West Coast/Alaska Tsunami
Warning Center
Operations Manual
NOAA/NWS/WCATWC
Palmer,
Section
5.3: Overview of Product Dissemination Paths
Last Updated:
10/2011
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary of Message
Dissemination Methods at the
West Coast/Alaska
Tsunami Warning Center
|
Service |
Owner
or Operating Agency |
Primary
user audience |
|
* NMCLine |
NWS |
NWS Offices
via AWIPS, NWS Telecommunications Gateway to EMWIN, Family of Services,
Global telecommunications system, and other NWS communication systems. |
|
* NOAA
Weather Wire |
NWS |
National
Weather Service forecast subscribers and U.S./Canada state/province emergency
management agencies |
|
NAWAS |
FEMA |
Emergency
management agencies nationwide. |
|
AKWAS |
|
Emergency
management offices in State of |
|
Hurricane
Hotline |
NWS |
East/Gulf
coast WFOs |
|
VHF radio |
|
|
|
Satellite
Phone Backup |
WCATWC
& PTWC |
Tsunami
Warning Centers (emergency backup communications) |
|
*EIDS |
USGS |
Emergency
management officials. |
|
*INTERNET
(web site, email, RSS, and cell phone text messaging) |
Public |
International
and domestic government agencies, academic institutions and the public in
general |
|
Telephone |
Public |
A Primary
and Secondary phone list is maintained |
Text messages
are automatically composed by the message generation software.
The wording of the text is dependant on the
size and location of the earthquake. An
asterisk (*) in the table above indicates messages are transmitted on these
systems simultaneously from the Operations console at the center.
Figure 1 shows main communications paths and recipients.
Figure 1 -
NADIN2 - The FAA NADIN2 Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network is a world-wide communications system for the exchange of
messages and/or digital data between stations primarily for the safety of air
navigation and other air services. Since most flight service facilities must be
cognizant of current aviation weather forecasts, many weather forecast offices
are provided with AFTN terminals.
Messages over this media must be specifically addressed to
recipients. Collective addresses are
used to transmit to the Alaska Weather Service Offices, Weather Forecast
Offices, Flight Service Stations, and Federal Aviation Administration regional
Operation Centers nationwide. WCATWC feeds messages into NADIN2 through
the NWSTG.
NMCLine
– This is the circuit
between the NWS Telecommunication Gateway in Silver Spring MD and the Alaska
Regional Headquarters (ARH) in
NOAA Weather Wire - The NOAA Weather Wire is a satellite
broadcast service maintained by the NWS to disseminate weather products
domestically. Both the WCATWC and PTWC have uplink and downlink capability on
the NWW system. Users of the NWW system consist of Weather Service Offices,
state and provincial emergency management agencies, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Receiver sites can program their selector box to receive any number of selected
NWS products (or messages).
NAWAS - The NAational WArning System is a nationwide dedicated voice telephone system connecting
selected defense, National Weather Service, emergency management, and Coast
Guard agencies. The circuit is supported by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA). Control over transmissions on the circuit is maintained by the
AKWAS - The AlasKa WArning
System is a statewide dedicated
voice telephone system connecting Alaska Division of Homeland Security and
Emergency Management (DHS&EM), National Guard, Law Enforcement and Weather
Service Offices. The circuit is supported by the FEMA and the Alaska
DHS&EM. Control over transmissions on the circuit is maintained by the
State Warning Point at
Hurricane Hotline – The Hurricane Hotline is operated
by the National Weather Service and connects East/Gulf coast Weather Forecast
Offices through a dedicated circuit similar to the NAWAS.
VHF Radio – Broadcasting on 155.295 (Emergency
Area Command Frequency) and 155.250 MHz this system provides emergency voice
communications to the Alaska DHS&EM, Alaska State Troopers, and Palmer
Police. Messages are only transmitted by
this means in absence of primary communications.
Satellite Phone – This phone system is for emergency
communications between the two tsunami warning centers and other primary message
recipients. It is intended for use when
other normal communications systems have failed.
EIDS – Earthquake Information Distribution
System - An earthquake information dissemination tool operated by the United
States Geological Survey. The internet
is used to transmit earthquake information to USGS servers where it is
disseminated to various web sites and agencies.
Internet – Group email lists (for emergency
managers) are maintained. Watch/Warning/Advisory
messages and Tsunami Information Statements (WExxxx)
are sent to the full set, whereas messages regarding lesser events (SExxxx)are sent to a smaller
subset. Shortened cell phone pager
messages are also transmitted via internet to emergency managers.
A public web site is maintained at http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/ where
current event messages and maps are posted. The web site also provides a large
amount of educational, safety, and scientific information.
A public email and cell phone text messaging service
is also available through the WCATWC web site, as well as RSS feeds and XML/CAP
format products.
Telephone – Primary and Secondary telephone
lists are maintained. A short call down
list is notified after events.