Subject:
Title
Memorandum Of Agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security thru the Federal Emergency Management Agency Regarding Usage of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System during Emergency Events
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator for a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) thru the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Pinellas County (County) for use of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) during emergency events.
• Execution of the MOA provides access IPAWS for public messages during emergency events.
• Prior three (3) year agreement approved on March 30, 2023.
• No prior Board actions on this item.
• This MOA has no fiscal impact on Pinellas County.
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Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.2 Enhance community safety
Summary:
The purpose of this agreement is to obtain operational access to IPAWS for public messages during emergency events. IPAWS provides the County with an effective way to alert and warn the public about serious emergencies using the Emergency Alert System (EAS), Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio, and other public alerting systems from a single interface.
This agreement outlines the relationship between the Collaborative Operating Group (COG), County, and DHS thru FEMA; including, designated managerial, technical, and system users associated with the County.
This agreement is being renewed for a three (3) year term.
Background/Explanation:
IPAWS is an internet-based service used by federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities to issue critical public alerts and warnings. IPAWS sends messages through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) providing warnings via broadcast, cable, satellite and wireline communications. EAS participants are stewards of this important public service in close partnership with alerting officials at all levels of government. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) currently uses IPAWS in the Everbridge notification system.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal cost for this agreement or access to the system.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Memorandum of Agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Cathie Perkins, Director, Emergency Management
Partners:
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA)
Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Program Management Office
Attachments:
MOA-FLPinellasCO.IPAWS_APP.3438.COG