Integrated Public Alert & Warning System

The Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) is FEMA's national system for local alerting that provides authenticated emergency and life-saving information to the public through mobile phones using Wireless Emergency Alerts, to radio and television via the Emergency Alert System, and on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Radio.

Upcoming Events

Sep
27

Sep 27, 2023 EST - Sep 27, 2023 6:05 p.m. EST

Virtual

The IPAWS Users Conference - 2023

FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) is excited to announce the 3rd annual IPAWS Users Conference.

FEMA and FCC Plan Nationwide Emergency Alert Test for Oct. 4, Sending Messages to all TVs, Radios and Cell Phones

FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) this fall. The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

Read More About the Test

IPAWS Best Practices Guide is Now Available

This publication is all-inclusive, providing alerting authorities (AA) with instruction on use of IPAWS to alert, warn and notify the public via the Emergency Alert System, Wireless Emergency Alerts, Non-Weather Emergency Messages and other communication pathways.

In addition, the guide provides recommendations on implementing internal policies and procedures to maximize your efficacy with IPAWS. Proficiency with IPAWS is essential to keep your community informed during public safety and emergency situations.

Download the IPAWS Best Practices guide today – and use the IPAWS Technical Support Services environment to train, practice, and exercise to update and maintain your public alerting performance.

Recorded Webinars

All sessions were recorded. If the recording is not available yet in the links below, check back soon.

Mar
29

Mar
29

Mar 29, 2023 EST - Mar 29, 2023 6:00 p.m. EST

Virtual

PBS WARN - Your Live WEA Map

Learn how to use this valuable (and free) tool. Please join your IPAWS team and PBS representatives in this March 29, 2023 webinar.

IPAWS allows Alerting Authorities to write their own message using commercially available software that is Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) compliant. The message is then delivered to the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, Open Platform for Emergency Networks (IPAWS OPEN), where it is authenticated and then delivered simultaneously through multiple communication pathways. Through IPAWS, one message is created to reach as many people as possible to save lives and protect property.

Utilizing multiple pathways for public alerts increases the likelihood that the message will successfully reach the public. IPAWS is structured to facilitate this functionality.

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State, local, territorial, and tribal alerting systems such as emergency telephone networks, giant voice sirens, and digital road signs may also receive alerts from IPAWS-OPEN, and future alerting technologies and systems can easily be integrated into IPAWS.

Whether you're sending, receiving, developing or communicating about alerts, find the tools you need for your role in the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System.

Have a Question?
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Email us or call 1-844-729-7522 for any further questions.

FEMA established the IPAWS program in 2006 by Presidential Executive Order 13407. Today there are more than 1,600 federal, state, local, tribal and territorial alerting authorities that use IPAWS to send critical public alerts and warnings in their jurisdictions.