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Meteor Burst Communication Component in FEMA National Emergency Management System (1985)
Meteor Burst Communication Component in FEMA National Emergency Management System (1985)
Meteor Burst Communication Component in FEMA National Emergency Management System (1985)
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Ill
OIS - Office Information System
RACES - Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services
REDCOM - U.S. Army Ready Command
REICC - Regional Emergency Information Coordination
Center
SACNET - Secure Automatic Communications Network
SCEPP - Southern California Earthquake Preparedness
Project
WATS - Wide Area Telecomm~~nications System
WAWAS - Washington Area Warning System
WHSR - White House Situation Room
WWMCCS - Worldwide Military Command and
Control Center
INTRODUCTION
The Federal Emergency Manage- Scope and Approach 0 NEMS interfaces with other
merit Agency (FEMA) has com- Federal agencies (civil and
To achieve the broad objectives out- military);
prehensive responsibilities for man-
lined above, the overview examines
aging the civil aspects of emergen-
the NEMS &nerically from three 0 Interfaces with State and local
cies affecting the United States. The
perspectives. The first is from the governments;
dimensions and complexity of that
viewpoint of the underlying con-
mission involve a wide variety of
cept, cast in terms of the 1iat11re of 0 ~ ~with volLllltary
t and
~ pi- ~
management functions, all critically the NEMS, its capabilities, and
dependent upon information. A vate sector organizations.
significant opera tive properties
correspondingly comprehensive
characterizing the system. Also de-
mechanism of communications and
scribed is the functional relationship
information systems is required in
of NEMS to the Integrated
order to perform those functions.
Emergency Management System
Such a mechanism is being im-
(IEMS) concept.
plemented by FEMA in the form of
an integrated National Emergency The second perspective focuses
Management System (NEMS) that on the major components making
is capable of supporting the full up the NEMS, including both ex-
range of information requirements isting and planned assets. These
in every phase and type of activity system components are identified
associated with emergency manage- according to three categories as
merit. The NEMS provides informa- follows:
tion necessary for the Emergency
Management Authority, the o Key nodal facilities where
President, Vice President and management processes are
Director of FEMA, to exercise timely conducted;
decision-making across a wide
o Principal telecomm~~nications
continuum of emergency situations.
systems available;
This report presents a descriptive
overview of the NEMS. o Information systems and their as-
sociated ADP equipment.
Purpose
Finally, the NEMS is viewed from
This overview has been developed to the perspective of how the system
provide information explaining the components fit together. The fol-
FEMA NEMS concept to interested lowing main areas of its internal and
parties. FEMA would use this external structure are outlined:
publication for coordination and
orientation throughout the emergen- o Organizational configuration of
cy management community. the core elements of NEMS pro-
per, down to and including the
FEMA Regions;
THE NEMS CONCEPT
AND DEFINITION
Background
Figure 1
FEMA is the focal point within the NEMS FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Federal Government for dealing
with a wide spectrum of emergen-
cies affecting the United States in
peace and war. It has a central role
in both domestic and national se-
curity emergencies, ranging from
natural and technological disasters
through wartime nuclear attack.
FEMA's statutory responsibilities
with respect to these emergencies
involve: ni;ti@ion (prevention, risk
reduction, and effects limitation);
preparedness (policy, planning, pro-
grains, training, and education); re-
sponse (active coordination of on-
scene activities during an ,
HazardsNulnerabillIy Predictions and Warnings Emergency Verification 1 Resource Mobilization Budgets
emergency); and recovery (restoring Resources Resource Stockpiling Warnings Structures Personnel
affected areas to normalcy). It thus Resource Allocation Criteria Resource Mobilization Resource Mobilization Economy Security
Plans and Operations Training Evacuation Institution Legislation
deals with all emergencies in a
comprehensive time frame: pre- --Structural
Non-Structural
Insurance
Exercises
Hazards/Vulnerablliiies
Problems
Protective Action
Search and Rescue
Care of Victims
Civil Security
Damage Assessment
Damage Control
Briefings
Coordination
The NEMS concept is predicated munications center, ADP center, 0 Temporary ad hoc field facilities
upon many different systems ele- and executive aids (terminals and of a Federal Coordinating Officer
ments that together provide the computer driven displays). (FCO) - set up during an
means for carrying out its various emergency on site or near the
functions. Essentially these involve o Alternate Emergency Information objective area.
three basic types of instrumen- Coordination Center (AEICC) -
talities: physical facilities, telecom- located in Virginia to back up Planned Facilities
munications, and information sys- the EICC - containing a com- Important new facilities are planned
terns. The major NEMS components munications center, computer to be added as components of the
in each category, both existing and center, terminals and displays, NEMS, particularly in the FEMA re-
planned, are discussed in the sec- briefinglconference rooms, and gions. These facilities are REICC's
tions following. operations areas for Federal and primarily serve to interconnect
Agencies. the FEMA regions with the FEMA
NEMS Physical Facilities National Headquarters as well as
o Olney, MD Emergency Opera-
The basic elements of the NEMS tions Center (EOC) facility - with the State EOCs. The regional
anatomy are the several installa- containing one of the major EICC's will support the FEMA Re-
tions serving as key functional FEMA computer centers, plus gional Directors in the same fashion
nodes within the system other elements. that the EICCIAEICC facilities pro-
framework. These physical com- vide support at the National level.
ponents are the operational force 0 National Warning Center (NWC)
- colocated with NORAD Com- NEMS Telecommunications
where other components converge
bat Operations Center (COC), Capabilities
and serve as interface points with
the NEMS users. Present and Cheyenne Mountain Complex, Considerable in-place communica-
planned facilities are described Colorado Springs, CO. tions assets are presently available
below. o Alternate National Warning Cen- to FEMA. Substantial increases and
ter (ANWC) - colocated with improvements are being provided
Existing NEMS Facilities for in the near and midterm
Olney computer center.
There are a number of such principal future. When implemented, the
o Regional EICC's - located in the resulting capabilities are expected
nodal facilities that now comprise
NEMS. They include the following: ten FEMA Regions - correspond to satisfy most of the NEMS com-
to Uniform Federal Regional Coun- munications requirements.
o Emergency Information Coor- cil Cities, of which six Regions
dination Center (EICC) - located have hardened EOCs.
at FEMA Headquarters, Federal o Charlottesville Computer Facility
Center Plaza, 500 C Street, S.W. - ADP software support for
in Washington, D.C. The new FEMA.
EICC complex contains an opera-
tions area, work stations for
program staff emergency teams,
conference room. a com-
Existing FEMA Systems In addition, FEMA has some fixed o Federal Telecommunications
communications assets, such as System (FTS) of the General Ser-
Listed below arc the teleconim~mi- switclling centers, and a limited vices Administration;
cations systems now operated by amount of stored deployable coni-
FEMA. All were acquired in their ni~~nications, including mobile FTS Voice Network;
present form as a legacy from pre- equipment, for national and regional Federal Secure Telecom-
decessor agencies, although sonic use in the field during emergencies. munications System (FSTS);
arc being upgraded. They include: it also lias limited facsimile available
National Warning System and, on a local internal basis, closed- Advanced Record System
(NAWAS) - voice, via commer- circuit TV. (ARS) - common-user
cial circuits teletypddata network (not
Existing U.S. Government available at the Regions); and
Washington Area Warning System Systems Used by/
(WAWAS) - voice, via comnier- Accessible to FEMA 0 Defense Communications System
cia1 circuits (DCS)
A wide range of government tele-
Emergency Broadcast System communications systems belonging AUTOVON;
(EBS) of tlie President - voice, to other Federal agencies and de-
partments, both civil and military, AUTOSEVOCOM; and
via c6mmon carrier (supporting
s~ibsystemsmanaged and oper- are used by or available to FEMA. AUTODIN.
ated by FEMA, including activa- Many are general service (GENSER)
tion of network) systems, but others are mission- WWMCCS/NMCS-related com-
oriented or function-specific net- munications systems, for exam-
FEMA National Teletype System works. Some would be accessible ple, JCS Alerting Network
(FNATS) - utilizes commercial only in extremes, with FEMA entry (JCSAN), Minimum Essential
channels; coverage extends down restricted to special circumstances. Emergency Communications Net-
to State EOCs Most of them, however, can be used work (MEECN),NMCS Emergen-
FEMA National Voice System to relay FEMA traffic. The major cy Conference Network,
(FNAVS) - based on DCS AU- ones are listed below according to Washington Area Wideband
TOVON long lines to Regions, the agency having primary jurisdic- System (WAWS).
and dedicated commercial circuits tion:
o NATO Integrated Communica-
from Regions to States tions System (NICS)
FEMA National Radio System o State Department Diplomatic
(FNARS) - HF network down to Telecommunications Service
Regions (voice and radio teletype
record traffic), with local network (DTS)
in each region to States
Interagency Communications Sys-
tern (ICS) - voice and record
0 National Weather Service Telc- Existing Commercial Communica- even video conferencing. An exam-
typewriter Network (NWSTN) tions Services Used by FEMA ple is the Marriott Corporation's
satellite system, with 15 earth sta-
0 NOAA Weather Radio Network A substantial proportion of FEMAts
tions currently in operation and 20
communication activity, both day-to-
0 Department of Energy (DOE) day and during emergencies, is con- more planned. These nonpublic
Comm~~nicalions ducted over the utility-type corn- communications include the
DOE Emergency Communica- private networks of industrial
mercial systems generally serving
tions System - HF the public at large. Among these, manufacturing companies, railroads
the main ones are: and other forms of transportation,
DOE Secure Automatic Com- oil and gas pipelines, electric
munications Network (SAC- 0 Commercial Common Carrier utilities, retail merchandizing and
NET) Telephone: other business firms, and financial
Nuclear Emergency Search services organizations.
Team (NEST) Communication Wide Area Telecomm~inica-
Networks (VHF-UHF) tions System (WATS);and Such facilities might be useful
to FEMA in dealing with emergen-
0 Federal Aviation Administration Direct Distance Dialing (DDD); cies. At present, however, these
(FAA) Communications private-sector capabilities are only
FAA Executive Staff Command potentially available for FEMA
and Control Network o News Wire Services Teletype- use. The exact utility of these sys-
writer Networks - as subscriber; tems has not been evaluated and
FAA Modernized Weather
and the necessary physical and pro-
Teletypewriter Communications
System (MWTCS) cedural arrangements that would
o Public News Media (press, radio1 allow entry into the systems are
Aeronautical Fixed Telecom- TV broadcasts) - one way trans- not in place.
munication Network (AFTN) mission only.
FAA Emergency Radio Com- Existing Private-Sector Com-
m~mications munications Available to FEMA
National Command System A host of privately owned telecom-
Network munications systems blanket the
Regional Command System Nation. In many areas their cover-
Networks. age is nationwide in scope or even
international. Some are highly
sophisticated state-of-the-art net-
works employing advanced trans-
mission media and providing
several modes of service, such as
voice, record, data, facsimile, or
SkyTel note: The FEMA contract for the
Meter Burst Communication equipment
went to Harris Corp.
Planned Telecommunications tional to each Region and laterally stalled at FEMA Headquarters, the
between Regions, using trans- Special Facility, and each of the ten
Several major programs of large- portable earth terminals. FEMA Regions. In addition, an ex-
scale new acquisitions, improve- panded and improved secure voice
ments, and general upgrading of 0 Disaster Area Radio Network system is planned, which will pro-
FEMA's telecommunications (VHF) in each Region, for field vide for telephone security terminals
capabilities are being pursued. The deployment to emergency sites. at FEMA Headquarters (plus an in-
object is to create an independent 0 FEMA Mobile Communications ternal secure telephone system with-
Direction, Control and Warning - in each FEMA Region. Self - in the headquarters), the Special
(DCWJcommunications system contained, self-deployable corn- Facility, each of the ten Regional
wholly owned, controlled and m~micationsmodules (minimum centers, and the EOCs of each of
operated by FEMA. It is intended mobile operations), tor tying in the 50 States and the U.S. Ter-
to be the survivable backbone Nationall Regional/ State/ Local ritories. Also planned is an en-
system for NEMS. Plans call for a authorities and communications hanced secure record comm~~nica-
comprehensive and integrated na- systems. tions system, which involves instal-
tionwide system that is opera- ling 118 secure terminals, including
tionally flexible in terms of rnulti- o Interim Expanded NAWAS - automated message handling fea-
media multi-mode capabilities. A addition of warning terminals in tures, at all of the same sites as for
critical feature is that the DCW counterforce areas (for a total of the secure voice system, as well as
plant infrastructure would belong 5000 Warning Points vs. current at each Federal Agency emergency
to FEMA (or other US. Govern- 2400) and conversion of system operationslcommand center. Besides
ment agencies) and not depend on to meteor burst radio links. these automated secure terminals,
commercial common carriers as at o Second generation EBS - Re- Regional message switching com-
present. Other additions and placement of EBS carrier connec- puters (store, forward, route) are to
enhancements are also to be pro- tivity to all State EBS entry points be provided in each of the ten FEMA
vided. The major new telecom- - to be flexible multi-media, Regions for general record traffic.
munications carriers planned by based on Satellite, HF, andlor LF Other major telecommunications
FEMA for its Direction, Control, radio links in lieu of present improvements are planned, such as
and Warning Communications commercial circuits. the replacement and upgrading of
System (DCWCSJconsist of: FNARS radio equipment at all State
o Secure Video Communications - and Territory EOCs, along with re-
0 Low Frequency Groundwave for conferencing throughout placement and upgrading of the
Radio Teletype Network - Na- FEMA Headquarters and with mobile/transportable HF radio
tional to Regions and between Re- other Federal Agencies. equipment of each FEMA Region
gions Over and above the new tele- that is used to link the Regional
communications carriers, important EOC and on-site emergency man-
0 Meteor Burst Radio Network -
new systems capabilities are agement elements in the field.
National to Regions and between
Regions. planned that will greatly increase
the utility and effectiveness of all
0 Satellite Communications (VIA the NEMS con~municationsassets.
DSCS 111, 2 channels for FEMA) Electronic Private Automatic Branch
- digital voice, teletype, fac- Exchanges (EPABX) are to be in-
simile, and data network. Na-
Recapitulation - NEMS Telecom- 0 Voice - with local electronic au- m~micationscapabilities when fully
munications Capabilities tomatic switching implemented. It identifies the ma-
FEMA's present and planned tele- 0 Teletype - with automatic mes- jor systems owned or available for
communications assets provide for sage handlinglswitching use by FEMA and shows the scope
a comprehensive and integrated of coverage of each. The horizontal
communications system to be part 0 Data - via voice grade and high- block indicated by heavy lines
of the NEMS infrastructure. speed circuits marks the organizational bounds of
Capabilities will run the full range 0 Facsimile FEMA proper. Notably, most of the
of media and modes, in various individual communications systems
combinations, and extend from the 0 Video - limited to Washington extend far beyond those bounds, in
highest national level down to the area conferencing. many cases spanning echelons
local authorities on scene in the above FEMA and reaching all the
emergency area. A salient charac- Portrayed in Figure 2 is a graphic way down to the State and local
teristic is the flexibility afforded by summary of the NEMS telecom- level.
the m~dtivletransmission media
available, namely: Figure 2
NEMS TELECOMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES COVERAGE
0 Terrestrial
FEMA 1 OTHER U S . GOVERNMENT I COMMERCIAI
Landline (wire cablelfiber A
F
H
F
S N W
A E A
C
R
W
A
J
C
N
O
W
A
optics) N E N T S T H A W S
Radio
Low frequency (LF)
Meteor Burst (MB)
INTERNATIONAL
1
FEDERAL AGENCY