1. The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)
Get Alerts, Stay Alive
Annual NWS Partners Meeting
5 August 2013
Wade Witmer, Deputy Director, FEMA IPAWS

2. What is the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System?
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A
NON-WEATHER EMERGNECY MESSAGE
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SHELTER IN PLACE WARNING
DANE COUNTY 911 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
1100 AM CDT MON APR
...SHELTER IN PLACE WARNING NEAR THE XYZ CHEMICAL PLANT NEAR DANE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT…
THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS BEING TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE DANE COUNTY 911 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER DUE TO A TOXIC GAS RELEASE.
MADISON EMERGNCY SERVICES HAS ISSUED A SHELTER IN PLACE WARNING. THERE HAS BEEN A RELEASE OF BUTADIENE FROM XYZ CHEMICAL PLANT. THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND IS FROM THE NORTHEAST. THE WIND SPEED IS ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR. AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE... PEOPLE NEAR THE DANE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT...AND WITHIN A 2 MILE RADIUS SHOULD SEEK SHELTER.
SHELTER IN PLACE WARNING ACTIONS:
1. GO INSIDE
2. CLOSE ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS
3. TURN OFF ALL VENTILATION SYSTEMS
4. TUNE TO LOCAL NEWS MEDIA FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. $$

3. What IPAWS is Not. IPAWS Is for: IPAWS Can:
Not a subscription based mass notification system
Not an ETN or reverse dial phone system
Not an SMS or sign up system
Not a paging or limited distribution notification system
e.g. can’t send a recall notice to a select group of employees
IPAWS Is for:
Emergency Alert and Warning information
i.e. not meant for messaging about changes to trash collection schedule
Alerting all citizens in an given area
IPAWS Can:
Activate EAS Radio and TV stations
Alert all (WEA capable) cell phones in a defined geographic area, even when cell networks are congested
Send a warning message for broadcast over NOAA Weather Radio
SMS Text messaging and reverse dial notification systems – be careful to understand their benefit as well as limitations.
they can quickly congest a local area network\
Test it. If you’re a university, test it during a home football game. WEA can deliver, regardless of cell sector congestion

4. Commercial Mobile Alert Service Gateways
IPAWS Architecture
Alerting Channels
(public alerting systems)
American People
Alerting Authorities
* Includes NOAA
Emergency
Local
Emergency Alert System
State
Territorial
CAP messages
Commercial Mobile Alert Service Gateways
Tribal
Federal*
IPAWS OPEN
CAP messages
NOAA
IPAWS compliant CAP Alert Origination Tools
Alert
Gateways
HazCollect
NWS
Internet Services
web sites, apps widgets, social media
Subscription Mass Notification Systems
(IPAWS SV-1)
Green = FEMA maintained interface to private industry systems Blue = NOAA System
Grey = state and local, not FEMA funded interfaces and systems
OPEN (Open Platform for Emergency Networks) is a message broker for exchanging standards compliant emergency messages. OPEN v1.0 aka as DMIS, was fielded in some localities to provide alert and warning message exchange with NOAA for non-weather hazard activation of the National Weather Radio network (HazCollect System). IPAWS 2.0 currently operational. IPAWS 3.0 will be IPAWS first increment initial operating capability
Authorized alerting officials at all levels of government access the IPAWS service and send CAP messages through OPEN to public information distribution systems.
IPAWS builds and maintains the OPEN interface and connection to privately maintained public information dissemination channels:
- radio and TV via EAS
- cellular phone broadcast via CMAS
- NOAA Weather Radio via HazCollect
- Internet services TBD
- Local Unique systems – such as Emergency Telephone Networks and local phone dialing system as well as other local alerting systems (e.g. siren, signboard)
IPAWS does not replace local alerting systems, but can be used by and integrated with local alerting systems
State / Local Unique Alerting Systems
ETN
(State and Local Systems)
Siren
(FEMA Systems)
RBDS
Future Technologies?
(Private Sector Systems)

5. Emergency Alert System Wireless Emergency Alerts
IPAWS Users and Connections Status
As of July 31
Alerting Authorities
128 County level w/ Public Alerting
(184 County level in process for Public Alerting)
32 State level w/ Public Alerting
(14 State level in process for Public Alerting)
2 Territory level w/ Public Alerting
NOAA National Weather Service (NWS)
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (AMBER Alerts)
Alert Dissemination Channels
(public alerting systems)
Local
Emergency Alert System
26,000 EAS participants monitoring the IPAWS EAS Feed
State
NOAA
All Hazards NOAA Weather Radio network
IPAWS OPEN
Territorial
Wireless Emergency Alerts
56 Cellular Carriers connected
11 in process
Millions of handsets deployed
Federal
IPAWS-OPEN Operational COG Status Report
Number of States with Operational COGS: 34
Number of Territories with Operational COGs: 2 (Washington, DC and Puerto Rico)
Number of States with Public Alerting Authority: 32
Number of Territories with Public Alerting Authority: 2 (Washington, DC and Puerto Rico)
Number of Counties with Operational COGS: 196
Number of Counties with Public Alerting Authority: 128
Number of MOAs Pending Final Digital Certificate/Password: 10
FL Duval County
IL Kankakee County
MI City of Flint
NY Erie County Sheriff's Office
NY Town of Clarkstown
TN Macon County
TN Shelby County
TX City of Baytown
TX City of San Antonio
TX Tarrant County
WV Barbour County
# MOAs Pending CIO/CISO Signature: 25
AL Alabama Emergency Management Agency
AL Jefferson County
FL Collier County Sheriff's Office
IL Village of Barrington
IL Village of Mundelein
IN City of Indianapolis
LA Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
MN Dakota Communications Center
NJ Sussex County
NV Nevada Division of Emergency Management
NY Jefferson County
OH Cuyahoga County
PA City of Philadelphia
US Guardian Emergency Management Modernization Program Joint Base Charleston
VA City of Harrisonburg & County of Rockingham Emergency Communications Center
WA King County
WI Manitowoc County
WV City of Charleston
WV Kanawha County
WV Lincoln County
WV Mongogalia County
WV Putnam County
WV Upshur County
WV Wheeling-Ohio County
WV Wood County
IPAWS-OPEN Developer MOA Status Report
Total # of Applications: 205
# MOAs Complete: 166
# MOAs Pending FEMA Signature: 0
# Developers w/Intent Responses: 123
Government Entities with MOAs:
Air Force Research Laboratory
Centre for Security Science (CSS), Government of Canada
City of Lakewood, CO
                Department of Homeland Security Geospatial Management Office (GMO)
DHS/FEMA QA Test Management
JITC Test Laboratory
Maine Office of Information Technology (OIT), Office of GIS (MEGIS)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Atmospheric Research (OAR)
National Public Radio (NPR)
National Weather Service
New York City Office of Emergency Management
NIH
Preparedness-Technology, Analysis, and Coordination (P-TAC) Center Supporting Technology Evaluation Project
SPAWAR System Center Atlantic
SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific
St. Clair County Homeland Security (St. Clair County, Michigan)
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
U.S. Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center
IPAWS-OPEN Carrier MOA Status Report
# Carriers Connected: 56
# Carriers in Progress: 11
               American Messaging Service-Documents completed, Connected to TDL, pending testing
               Cellular One/dba Cellular One of East Central Illinois-Documents completed, need CMAS capable handsets before going live
               Critical Alert Systems, LLC fka NEP Wireless-Documents completed, not connected due to technical difficulties on their end
                Hawkeye Switching LLC-Documents completed, Connected to TDL, pending testing
               Iowa RSA 2 Limited Partnership-Documents completed, pending VPN connection of CGH
                Kaplan Telephone Co Inc.-Documents Completed, need CMAS capable handsets before going live
                Missouri RSA 5 Partnership dba Chariton Valley Wireless Services-Documents completed, not connected due to technical difficulties on their end
                NewCore Wireless-Documents completed, need CMAS capable handsets before going live
                North Dakota Network Company dba SRT Wireless-Documents completed, pending connection by CGH
Northwest Cell-Documents Completed, pending VPN connection of CGH
                PBS-PROD and TEST MOAs and ISAs fully executed and returned to PBS, Testing completed at JITC, Pending TDL and PROD connection
                RSA 1 Limited Partnership: Documents completed, pending VPN connection of CGH
                ODS Security, LLC (Pico Cell): Documents completed, pending VPN connection and testing
# Documents Pending CIO/CISO Signature: 0
# Documents Pending DHS Signature: 0
               
IPAWS-OPEN EAS Feed MOA Status Report
Total # of Applications: 39
# MOAs Complete: 36
Alcatel-Lucent NSIT Lab
ATI Systems, Inc.
Broadcast Television Group, LLC
Callaway GraphicSoftware, LLC
Carnegie Mellun University Silicon Valley
City of Lakewood
Communications & Power Engineering (dba CommPower), Inc.
Department of Homeland Security Geospatial Management Office (GMO)
EZ Automation
Flaggpole, Inc. dba Twitzip
Geo-Comm
Global Security Systems, LLC
Grandpaham.com
Interop Solutions, LLC
MyStateUSA, Inc.
Omnilert, LLC
PIER Systems LLC
Public Alerter, LLC
Rapid Notify, Inc.
Rave Wireless
SafeT, Inc.
Singlewire Software LLC
Spectacular Media
Spectrum Solutions and Services
Swan Island Networks, Inc.
TechRadium, Inc.
Thunder Eagle, Inc.
TriStateAlerts, LLC
WHDT World Television Service
WRAL-TV, Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc.
# MOAs Pending CISO Signature: 0
Internet Services
36 vendors with access to monitor IPAWS Public Feed 5

6. IPAWS Alerting Channels overview6

7. Emergency Alert System
All EAS Participants (Radio and TV) are required to monitor IPAWS for a national EAS emergency alert message
FEMA posts weekly test messages (RWTs) for each time zone on the IPAWS EAS Feed
Allows EAS stations to validate equipment and connectivity
State and Local authorities can use IPAWS to route alerts to local EAS stations in coordination with the local stations.
FEMA recommends that IPAWS complement - but not replace - traditional systems used for state/local EAS communications with local radio and TV stations
EAS Participants are defined by the FCC’s EAS rules in C.F.R. 47 Part 11 and include all radio and television broadcast, cable, satellite, and wireline providers (e.g. Verizon FiOS or AT&T Uverse) 7

8. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)
Enables 90 character, geographically targeted, emergency alerts to be broadcast to cellular phones in a defined alert zone
Uses “cell broadcast” technology to avoid network congestion
Different channel than voice, SMS, or web
Cellular carrier participation voluntary
Most Commercial Mobile Service Providers (CMSP) have opted into WEA
New phones are delivered opted-in
Citizens may opt-out of receiving alerts
IPAWS is the only way emergency managers can send Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)
WEA use is free to alerters and alertees – no usage or text message charges
Significantly different from SMS/ based alerting systems
Not subscription based -- true location based alerting
Sends alerts to phones in an area - not to a database of phone numbers
For “Alerts” only…. not for notification type messages
Only for emergencies categorized as:
Imminent Threat (Severity, Urgency, Certainty)
AMBER / Child Abduction Emergency
Presidential (*** Cannot Opt-Out ***)
WEA is a “BELL RINGER” capability only! 8

9. NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio
The National Weather Service (NWS) All-Hazards Emergency Message Collection System, or HazCollect, enables emergency alert messages from local alerting authorities to be broadcast over local NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio transmitters
HazCollect can be accessed through IPAWS-OPEN connection
Permission to access Hazcollect must be coordinated and approved through the NWS in coordination with your local Weather Forecast Office
additional info at
HazCollect interface between FEMA IPAWS and NOAA has been in place since 2010 9

10. Internet Services / Applications
IPAWS publishes a Public Alerts Feed accessible by approved vendors through an MOA application process
Approved 3rd party internet web services and application can monitor and retrieve public alerts in CAP format and post or distribute the alert information via their websites, apps, subscription services, etc.
Computer or Smart Phone Apps
Social Media,
Subscription services
Website pop-ups 10

11. For more information Email the IPAWS inbox: IPAWS@dhs.gov
IPAWS Website:
EMI Independent Study Course IS-247a:
Mailing list for IPAWS Webinar notices: DHSFEMA_165 11

12. National Continuity Programs
Contact Information
Wade Witmer
Deputy Director
IPAWS
National Continuity Programs
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
500 C Street SW, Room 506
Washington, DC 20472
Office 12

13. QUESTIONS? 13

14. I IPAWS Public Education Campaign
Ready.gov/Alerts Website
FEMA and the Ad Council produced Public Safety Announcements (PSAs) on Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) for distribution on radio and TV
“IPAWS for the American People” Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Web Based Training Course
IPAWS is working with Ready.gov to create content on Alerts and Warning for the Children’s Preparedness section 14

15. IPAWS Webinars
Good source for information tailored towards IPAWS users and developers
Register for announcements on webinar subjects and information at:
Past webinar archives also available 15

16. Current Practitioner Webinar Agenda
A five webinar series providing information about current IPAWS compatible alerting tools available on the market.
Each webinar features three IPAWS compatible tools. The vendor provides an overview and demonstration of their tool and answers a few questions from participants.
During the demonstration the vendor must detail how their tool meets four minimum IPAWS functions:
Demonstrate successful posting of an IPAWS-conforming Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) alert
Retrieve message status to verify alert was successfully transmitted to the intended audience
Demonstrate interoperable CAP exchange with other Collaborative Operating Groups (COG)
Verify connectivity with IPAWS (using the getAck function)
Schedule:
Webinar
Date & Time
AOSP
Webinar 1
7/24/2013 at 12:00PM ET
MyStateUSA AlertSense
Eyestreet Solutions On-The-Go Alerting
Comlabs EMNet
Webinar 2
8/7/13 at 12:00PM ET
GSS Alert Studio
NC4 E-Team
Federal Signal Corporation
Webinar 3
8/14/2013 at 12:00PM ET
Inspiron Logistics
Alerting Solutions
Asher Group
Webinar 4
8/28/2013 at 12:00PM ET
                                     
Monroe Electronics
Cellcast Technologies
Emergency Communications Network
Webinar 5
9/11/2013 at 12:00PM ET
Interop-Solutions
AmberAlert.com - dba Law Enforcement Alerting, Inc
Geo-Comm, Inc.
Webinar 6
9/25/2013 at 12:00PM ET
Nixle 16