Fire
(Evacuation) Alarm - Fire alarms are located throughout the complex.
If there is a fire or a situation that requires evacuation of the building
the fire alarms will sound. Do not wait for any other indication of trouble.
When the fire alarm sounds evacuate immediately. 
Public
Address (PA) System at USDA Headquarters - A state
of the art PA system has been installed throughout the South, Whitten,
and Yates Buildings, and the Cotton Annex. The PA System will be used in emergency
situations to provide guidance
and information. The PA system is zoned
to allow its use throughout the entire complex, to a specific building, or
to specific wings within some buildings. Strobe
lights have been installed in the vicinity
of the PA speakers to alert personnel with hearing disabilities that a PA
message is being disseminated. Persons with hearing disabilities will receive
a text message via the Wyndtell system (see MessageReach below).
Computer
Emergency Notification System (CENS) - The CENS
system has been distributed to every agency to allow information technology
staffs to load the program on all USDA employee computers in the National
Capital Region. CENS generates an alert siren and a red banded emergency message
on individual computers that are connected to a USDA local area network. CENS
may also disseminate advisory messages that are preceded by a bell and display
a yellow banner rather than a red one. A message with a green banner indicates
the emergency is over or signifies the message is for information purposes.
Channel
6 Television Capability - The Office of Communications maintains
Channel 6, which is available on all televisions in the HQ Complex and DC
Area Buildings. The Office of Operations can take control of Channel 6 to
broadcast emergency information messages and provide guidance in a crisis,
and keep USDA personnel informed. The final stages of extending this Channel
6 capability to all the leased facilities in the National Capital Area will
be completed by early Fall 2003. REQUIREMENT: Turn television to Channel 6.
Employee
Information Line - The 1-800 number normally carries
the current Homeland Security Advisory System threat level as well as the
operating (open/closed/late arrival) posture for USDA employees in the National
Capital Region. During emergencies, the recording will be updated with the
latest emergency information. Employees may call (202) 690-3636 or 1-800-932-1902,
toll free (711 for TTY service) to access this line. REQUIREMENT: Call 1-800
number to receive information.
Emergency
Information Website - The Employee Emergency Information Website
is updated daily with the current operating status, emergency preparedness
information, Occupant Emergency Plans, Informative Links, and Emergency Telephone
Numbers. In an evolving crisis, current emergency information will also be
posted on this website. The site resides at (www.usda.gov/oo/beprepared).
REQUIREMENT: Log onto website.
Voicemail
Capabilities - We can utilize voicemail capabilities to send a
broadcast message to all employees who have voicemail on their telephones
within the Washington Metro Area. This system will not normally be used in
the middle of a fast moving event because of its potential to tie up the entire
USDA voicemail system. REQUIREMENT: Listen to voicemail.
System
Manager Messages - USDA-wide e-mail messages can be sent to all
employees. USDA employees in the National Capital Area will also be advised
of any updates to emergency capabilities and procedures using this process.
REQUIREMENT: Check e-mail.
VoiceReach/MessageReach
- USDA uses the VoiceReach/MessageReach to send simultaneous telephonic or
e-mail messages to individuals within specified groups. These groups include
Emergency Response Team members, senior and selected supervisory staff, the
Wyndtel pagers for persons with hearing disabilities, wardens and monitors,
and selected personnel in the leased facilities. The system is highly adaptable
and new groups may be readily created.
Radio
Network - The Office of Operations maintains an extensive radio
(walky-talky) network to allow all emergency personnel to communicate throughout
an emergency situation. These Wardens, Emergency Response Team members, and
Security Force staff will in turn be able to provide direction and information
to USDA personnel. Selected senior staff members from each Agency also have
radios to allow them to monitor the event. 
Megaphones
- In the event of an emergency wardens and security personnel have the ability
to use megaphones to keep employees informed, including providing directions
and information outside of buildings. 
Warden Phones - The Warden Phone System
consists of the red wall phones located near stairwells throughout the Headquarters
Complex. During fires or shelter-in-place events, these phones are used by
emergency responders and persons with disabilities . The phones will be answered
in the Emergency Control Center and their primary purpose is to direct personnel
to the safest exit or safe zone, inform them which elevators are continuing
to function, and to seek help from additional Wardens. Additionally, they
may now be used 24 hours a day by anyone requiring emergency assistance and
will be answered by staff within the USDA Operations Center. Under the new
system, a recorded message will let you know that the call is being directed
to one of the answering centers. It will take approximately 6 seconds for
the call to be picked up. If the volume of calls is too large at any point,
you will hear music immediately after the recording for approximately 30 seconds.
Then you may hear the recording again. Be assured that you are connected to
the Warden Phone System and your call will be answered as soon as possible.
The RSAN System is a text based messaging system that will send text alerts to e-mail accounts and pagers/cellphones/blackberry’s with text messaging capability. Lists of recipients have been created and will be kept updated. Current members include all ICS members, representatives from several leased facilities, and disabled employees.