Message Types

The IPAWS Messaging plug-in enables you to send emergency alerts through the following channels:

• COGs: IPAWS allows you to send an alert from one Collaborative Operating Group (COG) to another. The receiving COG can then use the information to create another message and send it to the general public, if necessary. This distribution type is also known as IPAWS CAP (Common Alerting Protocol) Exchange.

  FEMA defines Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) as a digital format for exchanging emergency alerts that allows a consistent alert message to be disseminated simultaneously over many different communications systems.

• EAS: The Emergency Alert System sends warnings via broadcast, cable, satellite, and wireline services when other communication pathways are unavailable.

• NWEM: Non-weather Emergency Messages are a specialized form of CAP alerts that can be used to distribute public warnings unrelated to weather. These alerts are sent through the HazCollect service.

• WEA: Wireless Emergency Alerts is a nationally adopted broadcast technology that sends location-based, targeted alerts to cell phones and other commercial mobile network devices. These messages are delivered to all recipients with a cell phone in the defined geographic area. You can define the area of message distribution when you compose a WEA message. WEA was formerly named CMAS – Commercial Mobile Alert System.