Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)
History
Alerting America to a Potential Disaster
"It is the policy of the United States to have an effective, reliable, integrated, flexible, and comprehensive system to alert and warn the American people....and to ensure under all conditions the President can communicate with the American people."
George W. Bush, Executive Order 13407, signed June 26, 2006
The capability for the President to alert the American people has existed in one form or another for more than 60 years.
History
In 2004, DHS and FEMA began a program in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and public/private stakeholders to research how emerging communications technologies could be used to improve public alert and warning to a near instantaneous transmission.
On June 26, 2006, President Bush signed Executive Order 13407 directing the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to create a comprehensive Public Alert and Warning System for the United States. This presidential mandate called for an integrated alert and warning system to reach as many Americans as possible through as many forms of communication as possible.
- 1951 - CONtrol of ELectromagnetic RADiation (CONELRAD)
The first national alert system was established by President Harry S. Truman during the cold war. Public alerts were provided via selected radio stations on 604 kHz or 1240 kHz frequency that was highlighted on all radios sold after 1953 with a CD (Civil Defense) mark, so people could quickly find the frequencies.
- 1963 - Emergency Broadcast System (EBS)
In the 1960’s, EBS was established during the civil defense era to replace CONELRAD. National alerts were provided to the public via broadcast radio and television stations. This also allowed the President to address the nation in case of an emergency. The system was expanded, with assistance from the FCC and the National Weather Service, to be used for state and local emergencies as well. National alerts were mandatory broadcasts, while State and local alerts were voluntary.
- 1994 - Emergency Alert System (EAS)
The EAS replaced EBS and continues to be administered by FEMA, the FCC, and the National Weather Service. The current system allows the President to transmit a national alert within 10 minutes from any location at any time to the public via broadcast radio and TV stations, cable systems, and participating satellite TV and radio programmers.
- 2006 to Present - Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)
The IPAWS components and pilot programs work with legacy alert and warning systems. The IPAWS will complement and upgrade the current EAS with modern technologies 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. Known as a “system of systems”, IPAWS will allow near instantaneous transmission and receipt of alerts to the public through digital technologies that can reach various communications devices, such as mobile phones, land lines, pagers, fax machines, personal digital assistants, desktop computers, and digital road signs. IPAWS is currently running pilots in various locations and these programs will eventually be available nationwide.
Last Modified: Thursday, 30-Aug-2007 10:47:01 EDT