Score: +7 (8/7/1)

Monterey County Grand Jury • 2014-2015

Calling All Residents the Alertmontereycounty System

Published: May 15, 2015 8 pages

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⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings and Recommendations 10 findings

AlertMontereyCounty is potentially the most effective method of reaching all citizens with both emergency and non-emergency notifications, in English and Spanish.

Related Recommendations (1)

OES continues training city personnel in the application and use of AlertMontereyCounty.

Despite maintaining a sophisticated and flexible alerting system, the County of Monterey cannot reach the majority of residents in an emergency using AlertMontereyCounty.

Related Recommendations (1)

OES reaches all agencies operating within the county—including Highway Patrol, Sheriff, and CalFire—for training in the use of AlertMontereyCounty.

Reaching all citizens in the event of an emergency is critical.

Related Recommendations (1)

CAO immediately commits resources (financial and personnel) needed to publicize Alert- MontereyCounty with the goal of registering all wireless telephones by a specified target date.

Individuals can register for AlertMontereyCounty only through the website, making regis- tration difficult for those who are not experienced with computers or do not own a com- puter.

Related Recommendations (1)

OES works with local libraries throughout the county to distribute information about Alert- MontereyCounty and to assist patrons in registering wireless telephones. All libraries should be participating

It is difficult for residents who do not speak or read English to register.

Related Recommendations (1)

County and municipal governments require all county and municipal employees to register their wireless telephones 7

As disaster relief workers it is important that all county employees can be contacted in the event of an emergency.

Related Recommendations (1)

OES seeks the assistance of Everbridge in developing alternatives, , for residents to register for AlertMontereyCounty. These alternatives may include but not be limited to: a) Telephone b) Printed application that can be mailed to the OES.

Adequate funding has not been allocated for advertising and promoting the need for indi- viduals to register wireless telephones with AlertMontereyCounty.

Related Recommendations (1)

OES requests Everbridge to provide a Spanish language registration form

Having all residents of the county registered with AlertMontereyCounty will allow for consistency of messaging in the event of an emergency.

Related Recommendations (1)

OES asks those institutions or agencies currently using their own notification systems (the City of Carmel, CalFire, Monterey Peninsula College, Hartnell College, and the Naval Postgraduate School) to encourage constituents to register with AlertMontereyCounty

Because the Everbridge software does not include a follow-up component, residents who attempt to register get no confirmation that registration has been successful. If the registra- tion has not been accepted for some reason, they may not know and have a false sense of security with the notification process.

Related Recommendations (1)

OES works with senior centers, assisted living facilities, and medical facilities to educate and register staff, members, and residents.

F10

Libraries are an important access point for many residents. As of February 2015, printed materials regarding AlertMontereyCounty were not available at many local libraries, and library staff, when questioned, were not fully briefed on the registration process.

Related Recommendations (1)

R10

CAO convenes a working group of emergency services personnel and interested parties to promote registration with AlertMontereyCounty.

Additional Recommendations 1

These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.

R11

As a supplemental funding mechanism, partnerships be formed whereby local businesses pay for the cost of printed materials promoting registration in exchange for printing their name and logo on the materials.

Agency Responses 1

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

County of Monterey’s Response to Calling All Residents, The Alert Monterey County System

September 02, 2015 • 9 pages • 21 responses • Score: +7 (+8, 7, -1) View Details ▾

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21 responses to findings and recommendations

AlertMontereyCounty is potentially the most effective method of reaching all citizens with both emergency and non-emergency notifications, in English and Spanish.

Response: Agree Score: +1

The Board agrees with this finding.

OES continues training city personnel in the application and use of AlertMontereyCounty.

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

R-1: This recommendation has already been implemented.

Despite maintaining a sophisticated and flexible alerting system, the County of Monterey cannot reach the majority of residents in an emergency using AlertMontereyCounty.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

The Board partially agrees with this finding. Although the Everbridge Emergency Alerting system does not have a complete data base of all resident cell phones numbers, public safety and emergency management have other alerting and warning tools including but not limited to Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerting (WEA) to reach citizens during times of crisis and disasters.

OES reaches all agencies operating within the county—including Highway Patrol, Sheriff, and CalFire—for training in the use of AlertMontereyCounty.

Response: Will Implement

Scheduled: OES will continue to work with all public safety agencies. Score: +1

The Board concurs with this recommendation and the Office of Emergency Services will continue to work with all public safety agencies to train on the utilization and emergency notification process for alerting the public.

Reaching all citizens in the event of an emergency is critical.

Response: Agree Score: +1

The Board agrees with this finding.

CAO immediately commits resources (financial and personnel) needed to publicize Alert- MontereyCounty with the goal of registering all wireless telephones by a specified target date.

Response: Requires Analysis

Scheduled: Board will consider fiscal mechanisms. Score: 0

This recommendation requires further analysis. The Board will consider all available fiscal mechanisms to provide active mechanisms for funding of advertisement and promotion of AlertMontereyCounty. The Board further disagrees that the County can realistically achieve a goal of registering all wireless phones throughout the County due to privacy and logistical reasons.

Individuals can register for AlertMontereyCounty only through the website, making regis- tration difficult for those who are not experienced with computers or do not own a com- puter.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

The Board partially agrees with this finding. Residents can request and receive assistance by either telephone or email and OES staff will assist with their registration. The phone number is 831-755-8969 or email: alert@co.monterey.ca.us « Outreach efforts will continue to include alternative sign up methods.

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

R-4 This recommendation is being implemented.

It is difficult for residents who do not speak or read English to register.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

The Board disagrees with this finding. The AlertMontereyCounty.org does have instructions in Spanish and assistance is provided in English and Spanish. Monterey County Office of Emergency Services (OES) has embedded a Spanish video tutorial to assist residents and the Everbridge portal is now available in 90 languages including Spanish.

County and municipal governments require all county and municipal employees to register their wireless telephones 7

Response: Requires Analysis

Due: End of 2015 Scheduled: County will continue to encourage voluntary registration. Score: 0

This recommendation will require further analysis. The Board responds that the County cannot legally require County employees or City/Public entity employees to register their personal phones in the Everbridge system. The County will continue to encourage all public entity employees to register voluntarily.

As disaster relief workers it is important that all county employees can be contacted in the event of an emergency.

Response: Agree Score: +1

The Board agrees with this finding.

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

R-6: The Board responds that this recommendation has already been partially implemented.

Adequate funding has not been allocated for advertising and promoting the need for indi- viduals to register wireless telephones with AlertMontereyCounty.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

The Board partially agrees with this finding. Although there is no dedicated funding allocated for advertising and promoting, non-dedicated County resources are currently used to promote the program. The County continues to pursue funding opportunities through grants and partnerships.

OES requests Everbridge to provide a Spanish language registration form

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

R-7: This recommendation has already been implemented.

Having all residents of the county registered with AlertMontereyCounty will allow for consistency of messaging in the event of an emergency.

Response: Agree Score: +1

The Board agrees with this finding.

Response: Requires Analysis

Due: June 30, 2016 Scheduled: County will continue to encourage other educational institutions and military partners. Score: 0

This recommendation requires further analysis. The Board responds that currently 12 cities and public entities use the Everbridge AlertMontereyCounty system including the City of Carmel by the Sea. California State University Monterey Bay is now a user/ administrator. Cal Fire serving the Fire Districts of Cypress and Carmel Highlands and Pebble Beach community service area have their own emergency notification system and has declined to join the Everbridge system. The County will continue to encourage other educational institutions and military partners to utilize the AlertMontereyCounty syst...

Response: Agree Score: +1

The Board agrees with this finding. Everbridge software development technicians have already indicated that a confirmation notice will be added to the sign-up portal in 2016.

OES works with senior centers, assisted living facilities, and medical facilities to educate and register staff, members, and residents.

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

R-9: This recommendation has already been implemented.

F10

Response: Agree Score: +1

The Board agrees with this finding.

R10

CAO convenes a working group of emergency services personnel and interested parties to promote registration with AlertMontereyCounty.

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

R-10: This recommendation will be implemented.

R11

As a supplemental funding mechanism, partnerships be formed whereby local businesses pay for the cost of printed materials promoting registration in exchange for printing their name and logo on the materials.

Response: Requires Analysis

Scheduled: Board will consider fiscal mechanisms. Score: 0

This recommendation requires further analysis. The Board will consider all available fiscal mechanisms to provide funding for the cost of printed materials and the promotion of AlertMontereyCounty.

No Responses Found 1

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

Monterey County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office