Emergency Alert

• Will only be used when there is a severe threat to public safety and health of the entire community that has not been contained or controlled and when immediate action is required on the part of the recipient group(s), (e.g. chemical spills impacting public health, tornado warnings, active shooters, etc.)
• Will not be used for non-emergency notifications such as lane closures, crime updates, inclement weather closings, localized building emergencies, situations that have been contained, situations where a threat does not exist, rumor control, situations where notification is merely a convenience or other situations when another Notify Me category, a News Flash, or a Calendar Update would be more appropriate as a communication method
• Will not replace other Notify Me categories, a News Flash, or a Calendar Update for non-urgent messages
• Will be tested twice a year – once concurrent with the annual statewide tornado drill in February and a second test in the Fall concurrent with the UGA Alert system test.

Emergency Alert Activation

• Can be authorized and/or initiated by the following Athens-Clarke County Unified Government individuals:
  • Manager or his designee
  • Fire and Emergency Services Department Chief or the Acting Chief when the Fire Chief is not available
  • Police Department Chief or the Acting Chief of Police when the Police Chief is not available 
  • Emergency Management Coordinator
• Does not require approval when the National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning
• Changes to this activation protocol must be approved by Athens-Clarke County Unified Government Manager

Revised 9/22/10