HazCollect

• HazCollect
• For Government
• For Developers
• Training
• References
• Frequently Asked Questions

For Government

• Step 1: Is your organization eligible?
• Step 2: Has a DM COG been established for your organization?
• Step 3: Complete the training
• Step 4: Request Access to HazCollect from the National Weather Service
• Step 5: Configure your software application
• Step 6: Ensure appropriate individuals receive training

The following steps represent the process that warning authorities will use to access the HazCollect system.

Step 1: Is your organization eligible?

State, regional, and local warning authority may be determined based upon government jurisdiction plans and statutory authorities.  Related plans include:

• Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan (State/Local Emergency Communications Committee)
• Amber Alert Plan (State Amber Alert Committee/Law Enforcement Agency)
• Emergency Operations Plan, Warning Annex (State/Local Emergency Management Agency)

Typically, the authority for warning is assigned to the jurisdiction's chief operating officer, and delegated to subordinates. Your jurisdiction should have a clear, written policy as to who may exercise warning authority, to ensure that warning coverage is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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Step 2: Has a DM COG been established for your organization?

Whether you plan to use the DMIS Tools HazCollect authoring tool, or another product provided by a third party developer, your warning organization must enroll for a Disaster Management (DM) Collaborative Operating Group (COG). If you have used DMIS Tools in the past, it is likely that a COG exists for your organization. However, if you have not used DMIS Tools before, you will need to apply. Go to the DMIS Tools section of this Web site, review the Get DMIS Tools section, and complete the linked registration form. If you do not need to download the DMIS Desktop Tools application, please annotate that fact in the remarks section of the form.

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Step 3: Complete the training

Completion of training in HazCollect Principles and Non-weather Emergency Messages Best Practices is a pre-requisite for access to the HazCollect system.

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Step 4: Request Access to HazCollect from the National Weather Service

Once you have completed Steps 1-3 above, you will be ready to apply for access to HazCollect. Please see the National Weather Service HazCollect Application.

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Step 5: Configure your software application

You will be notified via email when your application for HazCollect access has been approved. For DMIS Tools users, it will be at this point that the NWEM authoring tool becomes activated. For a list of other known suppliers of NWEM authoring software, see the NWS FAQ.

Your system administrator will need to configure accounts and NWEM posting permissions per the jurisdiction's warning policy (see Step 1). In addition, if your authoring tool provides the capability, you should pre-populate hazard specific warning templates that comply with warning best practices and technical requirements

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Step 6: Ensure appropriate individuals receive training

It will be the responsibility of the requesting jurisdiction to ensure that system operators receive the training required in Step 3 above, and how to use the NWEM authoring software. It is highly recommended that your jurisdiction collaborate with the appropriate NWS Weather Forecast Office's Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) for implementation. (Consult the NWS WCM Roster as needed.) It is also recommended that practice with HazCollect be routinely included in the jurisdiction's emergency response exercises.

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