BE INFORMED

You should understand the local mass warning system(s) and, when notified, be prepared to evacuate, move to a civilian shelter or designated safe haven or temporarily shelter-in-place.

• Mass Warning Systems: Each local community is responsible for warning the public of impending danger due to an emergency. Army installations support this effort by establishing mass warning and notification systems. Overseas, these procedures may include warning family members living off the installation, ideally in cooperation with local or host-nation authorities.   
  In the United States, the main agencies that warn of natural hazards are the National Weather Service (NWS) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). NWS uses the following terms for specific natural hazards:

  • Warning -A hazardous event is occurring or imminent. Take immediate protective action
  • Watch -Conditions are favorable for a hazard to develop or move in. Stay alert.
• Evacuation: If advance warning and other circumstances permit, the preference for nonessential and nonemergency personnel is evacuation using specified routes and transportation methods. Installation Emergency Management organizations have plans and procedures to direct evacuation or direct movement of personnel and family members to safe havens or civilian shelters. Be sure to obtain a copy of your state evacuation plan and be familiar with your surroundings. When possible, plan to stay with Family or Friends who are nearby, but unaffected by the hazard.

Safe and effective evacuation requires planning ahead—there may be no advance warning. You should plan primary and alternative evacuation routes in advance, with appropriate maps to take along in your emergency supply kit.

• Moving to Civilian Shelter: A shelter is a publicly identified, certified, supplied, staffed and insured mass care facility where endangered people can find temporary protection for a limited time. Army installations coordinate shelter needs with appropriate state, local, host-nation and private agencies. The American Red Cross is the principal U.S. resource for development, management and operation of certified shelters.
• Moving to Designated Safe Haven:A local safe haven is a facility on the installation that provides temporary protection during sudden incidents, such as earthquakes and tsunamis. A remote safe haven is a facility on a geographically distant DOD installation or facility that provides short-term to medium-term lodging of displaced personnel during large-scale incidents, such as hurricanes and extended wildfires.
• Sheltering-in-Place:In some instances, evacuating or moving to a shelter or safe haven is more dangerous than remaining where you are. When there is a short-notice or no-notice emergency such as a hazardous materials event, you may be directed to shelter-in-place, that is, take temporary protection in a structure or vehicle, typically your workplace or residence. It is important to know for different emergencies which part of a building is safest and how best to keep the air safe to breathe.

At the earliest safe opportunity, check in with your command. It is important to ensure that you and your Family are accounted for and receive help if you need it. If you have access to the Internet, you can report your status through the Army One Source and Military One Source Web sites (addresses   
are listed below). If you cannot get online, the Army Info Hotline, Army One Source and Military One Source have established hotlines that you can call to relay messages to your command and to others who may be concerned about your welfare.

In some cases, the Secretary of Defense will direct all DOD-affiliated personnel in the affected area to report their accountability status as soon as possible. When this happens, if you have access to the Internet you are to report your status online through the Army Disaster Personnel Accountability   
and Assessment System (ADPAAS, Web address: https://adpaas.army.mil). ADPAAS provides a way for Army personnel and their Families in the disaster-affected area to report their status and how they were affected by the event. It also provides commanders a means to assess the impact of the disaster on Soldiers and their Families and provide assistance where needed. For further information on ADPAAS, you may email questions to adpaas@spawar.navy.mil. You may also report your situation through your chain of command or by using one of the established call centers or hotlines listed below.

Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) are conducted to assist the Department of State (DOS) in evacuating US citizens, Department of Defense (DOD) civilian personnel, and designated host nation (HN) and third country nationals (TCNs) whose lives are in danger from locations in a foreign nation to an appropriate safe haven. Although normally considered in connection with hostile action, evacuation may also be conducted in anticipation of, or in response to, any natural or man-made disaster.

Be prepared to participate in NEO by following the instructions provided. Remember, understanding NEO is one part of preparing your Family for emergencies. You should know the range of hazards that may affect you, appropriate actions to take before, during and after an emergency including shelter-in-place, and know the resources available to you.

For more information on NEO visit: http://www.armyg1.army.mil/MilitaryPersonnel/NEO.asp

Be Part of the Solution