considerable work remains to improve specificity and enhance credibility before actions that spend valuable resources are likely to be taken as a result of changing a color code.

Effective warning is more than hardware, it is a complex process that requires training, planning, education, and teamwork among physical scientists, intelligence experts, social scientists, disaster managers, first responders, community leaders, business leaders, and many more.

Technology and procedures exist, but they are not integrated, there are few standards, little coordination. Current warning systems do not reach enough of the people at risk in a timely manner and often reach too many people not at risk.

Warning systems and procedures in the United States are simply inadequate to respond effectively to terrorist incidents where time is of the essence.

There needs to be one office in the Federal Government responsible for managing the Nation’s integrated all-hazards warning infrastructure. While the sources for specific warning information may come from many Federal, State, and local agencies, the systems and procedures that collect and disseminate these warnings need centralized Federal overview.

This office must work closely with State and local government, all types of businesses, academic institutions, and other stakeholders of warning systems to accomplish its warning mission.

With development of appropriate standards, points of interoperability, and procedures, we can create an environment where business can find opportunities to build warning receivers into all types of commonly used devices through successful business ventures. We have learned that un-funded government mandates such as the Emergency Alert System and E911 are not the most effective ways to engage business and to encourage innovative thinking.

Warning systems are a critical component of homeland defense not mentioned in H.R. 4660 and S. 2452. Warning is mentioned in the Administration’s proposed Bill to establish the Department of Homeland Security, but the difference between deciding on the information to issue (Title II, Sec. 201, item 6) needs to be clearly distinguished from overseeing an integrated, all-hazard warning infrastructure (Title VII, Sec. 701, item 4).

The responsibility for issuing alerts before events and notifications during events should be clearly specified as the second item in Title V, Sec. 501, because warnings are an integral part of effective emergency preparedness and response.

Effective warning systems and procedures require close integration at the Federal, State, and local levels. Members of the Senate and the House can play important roles bringing appropriate constituents to the table to solve this major national problem.

The Partnership for Public Warning has issued a Request for Information on warning systems and procedures in preparation for developing a National Strategic Plan for Public Warning. Please contribute your ideas and concerns at www.PartnershipForPublicWarning.org

For more information contact:

              Dr. Peter L. Ward, pward@PartnershipForPublicWarning.org, 307-690-1780.