Local governments in central Virginia and Hampton Roads are getting a new satellite-based digital alerting system that will allow them to keep communication with the Virginia Emergency Operations Center in the event of phone or Internet loss. The Emergency Management Network, or EMnet, also lets localities send Emergency Alert System messages directly to their local media during emergencies and disasters.

"Making these communication systems available to more localities can save lives," said Michael Cline, state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. "EMnet allows us to communicate with local governments when other systems are unavailable and to get them the help they need. It also allows local governments to send live-saving Emergency Alert System messages to the media quicker than ever before."

The network is a secure system designed to maintain communications for the emergency management community during a disaster, when phone lines and Internet service could go down. Reliable communications systems are extremely important during response efforts, in the event that localities need to request assistance from other localities or from the Virginia Emergency Operations Center. EMnet also offers an efficient means of delivering hazards and warnings to emergency responders.

VDEM is currently working with designated localities to conduct site surveys. Once the surveys are completed, EMnet will be installed in facilities designated by localities, such as local emergency operations centers or 911 centers. Installation for all 22 sites is scheduled to be completed by the end of summer 2008.

The designated localities include the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Hopewell, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg and the counties of Accomack, Chesterfield, Gloucester, Henrico, Isle of Wight, James City, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northampton, Northumberland and York.

The General Assembly approved funding last year to expand the network to local governments in Hampton Roads and central Virginia to target dense populations in advance of hurricanes and other emergencies. The funding covers equipment, installation and a three-year license.

The Virginia State Police and the VEOC installed EMnet in 2004 using previous funding from the General Assembly; northern Virginia localities used federal grant money to install the system in 2006. It is the Commonwealth's primary means of issuing Emergency Alert System messages.