This article will walk you through how to complete the monthly proficiency testing requirement to maintain your IPAWS access with FEMA.
Important Note:
Make sure all individuals with access to IPAWS know what their responsibility is with regard to the Proficiency Demonstration requirement.
Proficiency Demonstration Overview
To comply with the Proficiency Demonstration requirement, simply send 1 alert using your Demo COG per month. A single alert must, minimally, be initiated using your Demo COG once a month. It is not necessary for each individual with access to IPAWS to send a message each month but certainly could as a great practice mechanism. There is no limit on how many messages an agency can send using your Demo COG. There is no specific date that the test must be sent. The date can be any time during the calendar month, each month.
Conduct a Proficiency Demonstration
Log in to the IPAWS website if you have not already
Note: You can navigate to the IPAWS website using the website URL, or you can sign in to the Mass Notification system and click the Public Communication and Send IPAWS Alert options on the left-hand menu of the dashboard. If you do not see the Send IPAWS Alert option, you may not have permission to send alerts.
Click the Create Public Message button in the Messages section of the Dashboard
Navigate to the Message Type section and click the IPAWS-OPEN Endpoint dropdown
Select the Demo COG option from the list
Note: The IPAWS Endpoint Type is a required field that determines the location where the message will be sent. You must select the DEMO COG to ensure this message is sent to the IPAWS Lab. If you select a live option, the message will be sent to the public and/or broadcasters.
Check the checkboxes next to the names of the alert channels you would like to send the message through
EAS: Check this box if you want the message to be disseminated across Emergency Alert System channels (television and radio broadcast)
WEA: Check this box if you want the message to be disseminated across Wireless Emergency Alerts channels (push notification sent to cell phones)
NWEM: Check this box if you want the message to be disseminated across Non-Weather Emergency Message channels (sent to NOAA Weather Radio)
Note: Remember, this is just a test message sent to the IPAWS Lab. This message is not seen by the public. It is only sent to the IPAWS Lab. You can choose a single alert channel or a combination of any of the three choices. There is no requirement to select certain channels.
Scroll down to the Message Settings section and fill in the information fields
Event Type (required): Identifies the subject of the message by the same event code representation. This is a classifier for your message.
WEA Handling Code (required; will only appear if WEA was been checked in Step 5): This value informs carriers how to handle the WEA message. The form will automatically select the correct code based on the event type.
Response Type (required): This value denotes the type of action recommended for the target audience. This is not sent to the public.
Duration (required): Identifies how long you expect this message to be effective.
Note: Starting time is when the message is sent. We recommend 4 hours if you do not know the duration. You can always update or cancel as needed.
Change Advanced CAP Fields (optional): Check this box to modify the CAP, send a copy of your message to another COG, or adjust the Category, Urgency, Severity, or Certainty values.
Note: Fill in these fields just as you would for a real-life event alert. There is no requirement to select certain types. You can choose any code available in the drop-down lists.
Scroll down and fill in the message fields for the channels you have chosen
Short WEA Message (required): Enter a short Wireless Emergency Alerts message; limited to 90 characters
Long WEA Message (optional): Enter a short Wireless Emergency Alerts message that is separate from the short message and not a continuation; limited to 360 characters
Recommended Instructions (optional): Enter any instructions the message recipients should follow (include specific areas and directions to the public); limited to 600 characters
Notes:
The nature and number of the message fields that appear will depend on the channels you have selected. For the purposes of this article, WEA is the selected channel so the WEA: Mobile Phone Content fields are displayed.
Because this is a test, it is good practice to include the word 'TEST' at the beginning and end of your message. There is no requirement for certain verbiage to be used for this test alert.
Click the Add Spanish tab to add Spanish text to the IPAWS DEMO alert
Scroll down to the Target Area section and fill in the information fields
Area Description (required): Enter a specific area description of the geographic area being alerted
Geographic Area (optional; WEA only): Click the Add Shape link to target cell sites in a specified area, when supported by the carrier
FIPS Codes (required for all EAS and WEA messages): Click to choose the FIPS code(s) for the affected area(s) from the drop-down list
Click the Send Test Alert button
An Are you sure you want to send a Test alert? dialog box will appear, just as there would be for a live alert
Type the word 'Test' into the Type "Test" to confirm text box
Click the Yes, Send Test Alert button to confirm and send your message
An Alert Summary History page will appear
Note:
Once on the Alert Summary History page, look for the IPAWS-OPEN Status section. You should see all green checkmarks. If you do, your alert was successfully sent. If you see any caution signs, contact Support and we will check the alert for you.
You can also navigate to your IPAWS Support page and click the IPAWS Message Viewer link to check the status of your message. This will show you that the message was successfully disseminated to the channels you selected. Simply type your COG ID or the name of your organization in the COG ID box, and it will show Demo alerts sent in the last 24 hours (you can find your COG ID in the system).
