Project Overview and Goals
In a perfect world, we who work in Emergency Management would be able to notify every living soul of an impending disaster in plenty of time to allow for those affected to prepare fully and evacuate, thus preventing all injury and death--and most property loss. Unfortunately that is not possible. Our "real world" goal is to use the resources we have as effectively as possible, and notify as many people as we can of approaching danger.
One of the greatest tools available for reaching lots of people in today's society is television. Television is present in the vast majority of homes in our community, and having the ability to use this medium for disaster notification would be of great value. People know, or can be taught to tune in whenever there is threatening weather in the forecast, and this would allow us to reach thousands of families with emergency messages and instructions before the anticipated event turns critical.
The enhanced cable notification system is part of the multi-level approach to disaster notification which we are implementing, and we have developed some goals for this critical part of that system:
- To reach the largest possible segment of the community via television.
- To reach our hearing impaired community who watch closed-captioned television.
- To be able to give immediate, specific, consistent emergency information to our community.
- To be able to change and update these emergency messages immediately, as needed.
- To be able to activate and operate the notification system from remote locations.
- To be able to deliver both aural and textual messages.
Previously, Emergency Management personnel could interrupt regular cable programming on all channels broadcast by Fort Collins' AT&T Cable Services with a live voice message only. This capability was activated remotely by telephone. This live voice messaging can still be used, but in addition, the enhanced cable notification system allows us to add a written message to the screen and to access the system remotely, via computer.
Local OEM personnel will have this capability through software loaded on their desktop and laptop computers. They will be able to type an emergency message that will immediately be broadcast through all AT&T Cable Services channels in Fort Collins. The message will remain on the screen for 90 seconds, and may include instructions to turn to Channel 27, the local Fort Collins station, for more detailed information.
We are told that the information broadcast on Channel 27 can be displayed as a "crawler," moving across the bottom of the screen, or as a scrolling message which captures the entire screen. We are not certain yet which method will be available to us. It depends upon the costs involved. The messages on Channel 27 can be run for as long as necessary during the emergency event. By moving emergency information to Channel 27, viewers will have the option of returning to regular cable programming once they have received the emergency message, or remaining on Channel 27 for updates.
Partnerships
- AT&T Cable Services (formerly TCI Cablevision)
Purchase and installation of the cable notification system
- State of Colorado, Office of Emergency Management
Software and hardware for remote access
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Software and hardware for remote access
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