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In the last several years, business, government, and education continuity planners have begun to us mass notification systems to expedite their response to crises, using technology to deliver recorded messages to large numbers of people in a very short time via telephone, email, pager, fax, PDA, and other channels. The education community in particular has gotten on board this bandwagon, and their efforts offer us a lot of good information on the subject of mass notification. The articles below also point out that establishing best practices should be the first step in setting up a mass notification system.

If you've been wondering how to select a mass notification system, here's help. (Item #1)   There are two elements to a comprehensive mass notification system: real-time public address and electronic notification. (Item #2)   Technology alone won't save the day when a crisis hits. (Item #3)  

Organizations must be prepared to respond quickly to events that interrupt their operations. (Item #4)   Wondering about the effectiveness of various kinds of emergency alerts? Check out this cheat sheet.
(Item #5)   If you'd like a little information on how mass notification systems began, the technology they use, etc., read this. (Item #6)  

As always, we look forward to hearing about your concerns with regards to business continuity. If you have a topic you'd like to see covered, please email me at bmellinger@attainium.net

Best Regards,

Bob Mellinger
President
Attainium Corp

Quote of the Week

"History is a vast early warning system."
- Norman Cousins -

Articles

1. Selecting a Mass Notification System
When you need to deliver time-sensitive information to hundreds or thousands of people, a mass notification system can help you get the word out quickly and efficiently. But how do you know which system is right for your organization?
http://www.bridgewriter.com/Selecting_A_Mass_Notification_System.pdf

2. Tech Boot Camp: Mass Notification Promotes Safety, Efficiency and Timely Response
When a disaster happens or is imminent, campus officials must be able to quickly and efficiently alert everyone concerned in time to avert death, injury and loss of property. At the same time, those in authority must contend with issues common to emergency management from a facility standpoint, including the preservation of data and the proper shutdown of all critical computer systems.
http://www.campussafetymagazine.com/Articles/?ArticleID=33

3. Seven Best Practices for Emergency Notification
Will the "right" technology solution solve all your mass communication problems? Technology by itself won't save the day when a crisis hits. If it did nothing else, the Virginia Tech massacre taught us to think about instituting best practices-before we purchase that next solution.
http://www.campustechnology.com/Articles/2007/08/7-Best-Practices-for-Emergency-Notification.aspx?Page=1

4. White Paper: Best Practices in Emergency Alerting
It is an unfortunate reality that emergency incidents can and do regularly occur. Institutions must be prepared to respond quickly to a broad range of events that interrupt daily operations - everything from acts of nature to acts of individuals. The headlines of newspapers are filled with stories of institutions caught unable to respond in an effective manner, underscoring the high costs of being unprepared.
http://www.campussafetymagazine.com/MassNotification/BestPractices/?ArticleID=243

5. Your Mass Notification Cheat Sheet - Revised 2009
Campus Safety Magazine offers a breakdown of some of the pros and cons of the more commonly used emergency alert systems, from bullhorns to phone trees to social media. Deploying multiple modes will help to ensure the strengths of one solution compensate for the weaknesses of others. Also, be certain to test the systems regularly, and account for the hearing and sight impaired.
http://www.campussafetymagazine.com/files/resources/2009_Cheat_Sheet.pdf

6. Mass notification
Among non-government entities, tragedies such as the Virginia Tech and Columbine shootings, as well as incidents of workplace violence, chemical spills, and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, have served as reminders of how important MNEC is becoming for civilian interests. Today, universities, schools, healthcare institutions, shopping malls, and theme parks are just a few examples of facilities where Mass Notification systems are implemented with increasing regularity. This Wikipedia entry offers a good overview of mass notification, along with some history, usage, standards and a good reference list.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_notification