PRE-ALERT NOTICE

To:          Georgia PSAP Directors
               GA-TERT Members / Team Leaders
                GECA and GEMA/HS Staff

From:   Jonathan Jones, GA-TERT Deputy State Coordinator

RE:       Pre-Alert Notice for Hurricane Dorian

Date:    Thursday, August 29, 2019

As Hurricane Dorian strengthens in the Atlantic, it is predicted to make landfall on the U.S. mainland as a category 3 or greater hurricane late Sunday or Monday morning.  Members of the Georgia Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (GA-TERT) are hereby placed in “Pre-Alert” status and should begin to consider their availability for possible deployment.  In the event a request for assistance is received, we will quickly notify members and attempt to meet the needs of the request. Team members should visit www.gatert.org to view the pre-deployment checklist and familiarize themselves with the program guidelines.

As a reminder, all requests for a GA-TERT deployment must come through the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) and be closely coordinated with local government and PSAPs. 

Emergency Telecommunicators who wish to join the GA-TERT in anticipation of this storm should review the requirements and submit their application as soon as possible. Questions about the program can be sent to board@gatert.org.

The GA-TERT is a joint APCO/NENA program that provides trained personnel to emergency communication centers and their personnel in the event of a man-made or natural disaster.  For more information on the National TERT program, visit www.njti-tert.org

To:          Georgia PSAP Directors
               GA-TERT Members / Team Leaders

From:   Jonathan Jones, GA-TERT Deputy State Coordinator

RE:          New Georgia TERT Portal

Date:     Wednesday, July 10, 2019

The Georgia Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT) has migrated to a new web-based portal to help manage participating agencies, new member applications, team assignments, training and certification, and more. The new portal allows agencies and members an easy, user-friendly application and approval process. Georgia is proud to be the third state in the Nation to implement this software.

Going forward, all applications for agency or member participation will be processed through the portal. You can access the portal by visiting www.gatert.org and clicking on “Join”. An overview of the new process is outlined below:

1. Agency submits application to register Emergency Communications Center (ECC)
2. Once the agency’s registration is approved, emergency telecommunicators can submit formal applications to join the GA-TERT program.
3. Completed applications are sent electronically via e-mail to department directors for review and approval.
4. Members with approved applications are added to teams which are organized by GEMA/HS area.

We are excited about this new portal and are confident that it will not only help us manage the program at a state level, but will also streamline the process for agency and member participation.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your support of the Georgia TERT program.

ATHENS, GEORGIA – On July 10, 2019, the Georgia Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT) launched a new web portal that will help manage participating agencies, new member applications, team assignments, training, certifications, and more.

The new portal, built by Morris Enterprises on the QuickBase platform allows agencies and potential members an easy, user-friendly application and approval process. Georgia is proud to be the third state in the Nation to implement this software. “We are excited to provide the TERT portal along with our other applications designed for the public safety communications industry,” said Tyrell Morris, CEO of Morris Enterprises. “This really helps our nation’s finest telecommunicators to execute their mission”. 

Using the portal, Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs) in Georgia can apply to join the roster of participating TERT agencies. Telecommunicators can then use the portal to submit applications, which are electronically delivered to their department director for approval.

“This portal is an essential piece to the advancement of our state TERT program,” said Jonathan Jones, Deputy State TERT Coordinator. “We are able to streamline and simplify many processes vital to managing our teams using this database.”

While the portal is now fully functional, leadership for the state’s TERT program intends to add additional features in the future. The portal can be accessed at www.gatert.org.

About TERT: A Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT) is composed of professional public safety emergency communications personnel supported by a cadre of logistical and administrative staff designed to provide support to emergency communications and/or public safety answering points during or after a disaster or other events.

###
Jonathan Jones, RPL
Georgia Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce
(706) 613-3330 ext. 401
Jonathan.Jones@accgov.com