IPAWS Monthly Proficiency Demonstration Scenarios

About

Scenarios

IPAWS Alerting Authorities are required to perform Monthly Proficiency Demonstrations (MPDs) using the IPAWS Technical Support Services environment to maintain IPAWS access. This requirement can become routine and boring. Therefore, IPAWS introduces Scenario-Based MPDs that are pre-developed short scenarios to make your proficiency demonstration experience more interesting and useful.

About Required Demonstrations

Monthly Proficiency Demonstration (MPD)

If you are an IPAWS Alerting Authority (AA), you are required to send a monthly practice message to the IPAWS Technical Support Services Facility (TSSF) environment. The purpose is to increase AA proficiency and confidence when issuing an Alert and Warning Notification, and most importantly to lessen the risk of errant messages. The following rules apply:

  • Miss 1 month = friendly reminder
  • Miss 2 months = notification to your state IPAWS authority
  • Miss 3 months = risk of having IPAWS connectivity disabled

The IPAWS Customer Support Branch monitors TSS activity for MPD compliance. The IPAWS Office does not want to disable anyone’s connectivity to IPAWS. So, to encourage participation, we sought mechanisms to make the MPDs more beneficial and interesting to you.

Scenario-Based Monthly Proficiency Demonstration

A Scenario-Based MPD leverages an adjustable template composed by TSSF staff. The scenarios cover a variety of hazards and incidents. They are created to be flexible, scalable and adaptable, which allows you to modify the scenarios to fit the needs of your jurisdiction(s). Scenario-Based MPDs include a situation followed by 4-5 applicable questions and are similar to mini-table top exercises (10-15 minutes). The purpose is to facilitate collaboration among participants and trigger critical thinking/decision-making, reducing the feeling of routine. Benefits include:

  • Evaluation of decision-making processes regarding public notification;
  • Assessment of internal policies and procedures; identify gaps;
  • Determination of IPAWS effectiveness; and
  • Development of templates for incidents.

“We are going to use the scenario for our exercise next month. We appreciate that the exercise was catered to us.” – City of San Fernando Police Department

“This definitely helped us with our message creation.” – City of San Fernando Police Department

Illustration of a question mark in a chat bubble

Have Questions?

IPAWS TSSF staff are available to assist you with performing a Scenario-Based MPD. Support is typically provided virtual, via webinar, but we welcome visitors to the TSSF anytime. You can reach the TSSF at 1-84-IPAWSLAB or 1-844-729-7522.

Scenarios

Additional resources, such as the Event Code Glossary and the Alert Standardization Checklist, can be found in the IPAWS Library.

Missing and Endangered Person

A field trip of adult residents from the Hope Muscular Dystrophy Facility in your county, was ending. As the group was getting ready to board the bus, a roll call was taken, and an individual was unaccounted for. A search was conducted of the area, and she was not found. PD was immediately notified. The missing individual was a 27-year-old Hispanic female, 5’1” tall, about 130 lbs. with medium length black hair. She was wearing a pink jumpsuit and white sneakers. Her name is Suzan Perez and answers to the name Suzie.

Questions

  1. What are your messaging priorities at this point?
  2. Would you release an AWN?
  3. How would you release this information to the public? WEA? EAS? NWEM? Or all?
  4. Would you geotarget this messaging?
  5. What event code(s) would you use based off your permissions?
  6. Would you include a URL in the message?

Boil Water

It is 8:00 am, Monday, September 14th, 20XX. The county's water supply system quality monitor has indicated a coliform alert. You have been requested to issue a boil water alert. The alert is to stay in effect until the County Water Department determines the public water is safe to drink.

Questions

  1. How would you release this information to the public? WEA? EAS? NWEM? Or all?
  2. Would you geotarget this messaging?
  3. What event code(s) would you use based off your permissions?
  4. Would you include a URL in the message?
  5. How would cancel this alert?

9-1-1 Outage

Crawford County 9-1-1 is experiencing audio difficulties on 9-1-1 calls. Callers can hear the 9-1-1 dispatcher but the 9-1-1 dispatchers cannot hear the caller. Callers will be informed that they are to hang up and that 9-1-1 will call them back to complete the call. This is affecting all cellular and landline phones.

Questions

  1. What information do you want to release to the public?
  2. Would you geotarget this messaging?
  3. Would you include a URL in the message?
  4. How would cancel this alert?

Cross-Jurisdictional Event

The body of a famous entertainer has been recovered. He was killed while entertaining troops overseas two weeks ago. It will be landing with an honor guard at your county airport. The cortege will travel 53 miles westward through two other counties to reach the family cemetery. You are also the Alerting Authority (AA) for the county adjoining you to the west.

Questions

  1. What information do you want to release to the public?
  2. Would you geotarget this messaging?
  3. Would your geotargeting change?
  4. What event code(s) would you use based off your permissions?
  5. What method of notification would you used? WEA? EAS? NWEM? Or all?

Hostage Situation

A man visits his estranged wife at work in the _____________Building on _________St. and ________Ave. The visit quickly evolves into a confrontation. A co-worker tries to intervene and is shot. The man takes his wife into a corner office and locks the door. The Police Department is called, and a hostage negotiator is responding. The wounded co-worker has been removed to the building lobby and is being treated. Emergency vehicle response to the scene has drawn a large crowd.

Questions

  1. What are your messaging priorities at this point?
  2. How would your priorities evolve as this event progresses?
  3. Would you release an AWN?
  4. How would you release this information to the public? WEA? EAS? NWEM? Or all?
  5. Would you geotarget this messaging?
  6. What event code(s) would you use based off your permissions?
  7. Would you include a URL in the message?
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