Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)
Partners
FEMA has partnered with established and recognized industry leaders and technical experts to ensure that the IPAWS program incorporates the latest technology and is practical for prospective users including local broadcasters, emergency responders and the general public. These partners were selected because of their expertise, their contributions to the emergency alert systems and their support during actual emergencies. A brief description of FEMA’s partners, their involvement and Web site links can be found below.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The FCC provides information to broadcasters, cable system operators, and other participants regarding the technical requirements of the system. Additionally, the FCC ensures that State and local plans developed by industry conform to the FCC rules and regulations. The FCC will ensure that communications systems can transmit alerts and warnings to the public as part of IPAWS.
An essential part of the IPAWS program is the creation of protocol standards that are compatible with new and emerging technologies. On July 12, 2007, the FCC provisionally adopted the Common Alerting Protocol as the new standard. The FCC designed the EAS to be implemented through a cooperative arrangement among the FCC, FEMA, the National Weather Service (NWS), and the states. For more information, please see http://www.fcc.gov
Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC)
The JITC is a division of the Defense Information Systems Agency that supports FEMA in managing information during an emergency. FEMA needs emergency communications to be interoperable with those of the Department of Defense. JITC provides FEMA support for certification and accreditation on systems supported by FEMA. For more information, please see http://jitc.fhu.disa.mil/washops/jtcb/fema.html.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA is working with FEMA and the FCC to help implement IPAWS. NOAA, as part of the Department of Commerce, is included in Executive Order 13407. For more information, please see http://www.noaa.gov/wx.html.
National Weather Service (NWS)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s NWS provides emergency weather information to alert the public of dangerous local weather conditions and other emergencies. The existing EAS system monitors the NWS for emergency weather alerts and then rebroadcasts them. Under IPAWS, the transmission of weather alerts will be more direct. For more information, please see http://www.nws.noaa.gov/.
Sandia
Sandia is a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin company, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. With main facilities in Albuquerque, N.M., and Livermore, Calif., Sandia has major R&D responsibilities in national security, energy and environmental technologies, and economic competitiveness.
Sandia is assisting FEMA to enhance the IPAWS program and to establish stakeholder partnerships, assess current warning capabilities, document appropriate research, establish common terminology for hazards, identify standard message protocols, develop national metrics and standards on alert message routing, establish an interoperable communications architecture, establish a national system for securely collecting and disseminating warnings, and supporting integration and coordination efforts. For more information on Sandia, please see http://public.ca.sandia.gov/IPAWSsuppliers/.
Others
Several public and private organizations are contributing to the IPAWS program including the Society of Broadcast Engineers, National Association of Broadcasters, Association of Public Television Stations, International Association of Emergency Managers, and The Weather Channel.
Last Modified: Friday, 14-Sep-2007 15:27:38 EDT