PLAN - Another Part of the Public's Emergency Communications Plan
Posted by: Rachel Racusen, Director of Public Affairs

As we constantly say at FEMA, having an emergency communications plan is one of the most important things people can do to be prepared for disasters. And this morning, Administrator Fugate will join several of our partners in emergency communications at an event in New York City to announce a new tool that will enhance federal, state and local emergency communications plans with the public – the Personal Localized Alerting Network, or more appropriately, PLAN.

PLAN is a technology developed by FEMA that will allow any customers of participating wireless carriers to turn their mobile phones into personal alert systems. What’s new about that? Well a few key things:
•    First, these alerts will be geographically targeted, so people will receive them based on where they are when an emergency hits, as opposed to where they live. This is a much more practical and useful way of getting emergency information, when it matters most.
•    Second, these alerts will be able to get through to phones, no matter how jammed nearby cell towers are.
•    And third, they are completely free of charge and require no sign up. Wireless carriers voluntary choose to participate, and in doing so, provide the technology to new and existing customers. Customers whose phones include the new PLAN technology will have the alerts already activated on their phones, but can opt out of receiving them if they choose to do so.

At 11 a.m. EDT today, Administrator Fugate will join the FCC Chairman, Julius Genachowski, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and the top executives of AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon to announce that this new technology will be ready to go ahead of schedule in New York City and possibly other metro areas – by the end of this year.

The CPE is preparing to launch its new website with a new look and with many interactive social media components. What makes this so important is all of the issues occurring around the world today:  The level of social and civil unrest taking place; The incredible and damaging experience in Japan; and The implications of this disaster in Japan to the U.S.

Constant planning, mitigation and testing become vital to the protection of our people, business and markets which makes organizations like the Contingency Planning Exchange (CPE) essential for providing education to professionals through its experts and a sharing of information and ideas with your counterparts.  

During the coming months we will be bringing to our members some of the best practices and solutions from our sponsors, presenters and members that have been effected by these type of incidents.  

Keep visiting our website for updates on exciting programs and sponsor solutions.

CPE is a growing organization, encompassing a membership base from a variety of industries and widening disciplines associated with contingency planning and crisis management. To meet these demands for knowledge, education and networking, the CPE has reached out to areas beyond our immediate region and developed new chapters in Long Island, Washington DC, and the Lower Hudson Valley. Our new chapters are carefully selected to add dimension not only to our core membership but to meet the objectives and mission of the organization.