IPAWS — the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System — is FEMA's national platform for distributing emergency alerts to the American public. By providing a single point of entry for authorized alerting authorities to disseminate warnings across multiple communication channels simultaneously, IPAWS ensures that emergency messages reach the widest possible audience through whatever channels people have available to them.
What IPAWS Does
IPAWS serves as the backbone connecting alert originators (federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government agencies) with the public alert distribution systems they need to reach. When an authorized official issues an alert through IPAWS, that alert is simultaneously distributed through:
- Emergency Alert System (EAS): Interrupts radio and television broadcasts nationwide
- Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): Sent to all compatible mobile phones in the targeted geographic area
- NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR): Continuous broadcast weather radio network
- Internet-based systems: Digital signage, websites, and third-party alert aggregators that have integrated with IPAWS
The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)
IPAWS uses the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), an XML-based standard for exchanging emergency alert information. CAP messages contain the alert type, geographic target area (defined as a polygon or a set of county FIPS codes), severity, urgency, certainty, event description, and recommended actions. The standardized format allows the same alert to be automatically reformatted for display on different channels.
Who Can Use IPAWS
IPAWS is available to authorized government alerting authorities — federal agencies, state emergency management offices, county and city emergency managers, tribal nations, and other designated public safety organizations. Private organizations cannot access IPAWS directly. Authorization requires training, a signed Memorandum of Agreement with FEMA, and technical integration.
IPAWS vs Private SMS Systems
IPAWS reaches the general public through mass channels — TV, radio, and all cell phones in an area — making it ideal for broad population warnings. Private SMS alerting systems serve a complementary role, enabling organizations to send targeted messages to specific groups (employees, customers, facility occupants) with information tailored to their specific relationship to the emergency. The two systems work in concert: IPAWS for public alerts, private SMS for organizational communications.
