Communication

Homeland Security Advisory System

 * Color-coded Threat Level System
 * Citizen Guidance on the Homeland Security Advisory System
 * Source: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=29

Green - Low Risk
 * Develop a family emergency plan. Share it with family and friends, and practice the plan.
 * Visit http://www.Ready.gov/ for help creating a plan.
 * Create an “Emergency Supply Kit” for your household.
 * Be informed. Visit http://www.Ready.gov/ or obtain a copy of “Preparing Makes Sense, Get Ready Now” by calling 1-800-BE-READY.
 * Know how to shelter-in-place and how to turn off utilities (power, gas, and water) to your home.
 * Examine volunteer opportunities in your community, such as Citizen Corps, Volunteers in Police Service, Neighborhood Watch or others, and donate your time.
 * Consider completing an American Red Cross first aid or CPR course, or Community Emergency
 * Response Team (CERT) course.

Blue - Guarded Risk
 * Complete recommended steps at level green.
 * Review stored disaster supplies and replace items that are outdated.
 * Be alert to suspicious activity and report it to proper authorities.

Yellow - Elevated Risk
 * Complete recommended steps at levels green and blue. Ensure disaster supply kit is stocked and ready.
 * Check telephone numbers in family emergency plan and update as necessary.
 * Develop alternate routes to/from work or school and practice them.
 * Continue to be alert for suspicious activity and report it to authorities.

Orange - High Risk
 * Complete recommended steps at lower levels.
 * Exercise caution when traveling, pay attention to travel advisorie.
 * Review your family emergency plan and make sure all family members know what to do.
 * Be Patient. Expect some delays, baggage searches and restrictions at public buildings.
 * Check on neighbors or others that might need assistance in an emergency.

Red - Severe Risk
 * Complete all recommended actions at lower levels.
 * Listen to local emergency management officials.
 * Stay tuned to TV or radio for current information/instructions.
 * Be prepared to shelter-in-place or evacuate, as instructed.
 * Expect traffic delays and restrictions.
 * Provide volunteer services only as requested.
 * Contact your school/business to determine status of work day.

National Weather Service

 * National Weather Service (NWS)
 * NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR)
 * NWR requires a special radio receiver or scanner capable of picking up the signal. Broadcasts are found in the VHF public service band at these seven frequencies (MHz): 162.400 162.425 162.450 162.475 162.500 162.525 162.550
 * National_Weather_Service
 * NOAA Weather Radio All-Hazards (NWR), sometimes called Weatheradio (though this is actually a trademark of receiver manufacturer Tandy), is a special radio system that transmits weather warnings and forecasts 24 hours a day across most of the United States.
 * NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) is a satellite data collection and dissemination system operated by the National Weather Service. Its purpose is to provide state and federal government, commercial users, media, and private citizens with timely delivery of meteorological, hydrological, climatological, and geophysical information.
 * EMWIN is the Emergency Managers Weather Information Network, a system designed to provide the emergency management community with access to a set of NWS warnings, watches, forecasts, and other products at no recurring cost. Its can receive data via radio, internet, or a dedicated satellite dish, depending on the needs and capabilities of the user.
 * The NOAAPORT broadcast system provides a one-way broadcast communication of NOAA environmental data and information in near real time to NOAA and external users. This broadcast service is implemented by a commercial provider of satellite communications utilizing C-band.
 * The Weather.gov website is a data rich website operated by NWS that serves as a portal to hundreds of thousands of webpages and more than 300 different NWS websites. From the homepage, it is possible to enter a city and state to get a local forecast page, view a rapidly updated map of active watch and warnings, and select areas related to graphical forecasts, national maps, radar displays, rivers, air quality, satellite images and climate. Also offered are xml data feeds of active watch and warnings, ASOS observations and digital forecasts for 5x5 kilometer grids.
 * The Interactive Weather Information Network (IWIN) is an internet site operated by the NWS that has been superceded by the weather.gov and has recently been proposed for termination. A move is underway in the US Congress to severely limit these websites and other free access to NWS products, spearheaded by Senator Rick Santorum, whose Pennsylvania constituency includes major commercial weather provider Accuweather.
 * Every NWS office operates its own web page with access to current products and other information specific to the local area.

Radio

 * ARRL National Association for Amateur Radio
 * SATERN Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network

Telephone

 * CodeRED™ - Rapid Emergency Communication System The CodeRED™ Emergency Telephone Calling System is an extremely high-speed telephone communication service available for emergency notifications. CodeRED™ employs a one-of-a-kind Internet mapping capability for geographic targeting of calls, coupled with a high speed telephone calling system capable of delivering customized pre-recorded emergency messages directly to homes and businesses, live individuals and answering machines, at the rate of up to 60,000 calls per hour.
 * ThunderCall™ - Severe Weather Early Warning System ThunderCall™ is an early warning system designed to deliver severe weather warnings to subscriber's telephones within moments after warning bulletins are issued by the National Weather Service (NWS). ThunderCall™ subscribers receive recorded message alerts anytime severe weather threatens their local area...24 hours a day, 365 days per year. ThunderCall™ monitors for the most threatening NWS warnings including tornados, flash floods, hurricanes, winter storms, and severe thunderstorms. ThunderCall™ is compatible with both traditional telephone lines, and cellular systems.

Web

 * Public Web Stations We are dedicated to helping providing free Internet access and technology assistance in disaster relief shelters.