A civil danger warning (SAME code: CDW) is a warning issued through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) in the United States to warn the public of an event that presents danger to a significant civilian population. It is typically issued by a local or state authority and is relayed by the National Weather Service. The warning usually mentions a specific hazard such as contaminated water supply, active shooting, unexpected weather alert such as causing roads to be extremely dangerous, major accident, or an imminent or in-progress military or terrorist attack. It may also provide instructions for protective action such as to evacuate, shelter-in-place, boil water or seek medical treatment. The warning has a higher priority than a local area emergency (LAE), as well as a Civil Emergency Message (CEM).
Examples
editHawaii false missile alert
editOn 13 January 2018, as part of the false missile alert, a civil danger warning interrupted local television and radio broadcasts throughout Hawaii, in addition to the warning sent to smartphones.[1]
BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
Other examples
editA blizzard on February 2, 2011, affected much of the United States and Canada, forecasted to bring several feet of snow to Wisconsin and severely impact travel. The Wisconsin Emergency Management Agency of Milwaukee issued the following civil danger warning for the southern part of the state:[2][3]
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED CIVIL DANGER WARNING WISCONSIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI 1233 AM CST WED FEB 2 2011 THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE WISCONSIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WISCONSIN. DRIVING IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TONIGHT ON ALL ROADS IN SOUTHERN WISCONSIN. IF YOU BECOME STRANDED...EMERGENCY VEHICLES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REACH YOU. IF YOU ARE STRANDED...DO NOT LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE. RUN YOUR VEHICLE 10 MINUTES PER HOUR...AND CRACK A DOWN WIND WINDOW FOR VENTILATION. $$
On May 26, 2019, storms part of a major tornado outbreak flooded the Arkansas River to record high levels. The following day, the Arkansas Emergency Management Agency issued a civil danger warning alerting residents of the closure of McLean Bottom, a levee in Logan County, and its surrounding roads due to forecasted additional flooding.[4]
597 WOUS44 KLZK 272046 CDWLZK ARC083-280000- URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED CIVIL DANGER WARNING ARKANSAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 346 PM CDT MON MAY 27 2019 THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE LOGAN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND THE LOGAN COUNTY JUDGE. MCLEAN BOTTOMS IN LOGAN COUNTY IS CLOSED OFF TO ALL PUBLIC ACCESS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. THIS INCLUDES PORTIONS OF NORTH HIGHWAY 309, COTTONTOWN RD., AND KALAMAZOO ROAD. THIS IS BY ORDER OF THE LOGAN COUNTY JUDGE, NO PERSONS ARE ALLOWED IN THIS AREA DUE TO FORECAST FLOODING. DRIVING INTO THIS AREA MAY PUT YOUR LIFE IN DANGER! $$ CAVANAUGH
On August 10, 2021, Adams County Emergency Management in Nebraska issued a shelter in place warning for an active shooter in Juniata.[5]
166 WOUS43 KGID 110452 CDWGID NEC001-110552- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED CIVIL DANGER WARNING NE ADAMS COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE 1152 PM CDT TUE AUG 10 2021 ...ACTIVE SHOOTER IN PROGRESS... THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF ADAMS COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THERE IS AN ACTIVE SHOOTER CURRENTLY IN JUNIATA NE AROUND THE N. BRASS AREA. SHELTER IN PLACE IMMEDIATELY SHELTER IN PLACE IMMEDIATELY AND LOCK ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS. THIS IS FOR THE JUNIATA AREA AND 2 MILES EAST OF JUNIATA NEBRASKA $$ AS-NE-872DB331-ABDF-4F99-84C5-4E69A19C1C46/ALERTSENSE
References
edit- ^ WTVD (2018-01-13). "See the warning Hawaiians saw on TV during missile scare". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
- ^ "Civil Danger Warning issued". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Online. February 2, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
- ^ "Civil Danger Warning". YouTube. February 1, 2011.
- ^ "Civil Danger Warning on May 27, 2019". Iowa Environmental Mesonet. May 27, 2019.
- ^ "Civil Danger Warning on Aug 10, 2021". Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Aug 10, 2021.
External links
edit
This article incorporates public domain material from Non-Weather Related Emergency Message Description Guidelines (PDF). United States Government.