IPAWS: The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System

1. IPAWS: The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System

2. History of Emergency Alerts • CONELRAD • EBS • EAS Limitations • In the past, all alerts came through radio and television transmission • Alerts were audio-only • Alerts were only in English • Daisy-chain limitations

3. What is the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)? • IPAWS will take the existing Emergency Alert System (EAS) and add new ways to warn people of imminent threats • The public will receive alerts via • Cell phones - Radio • Email - Residential telephone • Television - others TBD • The mission is to ensure the President can communicate with State, Local, and Tribal governments and the public in times of war or national emergency • IPAWS capabilities will also be available to emergency managers

4. IPAWS Architecture • One message will reach the public through every available communication path • A message can originate at the Federal, State, or Local level • The message will go to the IPAWS aggregator—servers that will gather the messages and authenticate them, then • The message will go through multiple distribution paths to reach every available communications device • IPAWS is developing standards and protocols to increase interoperability among alert and warning systems

5. IPAWS Architecture Emergency Managers IPAWS compliant CAP Alert Origination Tools Message Disseminators Public Emergency Alert System IP access networks Federal AM FM Satellite Radio; Digital Analog Cable Satellite TV Digital EAS PBS IPAWS Cellular Broadcast Cellular Phones State Cellular Carriers Networks Web Browsers, widgets, web sites Internet Services Local message aggregation, authentication, adaption NOAA State / Local Unique Alerting Systems (e.g. ETN, Siren, Signage systems) IP distribution networks

6. Progress to Date • The first standard IPAWS has developed is called the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) • Allows a single alert message to be routed over many systems • Can easily work with language translation software for non-English speakers, hearing impaired and other special audiences • IPAWS working to upgrade participating systems to be CAP compatible • NOAA • Cellular broadcast • For cell phone alerts, the interface is finished that allows a message to go from the IPAWS system to the cell phone users • Geo-Targeted Alerting System (GTAS) pilot projects

7. Geo-Targeted Alerting System (GTAS) What Is GTAS Why GTAS How GTAS Works GTAS Connectivity GTAS Locations

8. What is GTAS? • GTAS is a joint pilot project between NOAA and FEMA providing Emergency Managers with a new software tool; • Integrates NOAA’s advanced weather information and warning infrastructure with FEMA IPAWS dissemination systems; • It’s a JAVA based system with a graphical user interface. • Provides targeted warnings to the public in event of toxic release via reverse 911 technology;

9. How GTAS Works? • Provides targeted warnings to the public in event of toxic release via reverse 911 technology; • Integrates NOAA’s advanced weather information and warning infrastructure with FEMA IPAWS dissemination systems; • Operational in community EOC and Weather Field Office; • Interface to Commercial Mobile Alert System via CAP messages.

10. GTAS Provides Emergency Manager a Easy to Use Tool Weather Observations Forecast Model Dispersion Model GTAS Server GTAS Clients GTAS Client IPAWS EOC WFO • GTAS provides information the emergency manager needs to quickly identify the public that is at risk; • Uses a simple graphical user interface for system managers; • Provides collaboration tools, so the EM can work with the experts at a WFO to clarify the information that is being presented;

11. Hawaiian Islands American Samoa CNMI Federated States of Micronesia Where GTAS will be Piloted in 2009 • Southern Region VI (Completed) • Weather Field Office, Ft Worth, TX • Dallas Emergency Operations Center (EOC); • Western Region X • Weather Field Office, Seattle, WA • Washington State EOC • City of Seattle EOC • Eastern Region II • Weather Field Office, New York City • New York State EOC • New York City EOC • Central Region VII • Weather Field Office, Pleasant Hill, MO • Kansas State EOC • Kansas City EOC

12. Conclusion • The completion of the IPAWS system is estimated for 2012 • IPAWS is in regular contact with the FEMA Regional team. Please check there for updates. • News and other topics can be found on the IPAWS website: http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/index.shtm • GTAS Pilot Project in Washington

13. Andrew Hendrickson Tribal Liaison FEMA Region X andrew.hendrickson@dhs.gov 425-487-4784