INTEGRATED PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING
SYSTEM
EVOLUTION OF EMERGENCY ALERTING
1951 - 1963
CONELRAD
Originally called the “Key
Station System,” the CONtrol
of ELectromagnetic RADiation
(CONELRAD) was established
in August 1951.
Participating stations tuned to
640 & 1240 kHz AM and
initiated a special sequence
and procedure designed to
warn citizens.
1963 - 1997
EBS
EBS was initiated to address the
nation through audible alerts. It
did not allow for targeted
messaging.
System upgraded in 1976 to
provide for better and more
accurate handling of alert
receptions.
Originally designed to provide the
President with an expeditious
method of communicating with
the American Public, it was
expanded for use during
peacetime at state and local
levels.
1997 - 2006
EAS
EAS jointly coordinated by the
FCC, FEMA and NWS.
Designed for President to speak
to American people within 10
minutes.
EAS messages composed of 4
parts:
• Digitally encoded header
• Attention Signal
• Audio Announcement
• Digitally encoded end-ofmessage marker
2006
IPAWS
IPAWS modernizes and
integrates the nation’s alert and
warning infrastructure.
Integrates new and existing
public alert and warning systems
and technologies
Provides authorities a broader
range of message options and
multiple communications
pathways
Increases capability to alert and
warn communities of all hazards
impacting public safety.
WASHINGTON STATE EXAMPLE – MYSTATE USA
WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERTS (WEA)
WEA: WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERTS
•
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) is the industry branding name of the new
Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS)
•
CMAS required by Federal Warning, Alert, and Response Network (“WARN”) Act,
passed in 2006
•
WEA alert types: Presidential, imminent threat to life and property, AMBER alerts
•
WEAs are free messages / warnings – alerts sent directly to your cell phone.
•
WEAs are only 90 characters in length.
•
WEAs will be sent by Federal, State, Local Government, NWS, National Center for
Missing & Exploited Children (*AMBER Alerts)
•
WEAs are geographically targeted. If you are in an area under an alert AND you
have a WEA capable device, you should receive the alert regardless of your cell
phones area code.
CURRENT CHALLENGES/WHERE WE ARE AT
State Emergency Communications Committee will address WEA in addition to EAS
Challenges:
•
Plans, policies, procedures for the use of WEA must be developed at the federal,
state, and local levels and integrated vertically.
•
Technical issues with the IPAWS OPEN aggregator, the wireless carriers and the
phone manufacturers need to be resolved.
•
Training and public information needs to be developed and provided for alerting
authorities, wireless device vendors, and the general public.
•
These challenges must be overcome before people choose to opt out because
WEA is perceived to be more of nuisance than a help.
PANEL MEMBERS
•
Darrell Ruby, Region 9 Coordinator/Spokane DEM, facilitator
•
Clay Freinwald, State Emergency Communications Committee Chair, state
governance body
•
Carri Gordon, AMBER Committee, state governance body
•
Ted Buehner, NOAA, national alerting authority
•
Roy Benavente, Emergency Management Division, state alerting authority
•
Amy Gillespie, Pierce County, local alerting authority
•
TBD, MyStateUSA, alert origination service provider
•
Brian Daly, AT&T, wireless carrier