IS-251.A: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for Alerting Administrators

This course provides information on Integrated Public Alert and Warning Systems (IPAWS) for Alerting Administrators. The goal of this course is to provide guidance to those becoming authorized Alerting Administrators for IPAWS by:

• Developing effective policies, plans, and procedures
• Defining the approval process
• Defining the importance of training, practice, and exercising with IPAWS
• Illustrating best practices and effective use of IPAWS to reach members of the public

1. 1. Introduction to IPAWS
   • Define the roles and types of Alerting Authorities
   • Define IPAWS aggregator and the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) format
   • Define IPAWS dissemination pathways
   • Identify the policies, laws, and regulations applicable to IPAWS
2. 2. Alerting Administrators
   • Identify the training, practicing, and exercising requirements for becoming an Alerting Authority
   • Identify the importance of a Memorandum of Agreement
   • Categorize the authorization and coordination required to establish IPAWS Public Alert Authority
   • Identify the need to acquire a Compatible Alerting Software
   • Examine the outcome of the IPAWS Application Process
3. 3. Implementation
   • Determine the importance of the development and use of internal plans, policies, and procedures for alert and warning
   • Identify considerations for internal stakeholders when developing plans, policies, and procedures for alert and warning
   • Identify considerations for external stakeholders when developing plans, policies, and procedures for alert and warning
   • Identify considerations for Alerting Administrators (e.g., public outreach, social media and education campaigns) when developing plans, policies, and procedures for alert and warning
4. 4. Technical and Operational Components
   • Recognize the need for vendor training and the need for 24/7/365 support
   • Determine the importance of security and access control
   • Identify the elements of an effective alerting tool
5. 5. Alerting Best Practices
   • Compare factors that influence public response to alert and warning messages
   • Identify how culture, demographics, location, and hazards affect IPAWS messages
   • Identify the process of validating message templates through testing
6. 6. Event Codes
   • Identify message pathways
   • Contrast relationship between event codes and handling codes
   • Select the constraints that broadcast partners and alerting situations impose on IPAWS
7. 7. Training, Practicing, and Exercising for Alert Administrators
   • Define training, practice, and exercises for Alerting Administrators
   • Categorize the benefits of training, practice, and exercises for Alerting Administrators
   • Identify the considerations for frequency of training, practicing, and exercising for Alerting Administrators
   • Identify how the IPAWS Training and Demonstration Environment can be incorporated into training, practice, and exercises for Alerting Administrators