Testimony of Damon Penn, Assistant Administrator, National Continuity Programs, Before the House Committee on Homeland Security, "Communicating With the Public during Emergencies: An Update on Federal Alert & Warning Efforts"

Release Date: July 8, 2011
Washington, D.C.

Introduction

Good morning Chairman King, Ranking Member Thompson, and Members of the Committee. My name is Damon Penn, Assistant Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Continuity Programs (NCP) Directorate. As a US Army Colonel prior to joining FEMA in August 2009, I served as the Director of Operations for the Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) at the National Capitol Region of the United States. While leading the JFHQ, I oversaw intelligence, operations, force protection/anti-terrorism, planning, the operations center, training, ceremonies, and security. I have also served as the Defense Coordinating Officer for Florida and was responsible for all Department of Defense assets mobilized to assist Florida and Mississippi’s emergency management efforts during Hurricane Katrina. Now as the Assistant Administrator of NCP, I am charged with managing the Federal Executive Branch Lead Agent for continuity of national essential functions and the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). I want to thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss our accomplishments, challenges, and vision.

It is my privilege to lead the dedicated professionals with whom I work at FEMA. FEMA serves as the Nation’s focal point for government continuity planning, guidance, and operations support, and is also responsible for ensuring the President is able to address the nation under the most extreme circumstances. The technology used to fulfill this central mission has undergone many changes, beginning in 1951, when the Control of Electromagnetic Radiation system, or CONELRAD, was the chief method of federal communication during a disaster. CONELRAD was replaced by the Emergency Broadcast System in 1963, followed by the Emergency Alert System (EAS) in 1994. IPAWS is a modernization and integration of the nation’s alert and warning infrastructure.

Under 47 U.S. C. § 606 and regulations implemented by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (47 C.F. R. Part 11), et.seq.), broadcast radio and television stations, cable television stations, direct broadcast satellite services, and satellite radio operators are all required to carry national (Presidential) EAS alerts and support State and local EAS alerts and tests. In support of these requirements, Executive Order 13407 states, "It is the policy of the United States to have an effective, reliable, integrated, flexible, and comprehensive system to alert and warn the American people." FEMA created IPAWS to be a system of systems to: (1) modernize the EAS and expand the Primary Entry Point (PEP) station system; (2) create an Open Platform for Emergency Networks, or IPAWS-OPEN, which can be used at no cost by State, local, territorial, and tribal public safety partners; (3) promote collaboration with industry to leverage existing or develop new standards and to integrate current and future technologies seamlessly into IPAWS; (4) expand traditional alerting and warning communication pathways; and (5) working with the Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to deliver alerts through NOAA Weather Radio All-Hazards.

http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/testimony/2011 ... forts.shtm