Cellphone Alerts, Community Safety, and Mass Notification on Steroids

If you hadn’t heard the term Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) before, you probably have by now, with its latest debut helping to capture a terrorist in the New York and New Jersey area. Wireless Emergency Alerts are one of the best ways to reach everyone because all local cell towers are used to send messages to everyone in the given area. The reach and effectiveness of these mass cell phone alerts can best be described with the words of Frank DiGirolamo, interviewed for the New York Times, “All of a sudden, I heard the phones from people walking in every direction,” he said. “Even the fruit stand guy’s went off.” WEA are typically used for weather-related emergencies, missing children incidents, and messages coming directly from the President. What hasn’t made sweeping headlines lately, but is even more powerful, is IPAWS the nation’s own mass notification system.

WEA is just one component of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). IPAWS was designed to enable local, state, county, and tribal authorities to alert the public when there is a threat to people or property, no matter what the condition. IPAWS alerts can be sent not only through the wireless networks, but also through landlines, cable and satellite TV, AM/FM radio, digital signage, PA systems, websites, social media and, if power goes out, NOAA weather radio. This advanced technology was born in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to address the problems discovered with previous systems. There had been no effective, integrated national, state-wide or regional communications plan, nor designated network that authorities could use in the face of a national disaster. Not only were rescue efforts inefficiently coordinated, but local and state officials lacked the capacity to send messages to victims to give them direction. You probably remember watching TV when all of a sudden programming stopped to beep and say “this is a test”. That is still a part of IPAWS, but now the same alert goes everywhere. Now, in the age of information, when people receive a warning message they tend to do more research to find out if it is true before doing anything. So when authorities need to inspire action, it must be redundant in all places people look. It is no secret that an effective emergency communication plan saves lives and mitigates

This advanced technology was born in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to address the problems discovered with previous systems. There had been no effective, integrated national, state-wide or regional communications plan, nor designated network that authorities could use in the face of a national disaster. Not only were rescue efforts inefficiently coordinated, but local and state officials lacked the capacity to send messages to victims to give them direction. You probably remember watching TV when all of a sudden programming stopped to beep and say “this is a test”. That is still a part of IPAWS, but now the same alert goes everywhere. Now, in the age of information, when people receive a warning message they tend to do more research to find out if it is true before doing anything. So when authorities need to inspire action, it must be redundant in all places people look. It is no secret that an effective emergency communication plan saves lives and mitigates

You probably remember watching TV when all of a sudden programming stopped to beep and say “this is a test”. That is still a part of IPAWS, but now the same alert goes everywhere. Now, in the age of information, when people receive a warning message they tend to do more research to find out if it is true before doing anything. So when authorities need to inspire action, it must be redundant in all places people look. It is no secret that an effective emergency communication plan saves lives and mitigates impact. IPAWS can be used to handle any kind of threat to the public, including overturned vehicles containing hazardous chemicals, severe weather alerts, or even terrorists on the loose. So far, WEA cellphone alerts have been used successfully during the Boston Bombings and active shooter scares. The more local,

IPAWS can be used to handle any kind of threat to the public, including overturned vehicles containing hazardous chemicals, severe weather alerts, or even terrorists on the loose. So far, WEA cellphone alerts have been used successfully during the Boston Bombings and active shooter scares. The more local, state, and tribal authorities adopt IPAWS, the more communities will be safe and strengthened by good communication. The use of IPAWS hasn’t been fully taken advantage of yet. When combined with other existing alert technologies, IPAWS becomes “Mass Notification on Steroids”! In addition to government designated message routes, an already existing alert system can take the IPAWS alert and broadcast it through their own system pathways, such as speakers, highway signs, social media pages, IP phones, etc, so even if someone is in the bathroom, they will hear the alert! This innovative mass notification technology is exciting,

The use of IPAWS hasn’t been fully taken advantage of yet. When combined with other existing alert technologies, IPAWS becomes “Mass Notification on Steroids”! In addition to government designated message routes, an already existing alert system can take the IPAWS alert and broadcast it through their own system pathways, such as speakers, highway signs, social media pages, IP phones, etc, so even if someone is in the bathroom, they will hear the alert! This innovative mass notification technology is exciting, because with prior warnings and increased awareness, true community efforts can be made to deal with the threats society faces. In order to meet the constantly changing demands of new technologies, and to ensure the latest and most innovative technologies are used, IPAWS empowers private businesses to create the interface for it. Interfaces get rated the best based on qualities such as user friendliness, simplicity, and how much the system has been tested and shown to work. Regroup is proud to be one of only 19 companies shortlisted, meeting the highest design standards from FEMA, and has successfully conducted many tests to show how effectively it works. Request a Demo today to see how IPAWS can make a difference for you and your community!

In order to meet the constantly changing demands of new technologies, and to ensure the latest and most innovative technologies are used, IPAWS empowers private businesses to create the interface for it. Interfaces get rated the best based on qualities such as user friendliness, simplicity, and how much the system has been tested and shown to work. Regroup is proud to be one of only 19 companies shortlisted, meeting the highest design standards from FEMA, and has successfully conducted many tests to show how effectively it works. Request a Demo today to see how IPAWS can make a difference for you and your community!