Emergency  Communication

CLICK HERE FOR EMERGENCY INFORMATION


Guidelines for Communication During Emergencies

When future emergencies occur in Tustin, the need for the City to issue urgent notices and directions to residents and businesses may arise.

 For instance:

  •  In the event of a wildland fire, the City may need to issue evacuation orders and updates;
  •  In the event of an earthquake, the City may issue road closure notices, roadway restrictions or travel warning or a boil water advisory;
  •  In the event of an active shooter or civil unrest, the City may issue urgent alerts or orders requiring residents to remain indoors for their safety.

In order to maximize the effectiveness of communicating with the community, the City desires to increase community awareness about the potential methods and circumstances of emergency communication the City may utilize, particularly since different types of emergencies will call for different means of communicating. For instance, during an extended power outage, social media and email may be unreliable methods of communication while communicating via text message or posting notices on City bulletin boards may be more reliable.   During an active shooter incident, though, more immediate notice will be vital.

METHODS OF COMMUNICATION

To provide flexibility to adapt to different types of emergencies, the City is establishing guidelines that will rely on several different methods of communicating with residents and businesses depending upon the unique circumstances, expected duration and type of emergency event:

1. Emergency alert system: This is the primary system the City utilizes.  It uses text messages and emails to transmit information to registered community members immediately.  

     a. The City strongly encourages all residents and businesses to register their [cell phone number][email address] at the Nixle website in advance – before an emergency.  

2. City website: Whenever feasible, the City may post important information and reference information on the city's website.

3. Social Media: When feasible, the City may share important information via its Facebook and Twitter feeds as well as the Nextdoor app.

4. City Bulletin Boards: When feasible, the City may post public information on its bulletin boards located outside City Hall and the Public Library, especially when other systems are unavailable.

5. Posting signage: When feasible, the City may post signs in an area to warn about an on-going emergency when it is limited to an identifiable geographical area (for instance, the City determines a particular building is unsafe to enter after an earthquake).

Guidelines for PARTICULAR TYPES OF Emergencies


 

Type of Emergency

 

 

Suggested Methods of Communication (when feasible)

Major Accident (vehicular) with ongoing interference with traffic

 

  1. Temporary traffic diversion methods/signs
  2. Traffic impacts/alternate route information posted on   PD Facebook page  PD Twitter account

 

Active shooter/search for armed suspect/civil unrest/explosions/sudden release of  toxins into environment/plane crash/train derailment

 

  1. Emergency alert system for emergency orders (e.g. to remain indoors/evacuate)
  2. Localized use of Police Department public address system in affected area(s)
  3. Proclamations of emergency/emergency orders to remain indoors/updates posted to City website & PD website page, PD & City Facebook pages, PD & City Twitter accounts  (push alerts via alert system) & Nextdoor

 

Major Earthquake

 

  1. Emergency alert system
  2. Instructions for emergency measures (e.g., public utility notification and alerts  via Southern California Gas Company and Southern California Edison website, PD & City Facebook pages, Twitter and Nextdoor)
  3. Post notices on buildings determined by City to be unsafe

Guidance information posted on Bulletin Board

 

Major Power Outage/High Pressure Natural Gas Leak/Refined Fuel Pipeline Failure 

 

  1. Emergency alert system (if emergency power allows)
  2. Temporary stop signs at affected major intersections
  3. City bulletin boards
  4. Road closures signage, traffic detours, area restrictions

 

Major rupture of Water linear sewer line failure/major disruption in import water delivery or ground water production 

 

  1. Road closures signage, traffic detours, area restrictions
  2. Emergency alert system for updates
  3. Information posted to City website, City Facebook page, Twitter & Nextdoor

 

Wildland Fire & Major Wind Event

 

  1. Emergency alert system 
  2. Police Department public address system and/or door-to-door in affected area(s) for evacuations
  3. On-going updates via City website, City’s Facebook page, PD’s & City’s Twitter accounts & Nextdoor

 

 

Major Flooding

 

 

  1. Emergency alert system 
  2. Road Closure signage, traffic detours, area restrictions
  3. Police Department public address system and/or door-to-door in affected area(s) for evacuations
  4. On-going updates via City website, City’s Facebook page, PD’s & City’s Twitter accounts & Nextdoor