This article will show you how to send a Live IPAWS alert. To Send a Demo alert the background will be blue.
Important Note:
These photos were taken in the Live message setting. If you want to send a test message the page should be blue.
These photos are taken with all possible message types selected. Depending on which options you choose the fields may differ.
View IPAWS Tips.
Instructions
Navigate to Send IPAWS Alert in the left-hand menu
Note: You can also access the IPAWS URL.
Log in with your Email Address and Password
Click the Create Public Message button
Select a Template (optional)
Select the desired COG Endpoint
Note: The Demo will have a blue background and the Live is red.
Choose the Message Type
EAS: Emergency Alert System; TV and Radio broadcast
WEA: Wireless Emergency Alerts; push notifications sent to cell phones
NWEM: Non-Weather Emergency Message; NWEM is sent to NOAA Weather Radio
Configure Message Settings
Event Type: Identifies the subject of the message by the same event code representation. This is a classifier for your message.
WEA Handling Code: 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: This value denotes the type of action recommended for the target audience. This is not sent to the public.
Duration: Identifies how long you expect this message to be effective. You can always update or cancel as needed.
Change Advanced CAP Fields (Optional): Check if you want to adjust category, urgency, severity, or certainty values
If applicable, configure EAS fields
Event Headline: Summary of the Event or the name of your message. Required for NWEM, and optional for EAS.
Event Description (Required): The specifics of the event or situation. Text is included in the EAS screen crawl.
Recommended Instructions (Optional): Instructions the message recipients should follow. Text is included in the EAS screen crawl.
Audio Message (Optional): Preview Text-to-speech or Attach a recorded audio file as your message or listen to the text-to-speech of your current message.
Add Spanish: View how to add Spanish to an IPAWS alert
If applicable, fill out WEA fields
Short WEA Message (Required): The Short Wireless Emergency Alerts Message may not exceed 90 characters.
Long WEA Message (Optional): The Long Wireless Emergency Alerts Message may not exceed 360 characters. This is separate from the short message and not a continuation.
Recommended Instructions (Optional): Instructions the message recipients should follow. Text is included for iPhone users running iOS 17 or newer. It is recommended to include a specific area and direction to the public. Instructions with more than 600 characters will be truncated. Learn more about the Recommended Instructions field.
Set the Target Area
Area Description (Required): Enter a specific area description of the geographic area being alerted.
Geographic Area (WEA only): Targets cell sites in a specified area, when supported by the carrier. To add on shapes create a new area.
FIPS Codes: Federal Information Processing System codes are required for all EAS and WEA messages.
Click Send Live Alert
Review the Alert and type Live to confirm
Click Yes, Send Live Alert
