HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeminole County Emergency Management - Billboard Emergency Alert Sysem - 2011 08 08 SE/ 41. TY
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APPENDIX A
Billboard Emergency Alert System (B.E.A.S)
Business Contact Information Form
Date: August 8, 2011
Business Name: City of Winter Springs
Street Address: 1126 E . State Road 434
City /State /Zip: Winter Springs, Fl 32708
Business Phone Number: 407 FAX
Business Email Address: beas @winterspringsf 1 . org
First Point of Contact
Name: Chris Edwards
Phone Number: 407 - 327 - 7571 E -mail Address: beas @winterspringsfl . org
Secondary Point of Contact:
Name: Joe Alcala
Phone Number: 407 - 327 -7589 E -mail Address: beas @winterspringsf1 .org
Business Representative Signature: _ v
— r
By signing this form, the business agrees to become a partner in the Billboard Emergency Alert System (B.E.A.S.) program
on a voluntary basis. This will entail utilizing the businesses private signs to notes the public of emergencies within
Seminole County. The business will be notified of the message to post and the duration of time the message should be
displayed.
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S EMIN 0U SEMINOLE COUNTY
FLORIDA'S NATURAL CHOICE
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
CEMP - OPERATIONS ANNEX C -2o
Billboard Emergency Alert System
March 2011
PURPOSE:
The intent and purpose of this plan is to provide a framework for the implementation and coordination of
Seminole County's Billboard Emergency Alert System (B.E.A.S.), which utilizes digital signage from government,
private business, non - profit and faith -based partners to alert citizens of and guests of Seminole County of
emergency events occurring in the community. The BEAS plan objective is to outline the function of the program,
who should participate, how to implement the system should it be needed, marketing to businesses and non -profit
institutions, and identify the use of the B.E.A.S. to help expedite information to the community during an
emergency.
BACKGROUND:
In 2007, Anderson County, South Carolina, created the Billboard Emergency Alert System due to a lack of
emergency signs run by the Department of Transportation (DOT). If citizens were traveling by County or City
operated roads without DOT signage, they would be unaware of an important message, such as an Amber Alert, or
impending emergency. By utilizing local business' signs on County and City roads emergency messages would
reach a larger number of citizens. The program has gained National recognition and many communities are
adopting this as a standard form of communication during emergencies and disasters.
Seminole County has the potential for similar instances to occur and saw the functionality for utilizing such a
system. Much of the geography of the County does have DOT signs placed on the sides of the roads due to dense
rural areas. There are numerous business, non - profit, and faith -based organizations that have digital electronic
signs on major corridors and surface roads throughout the community. This program is not intended to replace or
duplicate any notification systems currently being used but to enhance the notifications to reach the maximum
number of individuals traveling on the roadways. Seminole County currently uses a reverse emergency calling
system, the Emergency Alert System, and an electronic text notification system (Alert Seminole) to notify citizens
of important information. B.E.A.S. is another avenue for getting important information out to the public in a
timely and efficient manner.
PROCEDURES:
Partnerships with businesses, non - profit, and faith -based organizations within Seminole County will be on a
voluntary basis. These business partners agree to post the emergency messages designated by the County public
safety officials. Government signage along roadways will be used to reach the maximum number of individuals
with these emergency messages. The contact information form is attached as Appendix A.
Seminole County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will work with Seminole County Growth Management
(ESF -i8), Seminole County Public Works (ESF -3) and Seminole County Sheriffs Office (ESF -i6) to determine
which businesses, non - profits, and faith -based institutions have the appropriate digital signage to accommodate
the B.E.A.S. Program and which FDOT signs can be utilized.
Notifications will be initiated by either an Emergency Management staff member or designated individual.
Agencies with electronic signs will receive a Reverse 911 call and /or electronic text notification giving them the
information to post on their billboard. Expected length of time will be included in the initial message. If the time
is unknown, this will also be indicated. All agencies will have the rights to post the message or to leave their
standard messages activated. This is a voluntary program and no agency should be pressured to activate the
electronic sign if another message is critical to the function of the agency. De- activation of the message will be
implemented in the same way as the notification.
While different types of emergencies occur from time to time with limited warning, B.E A.S. will most actively be
utilized during the following emergency situations:
1. Wildfires
2. Evacuation
3. Severe Weather — (Hurricanes /Tornadoes)
4. Flooding
5. Other information deemed important by public safety officials
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. When an event happens that requires the B.E.A.S. to be implemented, public safety officials will obtain all
pertinent information and draft the message to be posted. The Office of Emergency Management, or
Public Safety Answering Point (9 -1 -1 Center), will ensure the timely and accurate information to be
released to the public.
2. The OEM, or Emergency Communications Center, will compose and send the reverse emergency calling
message to all voluntary agencies and the Seminole County Public Works Department for them to post to
applicable road signs.
3. OEM or the Emergency Communications Center will give expected activation time and de- activation time
to all voluntary agencies and SC Public Works.
4. It is the responsibility of the agency and SC Public Works to stop the activation of the billboard message
once message has expired.
ACTIVATION OF B.E.A.S.:
1. The activation of B.E.A.S. begins with the occurrence of an event.
2. When an event happens and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is notified, OEM or their
designee will evaluate the severity of the event and determine whether activation of the B.E.A.S. is
necessary.
3. The necessary message will be entered into the reverse emergency calling system and sent out to SC
Public Works and the business groups who have volunteered to become a B.E.A.S. partner.
4. Once the event has ended everyone will be notified to stop the message activation, unless instructions
were given at the start of the activation.
SEMINOLE ejLi,
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FLORIDAS NATURAL CHOICE APPENDIX A
Billboard Emergency Alert System (B.E.A.S)
Business Contact Information Form
Date:
Business Name:
Street Address:
City /State /Zip:
Business Phone Number: FAX
Business Email Address:
First Point of Contact
Name:
Phone Number: E -mail Address:
Secondary Point of Contact:
Name:
Phone Number: E -mail Address:
Business Representative Signature:
By signing this form, the business agrees to become a partner in the Billboard Emergency Alert System (B.E.A.S.) program
on a voluntary basis. This will entail utilizing the businesses private signs to notify the public of emergencies within
Seminole County. The business will be notified of the message to post and the duration of time the message should be
displayed.
Contact Information
Business Addres City Zip Contact Phone Number
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