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CAP Weather Messages Triggering Cellular Alerts in the U.S.

CAP Weather Messages Triggering Cellular Alerts in the U.S. Robert Bunge U.S. National Weather Service Silver Spring, MD, USA Robert.bunge@noaa.gov. WMO, ITU, OASIS CAP IMPLEMENTATION WORKSHOP GENEVA, SWITZERLAND 23/24 April 2013. Overview. Background

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CAP Weather Messages Triggering Cellular Alerts in the U.S.

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  1. CAP Weather Messages Triggering Cellular Alerts in the U.S. Robert Bunge U.S. National Weather Service Silver Spring, MD, USA Robert.bunge@noaa.gov WMO, ITU, OASIS CAP IMPLEMENTATION WORKSHOP GENEVA, SWITZERLAND 23/24 April 2013

  2. Overview • Background • U.S. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) • Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) • Lessons Learned • Being Prepared • Conduct Outreach • Monitor Feedback • Future Plans • Summary

  3. Background • US NWS started to send brief warning messages to cell phones in affected areas in June 2012 using FEMA operated network • Alert data is contained in CAP message • US created custom parameters as needed • CAP messages now being disseminated via other systems

  4. U.S. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) • Weather Alert Types • More about message content on later slides

  5. IPAWS – Integrated Public Alert and Warning System • Operated by US Federal Emergency Management Agency • Collects alerts in CAP format from all levels of government

  6. Lessons Learned Effective CAP alerting is much more than implementing CAP technical standards • Being Prepared • Research • Message Content • Originator Proficiency • Regular Testing • Conduct Outreach • Monitoring & Feedback

  7. Lessons Learned:Being Prepared

  8. Research • Understand cell broadcast technology(s) used • Work directly with the cellular carriers in your area • Learn how alert broadcast areas are determined • Learn handset capability, current and projected for your technology • Learn handset refresh rate – when will most consumers be able to receive alerts? • Understand limitations (technical and policy) • Develop services and expectations around them

  9. Lessons Learned:Message Content

  10. MESSAGE CONTENTChoose U-S-C and response Type carefully • Urgency, Severity, and Certainty elements must be at their two highest levels to trigger WEA • Urgency • Immediate • Expected • Future • Past • Unknown • Severity • Extreme • Severe • Moderate • Minor • Unknown • Certainty • Observed • Likely • Possible • Unlikely • Unknown • WEA will not be triggered if chosen responseType is “None” • WEA message can be prevented with IPAWS channelBlockparameter

  11. MESSAGE CONTENTNWS Custom CAP Parameters

  12. MESSAGE CONTENTCMAMText for custom WEA message • Custom parameter for US IPAWS system • Have templates for custom message • Messages issued by NYC during October 2012 superstorm • “MANDATORY EVACUATION Zone A, Rockaways, Hamilton Bch, City Is. NYC.gov or 311 for details” • “Emergency Alert in this area until 8:00 AM GMT Take Shelter Now NYC_OEM” • Go indoors immediately and remain inside. DO NOT DRIVE. Call 9-1-1 for emergencies only. Alert Message Content (90 characters) - What - Where - When - How (to respond) - Who (says)

  13. MESSAGE CONTENTUse of polygon to describe threat area • Increase value and relevance of warning • Compared to warning by county, polygon warnings can reduce warned area by 70% to 97%, especially in Western U.S. • NWS started using polygon warnings October 1, 2007 • Tornado Warnings (trigger WEA) • Flash Flood Warnings (trigger WEA) • Severe Thunderstorm Warnings • Special Marine Warnings • Severe Weather Statements • Flash Flood Statements • Marine Weather Statements 13

  14. Originator Proficiency • Online Training (FEMA Course IS-247) • Introduction to system • Appropriate, Effective, and Accessible Alert and Warning Messages • Common Alerting Protocol Message Composition • Practice and Drill

  15. Regular Testing • Test processes in a test environment • Both NWS and FEMA have test environments that process real data all the time • Validate system response is as expected IPAWS

  16. Conduct Outreach • Set realistic expectations – WEA Is a bell ringer, not a replacement for traditional warning systems • Create one-page web/social media/handout preparemetrokc.org/WirelessEmergencyAlertFlier.pdf • Media interviews, school and government officials, community events, Public Service Announcements • Government agency and industry association links to outreach information for each major carrier – example: www.ctia.org/wea) • Develop FAQs – example: www.weather.gov/wirelessalerts • Cell users should contact their carrier regarding WEA capability, to report issues, or seek assistance

  17. Monitor Feedback • Social media • Call centers • Family and friends • Calls and emails to originating authority

  18. Current and Future Plans • NWS CAP messages now being disseminated via two satellite systems in parallel with traditional text alerts • Newest version will soon be on NWS websites via ATOM index feeds • Better descriptive language of impacted areas • Allow originating meteorologist to custom tailor message

  19. Summary • NWS has been using CAP to send short messages to cell phones located in impacted areas since June 2012 • Early results are positive with some affected citizens crediting system to saving lives • Lessons learned center less around the technology and more around the message content and public outreach

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