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Prepare for Hurricane Season |
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May 14, 2012 – Did you see this message on a digital billboard directing you to www.gcoem.org? If you did, you have seen of the Gulf Coast Emergency Communications Network in action. The County of Galveston County has partnered with Clear Channel Outdoor and our neighboring counties to warn residents and visitors of natural or man-made disasters throughout the region. During a disaster, “EMERGENCY ALERT” will be in red letters on a yellow banner with the emergency specific message in white on a black background. The test message is displayed below: 
By joining this network, we are enhancing our plans for Hurricane Season on June 1st. For additional information on preparing your family for hurricanes, please visit: http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.
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Air Quality Awareness - The AQI |
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Monday, April 30, 2012 – Air quality affects how we live and breathe. So much so, you may have heard your local weather forecaster speak about an “Orange” ozone day. What you may not know is that this is part of the Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI is the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) and local agencies' key tool for outdoor air forecasting. The AQI’s purpose is reporting daily air quality, how clean or unhealthy the air is, and the associated health effects. It focuses on health effects we may experience within a few hours or days after breathing unhealthy air. AQI is calculated for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. For each of these pollutants, the EPA has established national air quality standards to protect public health. It is also divided into six categories by the range values of 0-500, the health concern from “Good” to “Hazardous” and the color, from Green to Maroon. Everybody is encouraged to learn more about the AQI, though this information is especially important to those with environmental and respiratory sensitivities. To learn more about the AQI, please visit http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.aqi.
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New Alert Technology Coming On Line |
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April 11, 2012 -- A system that allows government agencies to quickly notify cell phone users of emergency information without pre-registration or charge to the recipient is soon to become reality.
Several companies are testing the system, known as the Commercial Mobile Alert System or CMAS, during the month of April. CMAS is designed to allow the President of the United States, the National Weather Service, and emergency operations centers, among other agencies, to send text messages to the customers of various commercial wireless providers, at no charge.
The Federal Communications Commission proposed and adopted the network structure, operational procedures and technical requirements for CMAS in response to the Warning, Alert and Response Network Act of 2006.
Cell phone carriers will soon sell mobile phones with the capability of receiving CMAS notifications. Individuals will not have to “opt in” or be charged for the notifications, which will fall into 3 categories: imminent threats like a hazardous materials incident or tornado; Amber alerts, and presidential messages.
Government agencies interested in using the CMAS system will have to apply for permission from FEMA. Approved agencies will then receive training in its proper use. |
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