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CAP Weather Messages Triggering Cellular Alerts in the U.S.

CAP Weather Messages Triggering Cellular Alerts in the U.S.

Robert BungeU.S. National Weather Service

Silver Spring, MD, USARobert.bunge@noaa.gov

Robert BungeU.S. National Weather Service

Silver Spring, MD, USARobert.bunge@noaa.gov

WMO, ITU, OASISCAP IMPLEMENTATION WORKSHOP

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND23/24 April 2013

OverviewOverview

• Background• U.S. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)• Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS)• Lessons Learned

– Being Prepared– Conduct Outreach– Monitor Feedback

• Future Plans• Summary

• Background• U.S. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)• Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS)• Lessons Learned

– Being Prepared– Conduct Outreach– Monitor Feedback

• Future Plans• Summary

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BackgroundBackground

• US NWS started to send brief warning messages to cell phones in affected areas in June 2012 using FEMA operated network

• Alert data is contained in CAP message• US created custom parameters as

needed• CAP messages now being disseminated

via other systems

• US NWS started to send brief warning messages to cell phones in affected areas in June 2012 using FEMA operated network

• Alert data is contained in CAP message• US created custom parameters as

needed• CAP messages now being disseminated

via other systems3

U.S. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)

U.S. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)

• Weather Alert Types– More about message content on later slides

• Weather Alert Types– More about message content on later slides

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Warning Type WEA Message that appears on phone

Tsunami WarningTsunami danger on the coast. Go to high ground or move inland. Check local media. –NWS

Tornado WarningTornado Warning in this area til hh:mm tzT. Take shelter now. Check local media. –NWS

Extreme Wind WarningExtreme Wind Warning this area til hh:mm tzT ddd. Take shelter. –NWS

Flash Flood WarningFlash Flood Warning this area til hh:mm tzT. Avoid flooded areas. Check local media. -NWS

Hurricane WarningHurricane Warning this area til hh:mm tzT ddd. Check local media and authorities. -NWS

Typhoon WarningTyphoon Warning this area til hh:mm tzT ddd. Check local media and authorities. -NWS

Blizzard WarningBlizzard Warning this area til hh:mm tzT ddd. Prepare. Avoid Travel. Check media. -NWS

Ice Storm WarningIce Storm Warning this area til hh:mm tzT ddd. Prepare. Avoid Travel. Check media. -NWS

Dust Storm WarningDust Storm Warning in this area til hh:mm tzT ddd. Avoid travel. Check local media. -NWS

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IPAWS – Integrated Public Alert and Warning System

• Operated by US Federal Emergency Management Agency• Collects alerts in CAP format from all levels of government

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Effective CAP alerting is much more than implementing CAP technical standards

•Being Prepared – Research– Message Content– Originator Proficiency – Regular Testing

•Conduct Outreach •Monitoring & Feedback

Effective CAP alerting is much more than implementing CAP technical standards

•Being Prepared – Research– Message Content– Originator Proficiency – Regular Testing

•Conduct Outreach •Monitoring & Feedback

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Lessons Learned:Being Prepared

Lessons Learned:Being Prepared

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ResearchResearch

• Understand cell broadcast technology(s) used– Work directly with the cellular carriers in your area– Learn how alert broadcast areas are determined– Learn handset capability, current and projected for your

technology– Learn handset refresh rate – when will most consumers be able

to receive alerts?

• Understand limitations (technical and policy)– Develop services and expectations around them

• Understand cell broadcast technology(s) used– Work directly with the cellular carriers in your area– Learn how alert broadcast areas are determined– Learn handset capability, current and projected for your

technology– Learn handset refresh rate – when will most consumers be able

to receive alerts?

• Understand limitations (technical and policy)– Develop services and expectations around them

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Lessons Learned:Message ContentLessons Learned:Message Content

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MESSAGE CONTENTChoose U-S-C and response Type carefully

MESSAGE CONTENTChoose U-S-C and response Type carefully

• Urgency, Severity, and Certainty elements must be at their two highest levels to trigger WEA

• Urgency, Severity, and Certainty elements must be at their two highest levels to trigger WEA

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Urgency-Immediate-Expected-Future-Past-Unknown

Severity-Extreme-Severe-Moderate-Minor-Unknown

Certainty-Observed-Likely-Possible-Unlikely-Unknown

• WEA will not be triggered if chosen responseType is “None”• WEA message can be prevented with IPAWS channelBlock

parameter

• WEA will not be triggered if chosen responseType is “None”• WEA message can be prevented with IPAWS channelBlock

parameter

MESSAGE CONTENTNWS Custom CAP ParametersMESSAGE CONTENTNWS Custom CAP Parameters

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<web>http://www.weather.gov</web> <parameter> <valueName>VTEC</valueName> <value>/O.NEW.KJAN.TO.W.0005.130130T0010Z-130130T0045Z/</value> </parameter> <parameter> <valueName>EAS-ORG</valueName> <value>WXR</value> </parameter> <parameter> <valueName>PIL</valueName> <value>JANTORJAN</value> </parameter> <parameter> <valueName>eventEndingTime</valueName> <value>2013-01-29T18:45:00-06:00</value> </parameter> <parameter> <valueName>CMAMtext</valueName> <value>Tornado Warning in this area til 6:45 PM CST. Take shelter now. Check local media. -NWS</value> </parameter> <area> <areaDesc>Chicot</areaDesc> <polygon>33.56,-91.24 33.51,-91.18 33.44,-91.23 33.45,-91.17 33.5,-91.17 33.47,-91.12 33.43,-91.14 33.41,-91.21 33.39,-91.19 33.39,-91.12 33.45,-91.06 33.42,-91.06 33.13,-91.4 33.17,-91.46 33.28,-91.46 33.52,-91.3 33.52,-91.26 33.56,-91.24</polygon> <geocode> <valueName>UGC</valueName> <value>ARC017</value> </geocode> <geocode> <valueName>SAME</valueName> <value>005017</value> </geocode> </area>

MESSAGE CONTENTCMAMText for custom WEA message

MESSAGE CONTENTCMAMText for custom WEA message

• Custom parameter for US IPAWS system• Have templates for custom message

• Messages issued by NYC during October 2012 superstorm– “MANDATORY EVACUATION Zone A, Rockaways, Hamilton Bch,

City Is. NYC.gov or 311 for details”

– “Emergency Alert in this area until 8:00 AM GMT Take Shelter Now NYC_OEM”

– Go indoors immediately and remain inside. DO NOT DRIVE. Call 9-1-1 for emergencies only.

• Custom parameter for US IPAWS system• Have templates for custom message

• Messages issued by NYC during October 2012 superstorm– “MANDATORY EVACUATION Zone A, Rockaways, Hamilton Bch,

City Is. NYC.gov or 311 for details”

– “Emergency Alert in this area until 8:00 AM GMT Take Shelter Now NYC_OEM”

– Go indoors immediately and remain inside. DO NOT DRIVE. Call 9-1-1 for emergencies only.

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Alert Message Content (90 characters)- What - Where- When - How (to respond)- Who (says)

MESSAGE CONTENTUse of polygon to describe threat area

MESSAGE CONTENTUse of polygon to describe threat area

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• Increase value and relevance of warning• Compared to warning by county, polygon warnings can reduce

warned area by 70% to 97%, especially in Western U.S.• NWS started using polygon warnings October 1, 2007

• Tornado Warnings (trigger WEA)• Flash Flood Warnings (trigger WEA)• Severe Thunderstorm Warnings • Special Marine Warnings • Severe Weather Statements• Flash Flood Statements• Marine Weather Statements

• Increase value and relevance of warning• Compared to warning by county, polygon warnings can reduce

warned area by 70% to 97%, especially in Western U.S.• NWS started using polygon warnings October 1, 2007

• Tornado Warnings (trigger WEA)• Flash Flood Warnings (trigger WEA)• Severe Thunderstorm Warnings • Special Marine Warnings • Severe Weather Statements• Flash Flood Statements• Marine Weather Statements

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Originator ProficiencyOriginator Proficiency

• Online Training (FEMA Course IS-247)– Introduction to system– Appropriate, Effective, and Accessible

Alert and Warning Messages– Common Alerting Protocol Message Composition

• Practice and Drill

• Online Training (FEMA Course IS-247)– Introduction to system– Appropriate, Effective, and Accessible

Alert and Warning Messages– Common Alerting Protocol Message Composition

• Practice and Drill

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Regular TestingRegular Testing

• Test processes in a test environment– Both NWS and FEMA have test environments that process

real data all the time

• Validate system response is as expected

• Test processes in a test environment– Both NWS and FEMA have test environments that process

real data all the time

• Validate system response is as expected

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IPAWS

Conduct OutreachConduct Outreach

• Set realistic expectations – WEA Is a bell ringer,

not a replacement for traditional warning systems

• Create one-page web/social media/handout

preparemetrokc.org/WirelessEmergencyAlertFlier.pdf

• Media interviews, school and government officials, community events, Public Service Announcements

• Government agency and industry association links to outreach information for each major carrier – example: www.ctia.org/wea)

• Develop FAQs – example: www.weather.gov/wirelessalerts

• Cell users should contact their carrier regarding WEA capability, to report issues, or seek assistance

• Set realistic expectations – WEA Is a bell ringer,

not a replacement for traditional warning systems

• Create one-page web/social media/handout

preparemetrokc.org/WirelessEmergencyAlertFlier.pdf

• Media interviews, school and government officials, community events, Public Service Announcements

• Government agency and industry association links to outreach information for each major carrier – example: www.ctia.org/wea)

• Develop FAQs – example: www.weather.gov/wirelessalerts

• Cell users should contact their carrier regarding WEA capability, to report issues, or seek assistance 16

Monitor FeedbackMonitor Feedback

• Social media

• Call centers

• Family and friends

• Calls and emails to originating authority

• Social media

• Call centers

• Family and friends

• Calls and emails to originating authority

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Current and Future PlansCurrent and Future Plans

• NWS CAP messages now being disseminated via two satellite systems in parallel with traditional text alerts

• Newest version will soon be on NWS websites via ATOM index feeds

• Better descriptive language of impacted areas

• Allow originating meteorologist to custom tailor message

• NWS CAP messages now being disseminated via two satellite systems in parallel with traditional text alerts

• Newest version will soon be on NWS websites via ATOM index feeds

• Better descriptive language of impacted areas

• Allow originating meteorologist to custom tailor message

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SummarySummary

• NWS has been using CAP to send short messages to cell phones located in impacted areas since June 2012

• Early results are positive with some affected citizens crediting system to saving lives

• Lessons learned center less around the technology and more around the message content and public outreach

• NWS has been using CAP to send short messages to cell phones located in impacted areas since June 2012

• Early results are positive with some affected citizens crediting system to saving lives

• Lessons learned center less around the technology and more around the message content and public outreach

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