B. Public Information and Notification 1. Whenever possible, the PIO should establish a communications center near the Emergency Operations Center or another location with land-line and mobile phones, voicemail, two-way radio and computer network/modem capabilities are available in order to communicate with the media and with the EOC. 2. The center should be equipped to serve as a disaster inquiry center that responds to public questions and be near a room or area where press conferences can be held. If this center cannot be established on campus due to the disaster, then it should be established at a nearby location. C. Emergency Notification Systems 1. CWU maintains an emergency notification system comprised of several modules used to notify our students, faculty and staff of an emergency on the Ellensburg campus. The system includes: CWU Alert!, a telephone, text and email system; Desktop Alert!, a system that can broadcast message to all computers logged into the network; and Alert Update an email system used post-incident to notify subscribers that an incident occurred. 2. Other modes used to share emergency communications include phone trees, internal building public address systems, reader boards, steam whistle, vehicle and hand-held public address speakers, webpage messaging, closure phone line, use of media including CWU radio station 88.1fm, social media postings and staff contacts in each building. The emergency notification system may be used to continue to give our community updates of an emergency or disaster if deemed appropriate by the IC.
COMMUNICATIONS
A. Overview 1. Communications are essential for adequate response and recovery from a major disaster. Communication covers both the internal interactions of responders and managers as well as the information being given to our community. 2. During a disaster the university may establish an Emergency Operations Center. A segment of that center will be dedicated to establishing and maintaining internal and external communications. On large scale events involving mutual aid, KITTCOM will coordinate first responder radio dispatching.
B. Assumptions 1. Communications needs during a disaster may exceed normal capabilities.
2. Telephone service may be interrupted or terminated. 3. Two-way radio service may be interrupted or terminated. 4. Geographic and weather conditions can limit communications. 5. The IC will establish a communications plan (ICS form 205).
C. Radio System 1. CWU will use KITTCOM and its multi-jurisdictional radio system for interoperable communications with outside agencies, including Command and Control. 2. If available, two-way radios will be the default and primary communication tool between responders and the incident command team using good radio practices such as short and concise messages. D. Facilities Maintenance Division (FMD) 1. Utilizes numerous hand-held radios capable of communicating over several frequencies. However, these radios are not compatible with emergency responder frequencies. The facilities radio communication system is dispatched by a main radio in the Jongeward building. 2. In the event of an emergency, the IC will determine which facility personnel will be issued radios and the frequency to be used. There may be a need to assign facility personnel to a specific frequency to streamline communications and reduce air time struggles. For example, the EOC most likely doesn’t need to be aware of one employee requesting another employee to bring them a tool or other item.
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