FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
The start of the new year and the threat of varying weather conditions across the country makes now the time for Defense Logistics Agency employees to update their personal information in the Global Address Listing and the AtHoc Mass Warning Notification Systems.
An employee account in the GAL serves many purposes, including employee safety. The GAL receives its information from the Identification Card Online website. Periodic reviews and updates to employees’ ID Card Online profiles are required.
AtHoc is an interactive mass warning notification system that allows installation leadership to disseminate timely alerts and warnings focused on hazards and threats that may impact the protected population. The timely dissemination of notifications is essential to the safety and security of all employees during disasters or emerging threats, where protective measures like shelter-in-place, lockdown, and evacuations, are required. The system notifies employees using a phone call, text message, email, or pop-up notifications to desktop workstations.
“Keeping GAL and AtHoc profiles updated with telephone numbers and emails is paramount to reducing the risks associated with threats and hazards,” said DLA Installation Management Emergency Management Program Manager James Johnston. “Ultimately, staying informed reduces miscommunications and avoids ambiguity and promotes preparedness and resiliency.”
Johnston shared the AtHoc system does not maintain an employee’s business address, making it critical that an employee’s GAL information is up to date. The employee’s GAL profile data is pulled into the AtHoc system to receive notifications in the event of a threat or hazard impacting an employee’s physical location.
How to Update GAL and AtHoc Profiles
Employees should take the following actions to ensure both profiles information is correct:
- Visit the ID Card Office Online website and update profiles to reflect current information. Knowledge Article How to update your contact information in My Profile will walk you through the process.
- Download the Blackberry AtHoc application from the Software Center, if not already installed.
- Open and update AtHoc profiles, found in the AtHoc desktop application. Populate and update all primary and secondary contact information. The following knowledge articles are provided for reference:
- Need AtHoc help?
- How to verify and update contact information in AtHoc
- How to fix AtHoc thick client (laptop) installation and location issues
- How to change work locations in AtHoc
- How to enter temporary work locations in AtHoc
For additional information, contact local emergency managers.
- Allow 24-48 hours for replication and then verify that updates are visible in the GAL.
DLA employees can also download the Blackberry AtHoc app on their personal devices from either the Apple or Google app stores. This application is another option for those who don't want to enter their personal email and phone number in the AtHoc system. The process can be found on the AtHoc Mobile App Instructions. (DLA Common Access Card required)
Lessons Learned
Having spent many years leading emergency preparedness and response for various government agencies, Johnston shared the following lessons learned:
- Develop a Personal Emergency Plan: The DLA Emergency Management Team encourages all employees to develop a personal emergency plan tailored to their individual needs, with backup plans that allow for deviations from primary plans. Plans should address family communication plans, evacuation plans with multiple routes, pet care, and considerations for alternative childcare or eldercare arrangements. Building emergency supply kits should be included in all planning and require periodic maintenance to maximize effectiveness.
- Stay Informed: The DLA Emergency Management Team encourages all DLA employees to stay informed about potential emergencies and disasters in their physical area, and to sign up for emergency alerts and warnings from local authorities. Employees are encouraged to contact their local emergency managers for additional information on where and how to sign up.
- Know Your Agency's Emergency Procedures: Emergency Management program goals include outreach and education for all DLA employees, accomplished through local emergency management offices coordinating extensively within their communities. This includes training the DLA workforce on potential threats and hazards and then validating existing plans through a variety of exercises, i.e., drills, functional exercises, full-scale exercises.
Johnston stressed the importance for DLA employees to know the agency's emergency procedures, including evacuation routes and how to apply their knowledge in an emergency to reduce the impact of disasters, which ultimately saves lives in these types of events.
Johnston shared the following example: If an aggressor targets a DLA site, it's not likely the whole workforce would know until DLA's AtHoc is used to send out early threat warnings.
“These precious moments where the success of saving lives is contingent on getting the information disseminated in a timely manner, and to the right outlet – i.e., cell phone, email, etc. – requires just a few moments of checking and verifying profiles are up-to-date and reflect accurate data,” he said.