Who is eligible to send alerts through FEMA IPAWS?
* Federal Agencies
* State Government Organizations
* Local Government or Public Safety Organizations
* Tribal Governments
* Territorial Governments

What kind of alerts can be sent through FEMA IPAWS?
* Emergency Alert System (EAS) Public Alerts
* Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) Public Alerts
* National Weather Service All-Hazards Emergency Message Collection System (HazCollect) 
* Internal Private Alerts from IPAWS users to other IPAWS users

How does my organization apply?

Step #1 – Select IPAWS compatible software
Access to IPAWS is free; however to send a message using IPAWS, an organization must procure its own IPAWS compatible software.  There are many commercial products that are available or in development, or an organization may opt to develop its own custom application.  A list of developers who have executed a Memorandum of Agreement with FEMA for testing purposes can be found on the IPAWS website (http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/ipaws/open_developers.pdf).  In addition, products that have successfully completed voluntary, independent testing are listed on the Responder Knowledge Base (http://www.rkb.us search for “IPAWS”).

Step #2 – Apply for a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with FEMA 
Those organizations wishing to alert through IPAWS may request a MOA with FEMA IPAWS pertaining to system security.  A request form can be found on the IPAWS website (http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/ipaws/cog_moa_app.pdf), completed, and returned to ipaws@dhs.gov.

Step #3 – Apply for public alerting permissions
Organizations that want to send alerts to the public through IPAWS must complete an application that defines the types of alerts they intend to issue and the extent of their geographic warning area.  The IPAWS Public Alerting Authority Application and instructions will be provided as part of the MOA process. 

Step #4 – Complete IPAWS web-based training
FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) offers the independent study course, IS-247 Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is247.asp).  The course is free, should take approximately two hours to complete, and is a prerequisite for full access to IPAWS-OPEN for the purpose of public alerting.  
For more information: http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/
To contact the IPAWS Project Management Office: ipaws@dhs.gov 	
		1/3/2012