Emergency Alerts Anytime, Anywhere 
Integrated Public Alert and Warning System 
FACT SHEET 
About IPAWS 

The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) 
will use 21st century technologies to warn the public about a 
potential disaster. Citizens can be alerted anytime, anywhere— 
enhancing their ability to quickly make decisions that could 
save lives and property. Emergency messages will flow through 
multiple devices, such as cell phones, pagers, satellite television/ 
radio, landline phones, desktop computers, personal digital 
assistants (PDAs), and road signs. Transmission may be audio/ 
video or text, streaming video, live or recorded, and in different 
languages to meet the needs of a diverse audience. 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is partnered with the 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to make “realtime” warnings to the public a 21st century reality. 

IPAWS supports FEMA’s goal to reduce losses to life and 
property from all hazards by providing reliable and accurate 
information before, during, and after an emergency. 

An Improved Public Alert System 

IPAWS is a system designed technologies and increases 
to improve public alert and the number of direct receipt 
warning. It has six components, radio stations from 34 to 
two of which already existed more than 800. The EAS can 
but will be upgraded. The be used by the President 
system includes: and authorized officials to 

• Emergency Alert System address the public in case of a 
(EAS) upgrades national emergency. It is used 
Upgrades the current on a state and local level by 
system’s reliability and overall emergency managers to notify 
effectiveness through satellite residents of all hazards and 

AMBER Alerts. 


• National Warning System (NAWAS) upgrades 
Upgrades the current 2000 site collaborative 
system used by emergency managers and 
the military to communicate with each other 
during an emergency. Expanding to all 50 
states and upgrading technology to include 
survivable voice, video, and data capabilities. 

• NEW Geo-Targeted Alerting System (GTAS) 
Emergency telephone notification used to 
send alerts to land lines, cell phones, pagers, 
PDAs, electronic billboards and other devices 
to specific areas regarding an impending 
event. 

• NEW Web Alert Relay Network (WARN) 
Emergency Manager selects impacted area 
to receive alert. Sends alerts directly to cell 
phones, e-mail and pagers. 

• NEW Digital Emergency Alert System (DEAS) 
Uses data casting technology. Alerts can be 
sent by text, audio, and/or video to a variety 
of communications devices. It can be used by 
the President to notify the public of a national 
emergency and used by emergency managers 
on a state and/or local level to notify residents 
of emergencies and AMBER Alerts. 

• NEW NOAA Partnerships and Joint Programs 
Will provide NOAA weather radios to 

K-12 public schools in the United States to 

ensure they receive notification of a weather 

emergency. A Web Site and educational 

package are also being developed. 

Where Is It Being Tested? 

FEMA and its partners are working in 
conjunction with state and local emergency 
managers and broadcasters to test the 
components of the IPAWS system in the 
following states: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, 
Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, New 
York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, 
Washington, and Wisconsin. To learn more 
about the pilot tests, log on to www.fema.gov/ 
emergency/IPAWS. 

How Do I Get Involved? 

You can get involved by being prepared 
NOW for an emergency. In addition, learn as 
much as you can about Federal, state, and local 
emergency management operations as it pertains 
to the actions you should take in case of an 
emergency. 

For More Information 
To learn more about IPAWS, log onto 
www.fema.gov/emergency/IPAWS