For those who want to find out the course summary for FEMA IS-247.A: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), here you are going to get that information. So, do not hesitate to read the following text.
Course Summary – FEMA IS-247.A: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)
The course consists of three lessons:
- The first lesson is Introduction to Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).
- The second lesson is Appropriate, Effective, and Accessible Alert and Warning Messages.
- The third lesson is Common Alerting Protocol Message Composition.
Course Overview
The main goal of this course is to give authorized public safety officials with:
- Increased awareness of the benefits of using Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for effective public warnings.
- Skills to draft more accessible, appropriate, and warning messages.
- Best practices in the effective use of CAP (Common Alerting Protocol) to reach all members of their communities.
Lesson 1: Introduction to IPAWS
This lesson gives an overview of IPAWS, its operation and benefits.
After complete this lesson 1, you must be able to:
- Explain Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).
- Identify the benefits of using Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for generating warnings.
- Describe Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) operation.
Overview – Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)
The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System or IPAWS is a comprehensive, coordinated, integrated system which can be used by authorized public officials to deliver effective alert messages to the American public. Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) is the nation’s next-generation infrastructure of alert and also warning networks. IPAWS makes sure the President will be able to alert and warn the public under any condition. In addition, IPAWS will give Federal, State, territorial, tribal, and local warning authorities the capabilities to alert and also warn their communities of all hazards impacting public safety and well-being through many communication pathways.
Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Architectural Diagram
Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) allows alerting authorities to write their message by using commercially available software which is compliant with open standards. Then, the message is delivered to the IPAWS OPEN (Open Platform for Emergency Networks) where it is authenticated. Afterwards, it delivered simultaneously via multiple communications pathways reaching as many people as possible to save lives and protect property.
IPAWS Background
- Presidential vs. Local Alerting
Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) makes sure that under all conditions the President of the United States will be able to alert and warn the American people in situations of terrorist attack, war, natural disaster, or other hazards to public safety. - Executive Order (E.O.) 13407
Executive Order E.O. 13407 established as policy the requirement for the United States to have an effective, integrated, flexible, reliable, and comprehensive system to alert and warn the American people. - FCC Orders
The role of FCC includes determining the rules that establish technical standards for EAS (Emergency Alert System), procedures for EAS participants to follow if the EAS is activated, EAS testing protocols, and also approving state EAS plans. - Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)
The Common Alerting Protocol or CAP is a flexible data interchange format for collecting and distributing “all-hazard” safety notifications and also emergency warnings over information networks and public alerting systems.
FEMA IPAWS Federal Partnerships
FEMA has already partnered with recognized government, industry leaders and technical experts to make sure that the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) program incorporates the latest technology and is practical for prospective users including local broadcasters, emergency responders and the general public. FEMA’s partners in the development of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) program include:
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) establishes the rules for broadcasters, cable system operators, and other participants about the technical requirements of the Emergency Alert System and the rules for commercial mobile service providers who choose to participate in the voluntary Commercial Mobile Alert System. - National Weather Service (NWS)
The National Weather Service (NWS) gives emergency weather and tsunami information to alert the public of hazards, local weather conditions and other emergencies.
The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Benefits – One Input, Multiple Outputs
Remember that Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) allows authorized alerting authorities to write their message by using commercial software which is compliant with OPEN standards. A message just has to be input once, and once authenticated. It is delivered over many communications pathways, including the Emergency Alert System (EAS), commercial mobile services, Internet services, National Weather Service (NWS) services, state and local alerting systems.
The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Benefits – Geotargeted
Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) will make sure that the President can reach the American people, and also recognizes that most alerts and warnings are issued at a state and local level. Alerting authorities can make location-specific alerts which are scaled to cover areas as big as their entire jurisdiction or a smaller area within their jurisdiction, depending on the delivery capabilities of the system used for public dissemination.
The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Benefits – Standardized Messaging Format
The Common Alerting Protocol or CAP is an open, non-proprietary digital message format for all kinds of public and private emergency alerts and notifications that can be delivered across multiple communications pathways such as:
- Broadcast TV and radio
- Cable and satellite TV and radio
- Mobile/cellular and wireless devices
- Signage
- Emerging technologies
The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Benefits – Rich Content (Multimedia)
Aside from emergency alert-required data, Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) alerts delivered by IPAWS can carry rich information such as video, images, audio, geospatial data, etc. which alert originators may include and disseminators can use to give supplemental information to their audiences.
The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Benefits – Reliability, Redundancy, Security and Accessibility
Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) uses redundant alerting paths to increase the chance an alert will reach the public. Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) hardware and software components are designed to be reliable. The digital signature capability makes sure message integrity and authenticity. Eventually, Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) provides compatibility with public alerting systems, including those designed for multilingual populations and those with access and functional needs.
Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Architectural Diagram and Operation
Federal, State, territorial, tribal, and local alerting authorities are in charge of alerting their communities of all dangers using IPAWS-compliant alert origination tools. The alert origination tools are software products utilized by emergency managers, public safety officials, and other alerting authorities to make and send critical life saving messages to the public. The centralized alert aggregator or gateway receives CAP alert messages from various message origination or authoring tools, authenticates the sender, and sends the alert messages to IPAWS-compliant dissemination systems.
Lesson 1 – Summary
This lesson gives an overview of Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), its operation and benefits.
Now, you should be able to:
- Explain Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).
- Identify the benefits of using Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for generating warnings.
- Describe Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) operation.
In the next lesson, you are going to learn about and apply the criteria for making appropriate, effective and accessible alert and warning messages.
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