Fort Bliss Monitor

Michael Lister

In September, post contractors installed the updated tower array mass
notification system near the post exchange.

Mass notification
system begins testing

Amy Rousseau
Public Affairs Intern

For the past two years, the Fort Bliss Installation Operation Center has been researching, procuring, and installing a mass notification system, implemented by the Department of Defense, for all military installations.
The system consists of more than a dozen poles and is equipped with speaker arrays that can generate emergency tones and clear voice transmissions at a 1,200-foot radius. Its wide radius serves the purpose of notifying everyone on post in general population areas and outdoors.

“It is to alert the workforce and family members of time-sensitive emergency information,” stated Mike Cochran, Fort Bliss force protection and anti-terrorism officer. He said examples include extreme weather advisories and hazardous material spills that might call for people to either shelter in place, or evacuate a certain area.
Michael Lister, chief of the Plans and Operations Division and Cochran, have been working on this project for more than two years. Training and Doctrine Command provided funding and project oversight for the MNS under a single-point contract and purchase.

The equipment installation on post began last fall and has been completed. Since its installation, the FBIOC has been able to run tests on the MNS so they will be able to manipulate the equipment for any situation. Both Cochran and Lister stated the importance of their own staff being trained and educated, and the need for the public to be informed.

One of the features of the MNS is its ability to be manipulated in such a way controllers are able to broadcast from all of the tower arrays or from individually selected arrays, depending on the scenario or emergency. Lister further pointed out that the technology even allows the controller to either turn on all speakers at once or one at a time.

To continue with the goal of mastering this system and education of all post personnel, the FBIOC will be conducting several monthly tests which currently sound like Westminster chimes accompanied by a male or female voice.

Upon final installation of the actual emergency tones, the FBIOC will use them during these tests to educate everyone on post about their meaning. The emergency tones are meant to attract the attention of everyone in the event of a catastrophe.

There are two specific emergency alert tones with the MNS. “The first tone will alert everyone on Fort Bliss of a weather emergency. It sounds much like the tone that TV and radio stations play as part of the required testing of the Emergency Broadcast System. The second tone, which will closely resemble the air raid of the World War II era, will be for specific crisis emergencies, such as hazardous spills.

“Each emergency tone will be followed with voice messages giving the community specific instructions to follow for their safety,” said Lister. Before each test, there will be an “All Bliss” email forwarded from the FBIOC to notify everyone there will be a test the following day.

Both Cochran and Lister feel this system will enhance the way the installation is able to communicate with the workforce and communities here. The FBIOC has already established modes of communication pertaining to the dissemination of time-sensitive information by “All Bliss” email, the command communicator and an automated telephonic notification system.

Future plans for the system include installing more tower array poles throughout Fort Bliss and Biggs Army Airfield, and possibly extending the network to Doña Ana and McGregor Ranges.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	April 6, 2006

	Michael Lister In September, post contractors installed the updated tower array mass notification system near the post exchange. Mass notification system begins testing Amy Rousseau Public Affairs Intern For the past two years, the Fort Bliss Installation Operation Center has been researching, procuring, and installing a mass notification system, implemented by the Department of Defense, for all military installations. The system consists of more than a dozen poles and is equipped with speaker arrays that can generate emergency tones and clear voice transmissions at a 1,200-foot radius. Its wide radius serves the purpose of notifying everyone on post in general population areas and outdoors. “It is to alert the workforce and family members of time-sensitive emergency information,” stated Mike Cochran, Fort Bliss force protection and anti-terrorism officer. He said examples include extreme weather advisories and hazardous material spills that might call for people to either shelter in place, or evacuate a certain area. Michael Lister, chief of the Plans and Operations Division and Cochran, have been working on this project for more than two years. Training and Doctrine Command provided funding and project oversight for the MNS under a single-point contract and purchase. The equipment installation on post began last fall and has been completed. Since its installation, the FBIOC has been able to run tests on the MNS so they will be able to manipulate the equipment for any situation. Both Cochran and Lister stated the importance of their own staff being trained and educated, and the need for the public to be informed. One of the features of the MNS is its ability to be manipulated in such a way controllers are able to broadcast from all of the tower arrays or from individually selected arrays, depending on the scenario or emergency. Lister further pointed out that the technology even allows the controller to either turn on all speakers at once or one at a time. To continue with the goal of mastering this system and education of all post personnel, the FBIOC will be conducting several monthly tests which currently sound like Westminster chimes accompanied by a male or female voice. Upon final installation of the actual emergency tones, the FBIOC will use them during these tests to educate everyone on post about their meaning. The emergency tones are meant to attract the attention of everyone in the event of a catastrophe. There are two specific emergency alert tones with the MNS. “The first tone will alert everyone on Fort Bliss of a weather emergency. It sounds much like the tone that TV and radio stations play as part of the required testing of the Emergency Broadcast System. The second tone, which will closely resemble the air raid of the World War II era, will be for specific crisis emergencies, such as hazardous spills. “Each emergency tone will be followed with voice messages giving the community specific instructions to follow for their safety,” said Lister. Before each test, there will be an “All Bliss” email forwarded from the FBIOC to notify everyone there will be a test the following day. Both Cochran and Lister feel this system will enhance the way the installation is able to communicate with the workforce and communities here. The FBIOC has already established modes of communication pertaining to the dissemination of time-sensitive information by “All Bliss” email, the command communicator and an automated telephonic notification system. Future plans for the system include installing more tower array poles throughout Fort Bliss and Biggs Army Airfield, and possibly extending the network to Doña Ana and McGregor Ranges.