DEPARTMENT: SAFD
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Charles N. Hood
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
A Mutual Aid Agreement (MAA) with the Bexar Metro 9-1-1 Network District to provide Public Alert and Warning Services for the City of San Antonio.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this Agreement is to supersede, amend, restate, update and establish the terms of use of Bexar Metro’s Regional Emergency Alert Network (REAN), which currently consists of (1) an emergency notification platform and the supporting 9-1-1 landline database; (2) as applicable, the addition of using the Self Registration Portal (SRP); (3) integration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) infrastructure; and (4) used in combination with Bexar Metro’s tri-county, Alert Origination Software Provider (AOSP). This Mutual Aid Agreement supersedes any previous Emergency Notification System agreement between the parties.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Bexar Metro 9-1-1 Network District has provided public alert and warning services for the City of San Antonio since 2003. REAN is owned and managed by the Bexar Metro 9-1-1 Network District and is made available to all participating municipalities in Bexar, Comal, and Guadalupe County. REAN is designed as a supplemental tool in expediting the dissemination of time-critical information that can potentially prevent the loss of life and or property. The system is used to notify residents and businesses about significant risks to health and safety. This allows public safety officials to send alerts about emergencies such as severe flooding, chemical emergencies, or wildfires to the community. Alerts are delivered to both landlines and registered mobile phones through a combination of voice, text and email messages. This MAA also includes the use of FEMA’s IPAWS infrastructure, providing access to both Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and the Emergency Alert System (EAS). WEA-capable phones will receive geographically-targeted, text-like messages, alerting them of imminent threats to safety and does not require consumers to sign up for this service. These are similar to Amber and National Weather Service alerts that are being used today. EAS messages are transmitted via AM/FM radio, broadcast television, and cable television providing time sensitive information during an emergency.
ISSUE:
If the City of San Antonio does not establish a Mutual Aid Agreement with the Bexar Metro 9-1-1 Network District, the City will not have access to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) infrastructure which currently supports the distribution of Wireless Emergency Alerts and the Emergency Alert System, both critical alert and warning tools to share time-critical information with the public.
ALTERNATIVES:
If this Mutual Aid Agreement is not approved, the City of San Antonio will have to purchase, buildout and manage its own system which would be cost prohibited.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance to authorize the acceptance of a Mutual Aid Agreement with the Bexar Metro 9-1-1 Network District to provide Public Alert and Warning Services for the City of San Antonio.