New emergency notification system for AFRC

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andria J. Allmond
  • 512th Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Air Force Reserve Command is testing a new emergency alert system for it's members.
 
Prompted by the lack of response to reservist recalls in the vicinity of Hurricane Katrina, senior officials decided to employ a single alert system throughout the command, said Master Sgt. Sherry Dowgos,------ of the 512th Operation Support Flight. 

The system is currently being implemented through the OSF per AFRC requirements. The Emergency Notification System appears as a pop-up alert on the user's military computer. Members need to acknowledge and respond to the alert by clicking where as to do so on the alert box. If there is no response, they may receive a second electronic alert. If still no response, the alert is sent to the user's duty phone number. A third and fourth alert are sent to the user's mobile phone number and home phone number, respectively. 

Sergeant Dowgos said the purpose of employing all of the user's contact information is to decipher which method is the most effective in making contact with individuals when time is critical. 

"It's very important that people answer these alerts," she said. "We are testing in an attempt to receive a 90 percent response in those who receive these alerts. Once we are up to (fully operational capabilities), we can stop testing and actually use the alert for what it is meant to perform: recalls, personnel accountability and emergency notification for both military and civilian staff of the Liberty Wing. Once the system has reached its fully operational capability, alerts will originate from wing command or higher." 

"The first step in readiness is to make sure we can get a hold of our people," said Col. Darrell G. Young, 512th Operations Group commander. 

At this juncture, if an emergency would occur, all four routes of contact possibilities would be used to communicate with Liberty Wing members. 

Due to the necessity for a higher amount of responses by 512th AW civilians and reservists, there is currently no date set for the finalization of the IWS Alerts System testing. 

Users can aid in streamlining the program by clicking on the purple globe on their military computer's toolbar and updating "my contact details" to reflect their quickest method of notification. The system will continue to undergo tests until it receives a 90 percent response rate, at which time it is scheduled providing alerts for recalls, personnel accountability and emergency notification.