PRE-ALERT Notice for Hurricane Idalia">PRE-ALERT Notice for Hurricane Idalia

Published on by Jonathan Jones Category: General, Weather

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

From: Mandy Ptak, GA-TERT Deputy State Coordinator RE: Pre-Alert Notice for Hurricane Idalia

Date: Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Idalia is currently a Category 1 hurricane. Idalia is now forecast to make landfall along the Florida Big Bend tomorrow morning as a Category 3 or 4 hurricane. The brunt of Georgia impacts are still expected in South-Central and Southeast Georgia. It will begin to rapidly weaken as it moves inland but should still be a Category 1 hurricane as it moves into far southen Georgia by midday Wednesday.


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.


It is imperative that all credentialed team members login to the GA TERT portal (www.gatert.org) to confirm the data in their profile, including contact and salary information. Members are also encouraged 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 Communications Authority at 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 at https://gatert.org/join-georgia-tert/.

PRE-ALERT Notice for Hurricane Ian

Published on by Jonathan Jones Category: General, Weather

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 Ian

Date:             Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Ian is currently a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph. Ian is now forecast to make landfall over west-central Florida tomorrow and is expected to impact Georgia as a tropical storm on Friday and Saturday before exiting the state on Sunday.

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.

It is imperative that all credentialed team members login to the GA TERT portal (www.gatert.org) to confirm the data in their profile, including contact and salary information. Members are also encouraged 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 Communications Authority at 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 at https://gatert.org/join-georgia-tert/.

GATERT-Pre-Alert-9-27-2022v2Download

ALERT Notice for Hurricane Ida

Published on by Jonathan Jones Category: Uncategorized

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

From:   Jonathan Jones, GA-TERT Deputy State Coordinator

RE:          Alert Notice for Hurricane Ida

Date:     Sunday, August 29, 2021

Hurricane Ida made landfall on the Louisiana coast as a category 4 earlier today, bringing catastropic storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding for portions of the State. Members of the Georgia Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (GA-TERT) are hereby placed in “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.

The GA-TERT Board acknowledges the unprecidented challenges COVID-19 has placed on your agencies and personnel. With that said, it is imperative that all team members login to the GA TERT portal to confirm the data in their profile, including contact and salary information. Members are encouraged to 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 Communications Authority at the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) and be closely coordinated with local government and PSAPs.

ACTION REQUIRED: Agencies and individuals with active GA-TERT members should notifiy the GA-TERT Board (board@gatert.org) as soon as possible with their availability.

The mission of the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority is to facilitate the effective and efficient operation of 911 and emergency communications across the state, with the vision to be the No. 1 state in the nation for innovation in training, technology, and standards for 911 and emergency communications.

Revised IS-144.A: TERT Basic Course now online

Published on by Jonathan Jones Category: Uncategorized

In partnership with NJTI-TERT and members of the National TERT Committee, FEMA recently completed a revision of the IS144 – TERT Basic Course (IS-144.A). We are thrilled to share that one of our own from Georgia TERT, Amanda Maddox (Henry County), is featured in the online training (please see Experience of Telecommunicators 1 of 2 on Slide 8). Thank you, Amanda!

The updated course has been published and can be found here: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-144.a

All active TERT members are encouraged to complete the revised training, even if they’ve previously completed IS-144.

GA TERT on Pre-Alert as Hurricane Delta Strengthens

Published on by Jonathan Jones Category: Uncategorized

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 Delta

Date:    Wednesday, October 7, 2020

As Hurricane Delta strengthens in the Atlantic, it is predicted to make landfall on the U.S. mainland as a category 4 or greater hurricane on Friday afternoon. 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 login to the GA TERT portal to confirm the data in their profile, including contact and salary information. Members are encouraged to 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 Communications Authority at 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 mission of the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority is to facilitate the effective and efficient operation of 911 and emergency communications across the state, with the vision to be the No. 1 state in the nation for innovation in training, technology, and standards for 911 and emergency communications.

Georgia TERT Answers the Call for Hurricane Sally Telecommunications Assistance in Alabama

Published on by Jonathan Jones Category: Uncategorized

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 20, 2020

Atlanta, Georgia – On Friday, September 18, 2020, the NJTI-TERT, LLC Committee Board was made aware of pending EMAC requests for 24 additional personnel to respond to Baldwin County 911 in Robertsdale, AL to support public-safety communications operations after Hurricane Sally caused major flooding on the Gulf Coast.  

Resources to fulfill the request were quickly identified including TERT personnel from Georgia. Earlier today the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) received a formal EMAC request for three (3) personnel from the Georgia TERT Team.

Personnel responding from Georgia include Team Leader Mandy Ptak, Kenchelv’on Jackson, and Jackson Adams, from Baldwin County 911. The Georgia TERT team is scheduled to arrive in AL on Tuesday, September 22 will join additional TERT members from Florida and Tennessee. This team will aid in servicing the devasted community with emergency calls for service and dispatching appropriate first responders and will relieve TERT personnel that have been on-site since September 16. All teams are scheduled to demobilize and return to home states on September 30, 2020.  

“Emergency communications protect communities at their core and we are proud to be providing support to our neighbors in Alambama to ensure 9-1-1 is available during their time of need,” said Jonathan Jones, Deputy State Coordinator for Georgia TERT And NJTI Board Member. “We are extremely proud of the Baldwin County team for their support of the program and this mission.”

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About Georgia TERT: The Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskfore (TERT) is a nationally recognized program for telecommunicator mutual aid response in the aftermath of disasters. NJTI-TERT provides information as to operational deployments of TERT programs and takes a leadership role in assisting governmental agencies in the development of TERT style programs at the regional, state and local level. Visit www.gatert.org or www.njti-tert.org to find out more.

GA TERT on Pre-Alert as Hurricane Dorian Strengthens

Published on by Jonathan Jones Category: General

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

New TERT Portal

Published on by Jonathan Jones Category: General

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.

Georgia TERT Deploys New Technology

Published on by Jonathan Jones Category: General

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.

 

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

Georgia TERT sends telecommunicators to North Carolina

Published on by Jonathan Jones Category: Deployments

On Monday, September 17, 2018, the Georgia Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT) deployed a team of eight Communications Officers to Sampson County, North Carolina in response to an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request. Sampson County, NC was impacted by Hurricane Florence and the TERT team from Georgia will provide relief for their staff by providing calltaking and dispatching operations. The team consists of the following members:

 

Mandy Ptak (Baldwin County E-911)
Lauren Stallings (Cherokee County E-911)
Jessica Austin-Hashimoto (Cherokee County E-911)
Stephanie Jones (Roswell Police Department E-911)
Savannah Roberts (Paulding County E-911)
Eve Cogsdell (Paulding County E-911)
Kailey Gould (Habersham County E-911)
Elizabeth (Beth) Alewine (Habersham County E-911)

The team is expected to return on Sunday, September 23. Please visit follow updates on the Georgia TERT Team on our Facebook page or Twitter account. For more information on the TERT program, visit www.gatert.org or www.njti-tert.org.