Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)
What is IPAWS?
The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) is the Nation's next generation public communications and warning capability. FEMA and the IPAWS Program Management Office (PMO) will work with public and private sectors to integrate warning systems to allow the President and authorized officials to effectively address and warn the public and State and local emergency operations centers via phone, cell phone, pagers, computers and other personal communications devices.
IPAWS Background
During an emergency, the President, state officials and local emergency managers need to quickly provide the American public with life-saving information.
The current emergency alert system is based on 1990s technology that relied on radio and TV to transmit audio-only alerts. Today, the public uses many different technologies to receive information and are less reliant on TV and radio. For example, many people are not able to watch TV or listen to the radio during the work day and very few people do so in the middle of the night.
The President issued an executive order two years ago directing the Department of Homeland Security to overcome this challenge. In response, FEMA created the IPAWS Program Management Office to oversee the evolution of the alert and warning system.
IPAWS will improve public safety through the rapid dissemination of emergency messages to as many people as possible over as many communications devices as possible. To do this, IPAWS expands the traditional alert and warning system to include more modern technologies. At the same time, FEMA is upgrading the alert and warning infrastructure so that no matter what the crisis is, life-saving information will get to the public -day or night, at home, at work, at school or even on vacation.
What IPAWS Does
The IPAWS improves the reliability, security and accessibility of public alerts and warnings by transforming today's national emergency alert system from an audio-only system into one that can more reliably and effectively send alerts by voice, text or video to all Americans including those with disabilities or who cannot understand English. Through IPAWS, alerts will now flow through multiple devices, such as cell phones, pagers, satellite television/radio, landline phones, desktop computers, personal digital assistants, and road signs. These live or pre-recorded messages may be sent via audio, video or text in multiple languages, including American Sign Language and Braille.
With the help of the local and state governments and with public participation, IPAWS will use multiple modern technologies to alert the public about an impending or ongoing disaster, enhancing the public's ability to make decisions that could save lives and property.
IPAWS supports FEMA's goal to reduce losses of life and property from all hazards by providing timely and accurate information before, during and after an emergency. With IPAWS, you can get alerts and stay alive.
Contact Information
FEMA External Affairs
Telephone: (202) 646-4600
E-mail: FEMA-News-Desk@dhs.gov
Last Modified: Sunday, 11-Nov-2007 10:10:05 EST