Wireless Emergency Communications

Project Team

• Helena Mitchell, PhD, Project Director
• Frank Lucia
• Ed Price
• Jeremy Johnson
• Ben Lippincott
• Salimah LaForce

Project Updates

Summary of Initial Findings, October 2006 - Sepetmber 2009

This report summarizes the efforts of the Wireless Emergency Communications (WEC) project team in developing and testing the transmission and usability of public emergency alerting via text messaging and cell-phone transmission of video. The team's work revealed a clear benefit of text-messaging and video alerts transmitted from cell towers in affected areas.

RERC WEC Team Releases Publication on Accessible Emergency Communications

There are over 50 million people in America with a disability (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006) who are frequently overlooked in emergencies. Twelve Considerations for Accessible Emergency Communications is an introduction to select considerations to help meet the distinctive needs of people with disabilities (PWD) during an emergency.

Problem

• Critical, specific and accessible emergency alerts are not reaching vulnerable populations, such as people with disabilities, utilizing the most optimal means and methods
• A next-generation digitally-based alert and warning system should be developed in a manner that assures persons with disabilities will be given equal access to alerts and warnings as other Americans.
• A more comprehensive Emergency Alert System should be developed that incorporates existing FCC disability access rules.

Approach

• Examine several technology approaches to transmit specific emergency alerts and warnings to wireless devices.
• Examine potential interoperability issues associated with interconnection with other currently proposed systems or systems in testing (e.g., DEAS/DHS/FEMA).
• Develop prototypes of one or more promising technology approaches to broadcast local and targeted delivery of alerts and warnings to wireless devices in accessible formats.
• Field test working prototypes with state emergency management agencies, public broadcasting stations and amongst people with sensory disabilities.
• Generate recommendations for the FCC concerning the most feasible approach to ensure equal access to alerts and warnings by people with disabilities.

Resources / Links

Project Contributors & Collaborators

• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

• Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc.
• Georgia Public Broadcasting
• Georgia Radio Reading Service
• National Center for Accessible Media
• WGBH
• EAD and Associates, LLC
• Georgia Tech College of Architecture
• Rochester Institute of Technology and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf
• Gallaudet University
• University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions
• Smith-Kettlewell Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC)

Emergency Communications Legislation & Regulation

• Summary of The Emergency Preparedness and Response for Individuals with Disabilities Act (HR 4704)
• Comments of the American Association of People with Disabilities on the Recommendations of the Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Communications Networks
• Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
• FCC Review of the Emergency Alert System

Emergency Communications Information / Publications

• Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee (CMSAAC)
• Emergency Info Online, Third Edition
• National Council on Disability: The Impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on People with Disabilities: A Look Back and Remaining Challenges
• The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned
• FCC Consumer Facts: Communicating During Emergencies
• Accessible Emergency Notification and Communication:
  State of the Science Conference