Emergency alert or activation will occur at the direction the appropriate Israeli governmental body (Government Ministry, Fire Service, IDF, or other authorized body). Once an alert notification or activation order is received, Senior EVP staff will authorize an increase of the EVP alert level. Senior EVP officials also have the authority to order the initiation of the predefined procedures and actions required and to activate the US Situation Room.
When a nationwide alert has been issued, senior EVP staff will determine the appropriate alert level and which service teams will be notified. All activation procedures will follow the predefined protocols and procedures.
Once an emergency situation has diminished to the point that responders can be released (return to nominal conditions), the original organization issuing the alert has the authority to reduce the alert level.
EVP has established three levels of alert status. These alert levels indicate the likelihood of deployment due to conditions in Israel. Because the nature of incidents could involve one or more area of service, each area of service may have a different alert level.
This is the nominal state of readiness of EVP responders and reflects the relatively normal life in Israel. There is no specific, immediate emergency situation, nor is one anticipated in the near future, which would necessitate activation of EVP responders.
In a moderate alert situation, a reasonable likelihood exists that an emergency deployment could become necessary in the near future. The specifics of the situation may or may not be known or fully developed, but the general nature of the situation is understood. Moderate Alert level will be maintained for no more than six days; at that time either the alert level will be raised to High, or returned to Low level.
The situation in Israel is such that an immediate emergency activation of one or more service areas and one or more waves of teams is required. Specifics of the emergency are known and a preliminary impact assessment has been completed. The estimated number of responder teams and number of waves needed has been determined. The specific location(s) and geographic extent of the area of the emergency is understood. As a result, the specific activation of responder teams has been authorized and deployment plans implemented.
EVP Leadership will determine the number of waves needed based on the specific incident encountered. For example, in an earthquake scenario, all required waves will be activated at the same time due to the extreme and widespread nature of the incident. In a war or large terror incident, deployments will be separated into up to four waves that can cover about two months.
IT WAS 4:00 AM, THANKSGIVING MORNING.
MY PHONE VIBRATED ON THE NIGHT STAND AND THE TEXT READ 'WE’RE DEPLOYING TO ISRAEL-- LEAVING IN 6 HOURS. I LEANED OVER TO KISS MY FIANCÉE GOODBYE AND LEFT FOR THE LONG FLIGHT FROM LAX TO BEN GURION AIRPORT.
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