Activating Public Alerts and EAS
Notification Systems in Washington County
Public Alerts = often called “Reverse 9-1-1”; Sends a recorded message to landline phones in a
specific geographic area.
In addition, community members who have signed up for PublicAlerts (www.publicalerts.org) will also
receive a message via text, email, and/or cell phone.
EAS / Emergency Alert System = Interrupts all television and radio programming to broadcast an
emergency message throughout the region.
To utilize Public Alerts or EAS, the situation must meet ALL criteria:
 Situation is imminent (time critical)
 Situation poses a threat to life and property
 Public must be provided with instructions
 Other warning methods would be ineffective
Activating Public Alerts
WCCCA / 911
503-531-0175
1. Determine appropriate message
(see attached templates)
2. Fill-in template and provide dispatcher
with details via phone
Activating the EAS
WCCCA / 911
503-531-0175
Primary Method
1. Determine appropriate message (see
attached templates)
2. Fill-in template and provide dispatcher
with details via phone
Secondary Method
1. LEDS/ OERS Operations Center
1-800-452-0311
(Cindy Wyatt, Operations Mgr.)
2. KXL Radio:
503-417-7630 (news room)
503-517-5911 (engineering)
(Mike Everhart, Thor Waage)
1. Identify yourself & agency and state
that you need to activate the EAS.
2. In the case of KXL, personnel answering
phone will verify procedure with their
Engineering Dept.
3. You will be recorded.
4. Station will verify incident (by calling
WCCCA) and then broadcast message.
Message - Maximum length of message is two minutes.
Revised 09/26/11
Natural Gas Leak:
Evacuation
This is the Washington County 9-1-1 Center. (Name of Fire Department) ______________________
_____________________________________________________ is on the scene of a natural gas
leak at (address) ___________________________________________________________________.
As a precaution, you are advised to evacuate your home at this time. Firefighters and/or police
officers will assist you. Once NW Natural arrives and can shut off the gas, you will be allowed back in
your home.
Shelter-in-Place
This is the Washington County 9-1-1 Center. (Name of Fire Department) ______________________
_____________________________________________________ is on the scene of a natural gas
leak at (address) ___________________________________________________________________.
As a precaution, firefighters are requesting that all persons (#of blocks or miles) ____________ from
(specific address) ___________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
stay indoors and reduce ignition sources to include:

Not turning on your stove or oven;

Not starting a vehicle, and

Not smoking, or using matches or lighters.
Once NW Natural has repaired the gas leak, you will be contacted about resuming normal activities.
Revised 09/26/11
Hazardous Material:
Shelter-in-Place
This is the Washington County 9-1-1 Center.
(Name of Fire Department) ___________________________________________________________
is responding to a chemical leak at (location) _____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________. Firefighters are
requesting that all persons in (affected area) ____________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
stay indoors in a closed building for the next (estimated time) ______________________________.
You are also advised to:

Keep children and pets inside;

Turn-off heating, cooling, and other ventilation systems;

Close all windows, doors, and vents, and cover cracks with tape, or wet rags.
If you are inside and experience a medical emergency, call 9-1-1. If you are outside, cover your
nose and mouth until you reach a building. For more information, please tune to local news.
Revised 09/26/11
Hazardous Material, Wildfire, Flooding, Etc.
Evacuation
This is the Washington County 9-1-1 Center.
(Name of Fire Department) ___________________________________________________________
is responding to a (describe emergency – flood, wildfire, etc.) ______________________________
at (location) ______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________.
Firefighters are requesting that all persons in the (affected area) ____________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
evacuate the area in an orderly manner. Please take the following actions to secure your home
before you leave (instructions – shut-off gas and water, etc.):

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________.
Please drive or walk along the following route (evacuation route):
_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________.
Emergency personnel will assist in directing you out of the area. Please observe normal traffic laws
and tune to local news for further information.
Revised 09/26/11
Dangerous Person At-Large:
Initial Call:
This is the Washington County 9-1-1 center calling on behalf of (Department) _______________
__________________________________________________. Authorities are investigating a (Name
crime or incident) ____________________________________________ that occurred at
(Address/Area) ____________________________________________________. The suspect is still
at-large and is (either unidentified or described as) _______________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________.
If information is reliable, add: It is believed that the suspect is (dangerous, armed, etc.)
________________________________________________________________________________.
As a precaution, you are asked to stay inside, lock all doors, and report suspicious activity to 9-1-1.
You will be notified when it is safe to come out of your home.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Follow-Up Call:
Police are currently searching for the suspect in the area,
Revised 09/26/11
Missing Person:
This is the Washington County 9-1-1 center calling on behalf of (Department) ______________
__________________________________________________. Authorities are asking for your
assistance in locating a person who is missing from (Address/Area) _____________________
___________________________________________________________________________.
The missing person is described as (age, race, Last seen wearing, goes by the name of, etc.)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________.
The missing person is (medically fragile, has dementia, or missing under suspicious circumstances).
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________.
Any information or sightings should be reported to 9-1-1 as soon as possible.
Revised 09/26/11