Alerting Authorities

An Alerting Authority is a jurisdiction with the designated authority to alert and warn the public when there is an impending natural or human-made disaster, threat, or dangerous or missing person.

Roles and responsibilities of an Alerting Authority differ among agencies. An Alert Originator is an individual person at the keyboard/screen composing and issuing the alert. The Alert Originator utilizes IPAWS in accordance with the Alerting Authority’s plans, policies and procedures to create and send out emergency messages.

FEMA created IPAWS in 2006 in response to Executive Order 13407, and today, there are more than 1,600 federal, state, local, tribal and territorial alerting authorities using IPAWS to issue critical public alerts and warnings in their jurisdictions. There are more than 100 agencies and organizations in the process of becoming IPAWS Alerting Authorities.

Using IPAWS allows alerting authorities to deliver alerts simultaneously through multiple communication pathways to reach as many people as possible. IPAWS does not replace existing alerting methods. Rather, it complements them and offers additional capabilities.

There is no cost to send messages through IPAWS; however, there may be costs to acquire compatible alert origination software that meets IPAWS requirements.

IPAWS, and its associated delivery pathways, is a valuable tool that allows alerting authorities to serve their jurisdictions during an emergency. Deciding whether to issue a public alert or warning can be difficult. Ultimately, it is a matter of local judgment.

The IPAWS TSS facility is a closed IPAWS environment capable of demonstrating alert creation and dissemination to all IPAWS pathways including the Emergency Alert System (EAS), Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), Non-Weather Emergency Messages (NWEM), and IPAWS All-Hazards Information Feed. The 24/7/365 IPAWS TSS facility is staffed with IPAWS subject matter experts and analysts readily available to assist Alerting Authorities with IPAWS needs. The facility is equipped to support on-site and virtual interactive seminars, training initiatives, exercise support, demonstrations and other alert and warning efforts.

The IPAWS TSS has a new toll-free number: 1-84-IPAWSLAB or 1-844-729-7522. You can call this number during both business hours and after-hours. It will always be answered and/or routed to an IPAWS TSS staff member.

The IPAWS Assistive Tool Platform (ATP) offers a unified login to access the Message Design Dashboard, the Message Viewer and future tools that will help Alerting Authorities gain confidence and proficiency in sending public alerts. Current IPAWS Alerting Authorities can set their preferred ID so that utilities automatically load related profile information and created messages in the Message Design Dashboard are saved to users’ profiles and can be quickly reloaded or edited at any time.

The Message Design Dashboard (MDD) allows Alerting Authorities to more rapidly draft effective messages – that is, those that are complete, clear, certain and consistent, with the power to motivate action. Alerting Authorities input pertinent information about their emergency into the MDD, and it will automatically produce draft 90- and 360-character alert based on cutting edge best practices in crisis psychology and social science research. The MDD is informed by a database of content for more than 50 hazards across a range of domains and includes hazard impact statements and protective action guidance that has been vetted with subject matter experts and reviewed by communication scholars.

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The IPAWS Message Viewer is a verification tool designed to assist Alerting Authorities with alert tests and exercises within the IPAWS demonstration environment. The user-friendly interface returns the alert status to the tester through visual confirmation and status codes.

Proficiency Demonstration Messages

The Mandatory Monthly Proficiency Demonstration Requirement, along with other IPAWS Program Management Office initiatives, are being implemented to increase IPAWS user proficiency and reduce alerting errors. Each enabled alerting authority operating under an IPAWS agreement must demonstrate their ability to compose and send a message through the IPAWS-OPEN system at regular intervals. Such demonstration must be performed monthly through generation of a successful message sent through the IPAWS-OPEN Training and Demonstration environment (IPAWS Lab Cloud).

Below is guidance on sending controlled test messages via alert originating software to the IPAWS Lab Cloud.

• Alerting Authorities, otherwise known as Collaborative Operating Groups (COGs) may conduct their Proficiency Demonstration at their own discretion any date/time within a calendar month.
• The message must be for EAS and/or WEA, depending on your COG’s approved alerting permissions. If a COG is approved for both channels (EAS/WEA), then both channels must be tested simultaneously if your alert origination software provides the capability.
• The Demo message status must be set to “Actual” status. The Use of “Test” or “Exercise” status will result in the message not posting to the simulated WEA and EAS feeds in the IPAWS Lab and will not be counted as a successful Demo.
• The Proficiency Demonstration message (EAS Description/WEA message text) shall be as follows: “TEST TEST TEST. This is a Proficiency Demonstration Test Message. No action is required.”
• COGs may use any approved event code for the Demo message. Neither additional message content nor the use of a geotargeting polygon will be evaluated. (It is not necessary nor recommended that COGs use the RMT – “Required Monthly Test” event code as that is specific to broadcast and cable EAS.)
• The IPAWS Message Viewer can provide alert originators with confirmation of a successful demo message, if used within 24 hours of sending a Demo message.

Please Note

• Live messages sent to the production environment WILL NOT be considered for Monthly Proficiency Demonstration scoring.
• If a COG misses a single Monthly Proficiency Demo they will receive a reminder from FEMA.
• If a COG misses two consecutive Monthly Proficiency Demos both they and their state IPAWS Reviewing Authority will be notified.
• If a COG misses THREE CONSECUTIVE Monthly Proficiency Demos they will LOSE ACCESS to the IPAWS Live Production Environment and not be able to use IPAWS for public alerting until such a time as they complete a successful Monthly Proficiency Demo.

See which alerting authorities are approved to use IPAWS in your area.

Alerting Authorities List: Complete

Alerting authorities can access IPAWS' various messaging systems.

• Emergency Alert System (EAS)
• Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs)
• NOAA Weather Radio
• Unique and Future Systems

IPAWS also enables the interoperable exchange of messages between government organizations to enhance situational awareness and collaboration. Government organizations choose incident management software that best fits their needs and can exchange messages with other IPAWS alerting authorities, as long as each software system is compatible with IPAWS, and each organization has established an IPAWS account.

FEMA's Emergency Management Institute offers free, online independent study courses to alerting authority administrators and public safety officials. 

• IS-247.C IPAWS for Alert Originators
• IS-251.A IPAWS for Alerting Administrators

Other Resources

• The IPAWS Program Planning Toolkit
• IPAWS Monthly Tips
• IPAWS Library
• IPAWS TSSF Resource Central
• IPAWS Best Practices