On 24 October 2011, the City of Providence activated its state-of-the-art Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) Emergency Alert System Encoder and Receiver.

Background

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national public warning system that requires broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) providers, and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) providers to provide the communications capability to the President to address the American public during a national emergency. The system also may be used by state and local authorities to deliver important emergency information, such as AMBER alerts and weather information targeted to specific areas.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in conjunction with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS), implements the EAS at the federal level. The President has sole responsibility for determining when the EAS will be activated at the national level, and has delegated this authority to the director of FEMA. FEMA is responsible for implementation of the national-level activation of the EAS, tests, and exercises. The NWS develops emergency weather information to alert the public about imminent dangerous weather conditions.

Next Generation - Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)

Presidential Executive Order 13407 established as policy the requirement for the United States to have an effective, reliable, integrated, flexible, and comprehensive system to alert and warn the American people; that effort is called Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a public-private partnership in which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a leadership role. Many federal agencies are working together to transform the national alert and warning system to enable rapid dissemination of authenticated alert information over as many communications channels as possible.

What IPAWS Will Do

• IPAWS will allow the President of the United States to speak to the American people under all emergency circumstances, including situations of war, terrorist attack, natural disaster, or other hazards.
• IPAWS will build and maintain an effective, reliable, integrated, flexible, and comprehensive alert and warning system.
• IPAWS will enable Federal, State, territorial, tribal, and local alert and warning emergency communication officials to access multiple broadcast and other communications pathways for the purpose of creating and activating alert and warning messages related to any hazard impacting public safety and well-being.
• IPAWS will reach the American public before, during, and after a disaster through as many means as possible.
• IPAWS will diversify and modernize the Emergency Alert System (EAS).
• IPAWS will create an interoperability framework by establishing or adopting standards such as the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP).
• IPAWS will enable alert and warning to those with disabilities and to those without an understanding of the English language.
• IPAWS will partner with NOAA to enable seamless integration of message transmission through national networks.

How do I get the EAS Message?

Getting the message is straightforward. Local broadcasters send the emergency message to radio stations, televisions stations, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) providers, and direct broadcast satellite (DBS). Messages can be in both voice and text formats.

EAS Resources

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• FCC's Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB)
• NOAA + Emergency Alert System (EAS)
• NWS + EAS Fact Sheet
• Emergency Alert System (EAS) NWS Event Codes
• Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test Informational Toolkit