[EAS] DHS (CISA) releases 2019 National Emergency Communications Plan

[Sean Donelan]

Every 5 years, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cyberseciryt and 
Infrastructure Security Agency updates the National Emergency 
Communications Plan.  The 2019 version was released yesterday. The 2019 
NECP is 112 pages.

https://www.cisa.gov/cisa/news/2019/09/24/cisa-releases-updated-national-emergency-communications-plan

[...]
page 22

Evaluations are only effective if training and exercise programs are 
improved through incorporation of lessons learned. However, the 2018 
Nationwide Communications Baseline Assessment found most public safety 
organizations do not document or assess training evaluations along with 
the changing operational environment.

[...]
page 29

As of 2018, a significant number (almost 25 percent) of public safety 
agencies lacked standard operating procedures for emergency 
communications. However, the fast-paced evolution of communications 
capabilities highlights a crucial need to develop and update standard 
operating procedures and operational plans to address entities, 
individuals, or organizations that provide or use communications during 
emergencies (e.g., utilities, transportation sector, and commercial 
carriers).

[...]
page AN-16

The state-level alerting authority and relevant lower-level alerting 
authorities ensure the highest state of readiness of existing capabilities 
for resilient and interoperable alerts, warnings, messaging and 
notifications using current local, county, state, and federal systems, 
and, when applicable, the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System 
(IPAWS)

It is important for all alerting authorities to issue timely critical 
public alerts, warnings, messaging, and notifications. Alerting 
authorities should establish and execute repetitive periodic testing 
procedures for alert, warning, notification, and messaging systems to 
ensure proper performance and highest systems readiness. Such testing 
should also include specific opportunities to periodically observe and 
record the proficiency of systems users that are generating and 
distributing alerting information.

[...]
page A2-4

Depending on the type of incident and its scale, other private sector 
entities may also have a role supporting, facilitating, or using 
communications during emergencies, as well as providing services and 
networks for the government to alert the public. For example, key private 
sector partners-- including privately owned transportation and transit, 
telecommunications, utilities, financial institutions, hospitals, and 
other health regulated facilities--may need to establish and maintain a 
direct line of communication between their organization and emergency 
response officials.
[...]