BE IT RESOLVED, that Agreement A178166 with Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) to continue development  of TPT NOW as a public health and safety broadcast channel designed to have the capacity for government officials and partners to deliver content promoting community resiliency including health, safety, emergency situational awareness and public warning/alert services in the following languages: English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali during the period January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018 in the not to exceed amount of $100,000 be approved; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the Agreement on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to accept and disburse funds as directed.

This project is administered by Hennepin County Emergency Management on behalf of emergency management departments metro-wide. The purpose is provide a reliable and continuous source of official information regarding public safety and health on broadcast television and cable. Topics include hazard awareness, safety education, and preparedness measures. When necessary programming shifts to alert and warning, crisis information and disaster recovery resources. A base line program of current weather underpins the broadcast.

Two capabilities that accompany this effort are unique in the nation. First is the continuous broadcast schedule which will make this channel a clear ‘go-to’ source for official information at any time. Second is the ability to provide vital information in the four predominant languages spoken in the Twin Cities – English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali. This is the second grant year that Hennepin County Emergency Management has administered. 

Current Request:

Agreement A178166 with Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) will allow Emergency Management to operationalize the service, test the multi-language alert and warning capability, and conduct exercises to ensure that emergency officials can quickly get messages out.