Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Emergency Preparedness

Breadcrumb

  1. Home

Emergency Preparedness Banner


Early Warning System (EWS)

EWS is the siren and public address warning system which alerts staff and students of severe weather at our Glynco, Artesia, and Charleston locations. The Early Warning System initiates the appropriate audible signal from the system towers positioned throughout the FLETC when they receive notice of severe weather threatening the area. Many training divisions have developed specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for response to severe weather; therefore, the SOPs should be reviewed from time to time to ensure they are complying with severe weather policy.
 


Be Prepared

Each scenario below provides information on the type of scenario, audio file for the sound used, and the public address message broadcasted on the location's loudspeakers during the case of an event.

When the National Weather Service (NWS) issues a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the area, it often means lightning, high winds, rain and/or hail could threaten personnel or facilities. The Thorguard Lightning Prediction System will sound a warning signal - a siren wail, lasting 15 seconds. If you are outside when you hear this signal, you must seek shelter (preferably indoors) immediately. When lightning conditions have passed, an “all clear” signal will sound – a siren wail, consisting of three 5 second bursts with a 5 second pause between each burst.

Each Training Delivery Point has access to ThorGuard Mobile displays at the below links:

Public Address Message: May I have your attention please? The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather alert for this area. Such storms may include threats such as rain, hail, high winds and lightning. All staff and students at the FLETC are to promptly seek shelter until the threat is over. This is not a test. I repeat, The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather alert for this area. All staff and students are to seek shelter immediately.

When the NWS issues a Tornado Warning (not a Tornado Watch) for the area, it means tornado activity has been identified in our immediate area and there is a distinct threat of a tornado. (A Tornado Watch means that conditions are favorable for tornado activity but that no specific tornado activity has yet been observed.) The Safety Specialist Telecommunicator will sound the warning signal – a siren fast wail, followed by a pre-recorded verbal announcement that there is a Tornado Warning. If you are outside, you must seek adequate shelter immediately.

After the threat period is over, an “ALL CLEAR” signal will be activated on the public address feature of the EWS to advise FLETC personnel that the weather threat period has ended, and training and other activities may resume.

 

Public Address Message: May I have your attention please? The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for this area. A tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted. All staff and students at the FLETC are to promptly seek shelter until the threat is over. This is not a test. I repeat, The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for this area. All staff and students are to seek shelter immediately.

All Clear notifications will be provided, when appropriate or necessary, through email, the Emergency Notification System, Early Warning System, or other notification system available.

These products provide informative but general, non-law enforcement/security specific response guidance/measures for FLETC and PO staffs for their office/organization-specific distribution and use to ensure the safety and security of FLETC students and visitors. Remember, despite our backgrounds and training, in this situation we are not the security force that will be engaging the active shooter in a law enforcement capacity. We are the personnel responding much as you see the office workers do in the video.

For security purposes, we do not provide links to the FLETC intranet. 

 

Public Address Message: May I have your attention please. The FLETC has now issued an ALL-CLEAR notice. All personnel may now return to duty. Previously scheduled training may now resume. I repeat, an ALL-CLEAR notice has been issued. All personnel may return to normal duties.

FLETC and On-site Partner Organization staff and students should be aware that the FLETC management carefully watches developing weather problems including hurricanes. In the event of an emergency evacuation of the FLETC, staff and students will receive detailed instructions from FLETC management. You may also wish to monitor one of the following for this information, which will be updated as conditions change, and updates are warranted:

  • FLETC Operational Status Information number: 1.800.793.5382 (1.800.79FLETC)
  • Student/Staff Information network (TV Channel 97, on-site at Glynco only)
  • National Hurricane Center can be found at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov
  • Georgia Emergency Management Agency updates on the Peach State Radio and the Georgia Public Radio network at FM channel 89.1
  • Glynn County's Emergency Information Broadcast Channel is FM radio channel 104.9
  • Other sites such as NOAA Weather Radio, the Weather Channel, local television and radio.

Public Address Message: Attention, Attention. A hurricane warning has been issued for this location. Staff, students and partners at the FLETC should begin preparations for evacuation of the center. Further instructions will be provided in the event that an evacuation is actually ordered. All personnel should consult their supervisor or class coordinator for more information.

The Office of Security and Professional Responsibility (OSPR) has compiled Active Shooter Incident Response-related materials for FLETC, Participating Organization (PO), Contractor staff, and Student use. The complied material consists of information meant to prepare personnel in the event of an active shooter incident here at the FLETC and can be found on FLETC's intranet:

Public Address Message: May I have your attention please? A security incident has occurred on the FLETC. Please follow FLETC procedures to shelter in place for a security incident. You will be receiving additional instructions via chain of command regarding this threat. I repeat, a security incident has occurred. Follow procedures to shelter in place where you are until you receive further instructions.

In the event a shelter-in-place order is issued due to severe weather or natural and man-made hazards, the Early Warning System will sound the warning signal – a siren fast wail, followed by a pre-recorded verbal announcement notifying personnel to shelter-in-place. All personnel should share the notification with personnel in immediate vicinity. Seek shelter in areas such as internal hallways or rooms on lowest floor possible. Stay away from outer walls and windows. Personnel in modular buildings should move to hard facilities if safe to do so. Do not exit or vacate the premises unless advised to do so or as safety conditions of the infrastructure dictate. Follow instructions from incident or emergency response personnel until the “ALL CLEAR” is given. Accountability of personnel should be conducted in accordance with Occupant Emergency Plan guidance.

Public Address Message: May I have your attention please? A hazardous material incident has occurred on the FLETC. Please follow FLETC procedures to shelter in place for a hazardous materials incident. You will be receiving additional instructions via chain of command regarding this threat. I repeat, a hazardous materials incident has occurred. Follow procedures to shelter in place where you are until you receive further instructions.

If evacuation of a FLETC TDP is required, information will be provided specific to students, employees, contractors and visitors through your primary FLETC points of communication. Course Coordinators, Supervisors and internal staff email, Contract supervisors and Security personnel will all receive information for follow-on actions as appropriate.

Public Address Message: ATTENTION! ATTENTION! An evacuation of the FLETC has been ordered. Please exit the FLETC as efficiently as possible from previous instructions. All personnel should consult their supervisor or class coordinator for additional instructions. Personnel without transportation should contact their supervisor or class coordinator. I repeat, an order to evacuate the FLETC has been issued.


Questions about the EWS and response to severe weather events call:

Emergency Management Specialist 
(912) 267-2470

Chief Security Officer
(912) 267-2102