by Rick Wimberly & Lorin Bristow: Best practices for emergency notification programs
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If a state legislator has his way, residents of Virginia would be able to block a president from sending emergency messages through the new Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS, also known as Personal Localized Alerting Network or PLAN). The public will be able to opt out of receiving imminent threat alerts and Amber Alerts, but not presidential alerts.
Virginia Delegate Bob Marshall has introduced a bill that would give Virginians ability to block presidential alerts, too. The Republican told us he's concerned President Obama would use the system for political purposes, saying "This guy has shown no restraint at all."
Marshall, who recently announced that he's running for the U.S. Senate, also said he's concerned the messages would create panic. He asks, "What if a 12-year-old girl gets a message from the President?"
There’s currently no law or regulation that would restrict a president’s use of CMAS. However, some members of Congress have been talking about legislation that would state that a president may not use CMAS for political purposes.
In over fifty years, no president has ever activated CMAS’s sister program, Emergency Alert System (EAS). It’s hard to imagine any president using CMAS for political purposes. The outcry would be loud (to say the least). As for the 12-year-olds, if I had a 12-year-old daughter who had a mobile device and something major enough had happened for the president to issue a CMAS/PLAN alert, I want her to know about it.
All the best,
Rick
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Documenting Institutional KnowledgeYesterday, Google announced the release of its new emergency alerting platform—Google Public Alerts. The platform, developed by Google’s not-for-profit Crisis Response division, is designed to display relevant emergency alerts to people who are searching for them on the web.
Weather, public safety, and earthquake alerts issued by US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service, and the US Geological Survey (USGS) are displayed on a Google Maps interface. User’s can drill deeper into alerts through links to the originating site.
Google is using the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) to receive and disseminate alerts, and according to Google’s site “strongly encourage(s) all agencies to adopt international standards like CAP for sharing public alerts, and publish them securely using open web formats like Atom and RSS.”
It is clear from Google statements that this first iteration is just a foundation for what is to come. Though current alert origination is limited to the federal agencies listed above, Google is encouraging authorized local public safety officials to post alerts as well. There is no cost to participate.
From Google’s documentation, the steps for participating are as follows:
- Get alerts into the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP 1.2) standard.
- Validate that feeds are set up correctly and the CAP message is correct (the link provides you with a nifty validation tool).
- Subscribe alerts to Alert Hub and check that they're working (AlertHub is Google’s message aggregator).
- Notify Google when you're ready so it can initiate next steps.
From our interactions with Google over the past year, we’ve been impressed with their desire to help support public safety and protect citizens in times of disaster. We’re looking forward to seeing how this new public alerting tool develops over time.
Best regards,
Lorin Bristow
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Last week, Rick and I had the pleasure of participating in a newly created working group focused on alerts and warnings for the Nashville Metro area. The meeting was initiated by our friend and colleague Stephen Guillot who runs the National Center for Emergency Preparedness at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
In attendance were representatives from a diverse, but connected community, all bound by a common interest in public warning. A mix of representatives from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), the National Weather Service, Vanderbilt University, Tennessee Association of Broadcasters (TAB), and Midland Radio Corp. made for interesting presentations and discussions on the current and future state of emergency notification for the area.
We discussed AVSET weather radars, IPAWS, CMAS, the national EAS test, all-hazards radios—a wide variety of topics (and acronyms). It wasn’t a large group, but it sure was an impressive one. We were so engrossed, we ran out of time for one of the anticipated highlights—primary research conducted by Stephen Guillot for his doctoral dissertation centered around public warning (we’re dedicating the next meeting to that, and when he’s ready, hope to share some of the interesting results with our blog readers).
All of this to say, our meeting experience served to reinforce how critical and valuable it is to understand differing philosophies, coordinate ongoing efforts, and consider future plans for wide area public notifications across a community’s key stakeholders. Because of differing authorities, jurisdictions, policies, systems, etc., emergency notification can be a complex process. At times, problems or inefficiencies emerge, but little clarity surrounds who should fix them. Meetings such as this help address these problems and keep the issue of alerts and warnings top of mind. Also, new ideas rise to the surface, improving overall notification practices.
If the preparedness/response leaders in your community are not in the habit of connecting occasionally to discuss emergency notification, we highly recommend you initiate a face-to-face event like the one described here. With just a little effort, you’ll likely find yourself better informed overall, and more tightly connected to other key links in the notification chain.
Best regards,
Lorin
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With the first full-fledged test of CMAS (Commercial Mobile Alert System) completed recently, time for us all to learn more about what CMAS really is and how it will work. A recent blog post by A.W.A.R.E. does a good job of explaining "CMAS 101". It's worth checking out. Plus, scroll through our posts. We have a lot of CMAS info to share.
All the best,
Rick
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A cool idea is coming out of the City of Chicago. The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) has started publishing QR (quick response) codes that link to its web sites that provide emergency information. QR codes are pretty simple. They are basically a way of storing information graphically so that it can be read quickly. Their use is catching on quickly to the general public; many people like the idea of taking a picture with their mobile device to retrieve information. It saves key strokes, including backspaces to correct errors.
Delores Robinson of Chicago OEMC told us, “Other entities are providing the same and similar resources. We want to stay cutting edge, especially when it’s cost effective and efficient.” She said the QR code initiative cost the city very little. OEMC uses a free QR code app called QR Reader. The process is simple:
- Citizens download QR Reader. It’s free, and many people have it already.
- Citizens open the application, and take a picture of the QR codes published by OEMC on its web sites and through other media.
- The City updates its web sites with important information, particularly during emergencies.
- Citizens quick link to the web sites using the QR codes.
Granted, citizens could store URLs on their devices for fast links to emergency management web sites. Maybe they have. But, the QR code use is, well, cool and will likely generate more buzz than simply asking the public to keep a URL handy on their mobile devices in case of emergency. People like to show off cool things on their mobile devices; I sure have my favorites.
Robinson is quick to point out that the QR code initiative is not the only way OEMC is making information more accessible. She said, “It’s important that we provide the traditional means of communication.” She also said Chicago OEMC would be glad to share information about their QR codes to other public safety agencies. (If you like, let us know and we’ll put you in touch with her.) You can find tools to create your own QR codes by doing a key word search on "QR Code Generators".
So, hats off to Chicago OEMC for taking a simple concept, deploying it, and generating good buzz for one of their ways for getting emergency information into the hands of as many people as possible as quickly as possible.
All the best,
Rick
City of Chicago Emergency Management QR Code
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Speaking of CMAS, the people behind the A.W.A.R.E. (Alerts, Warnings & Response to Emergencies) blog put together a nice post that links to info from the major mobile carriers regarding CMAS. Among other things, you can find lists of the models of mobile devices that will support CMAS.
Beginning this spring, new mobile devices are to be shipped with CMAS capability, but many are already in the market. By itself, availability of the devices doesn't mean the system is 100% ready for local authorities to use. See our recent post on efforts to establish new CMAS pilots. The post gives an overview of what it will take to move toward real CMAS use. But, availability of the devices is certainly a sign of progress.
As you probably know, CMAS is the Commercial Mobile Alert System, one of the alerting systems made available through FEMA's IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System) program. It will give federal, state, and local authorities ability to send 90-character text alerts to mobile devices in a specific geographic area without requiring the public to sign-up.
All the best,
Rick
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The Department of Homeland Security is looking for more communities to test the Commercial Mobile Alert System (also known as Personal Localized Alerting Network or PLAN). Initial CMAS tests were conducted in December by the New York City Office of Emergency Management, DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), FEMA IPAWS, and four major mobile carriers (Verizon, ATT, T-Mobile, and Sprint).
S&T’s Denis Gusty recently told participants in a webinar that although test results are still being analyzed, S&T considers the test a success – in fact, “very successful in the terms of cooperation". He said the test was conducted ahead of schedule which required “a lot of people to work tremendously hard” including NYCOEM, engineers for FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), and the carriers.
Gusty says S&T intends to conduct four regional CMAS tests this year, and a national one. He says S&T is scouting for additional test sites, looking for governmental entities that have:
- an alert origination tool in place that's been adapted to feed alerts through the IPAWS message gateway/aggregator,
- personnel who have completed the IPAWS training program through FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI),
- been approved by FEMA as an IPAWS alerting authority, and
- cell carriers in the area who are CMAS-ready.
Here’s what we suggest for making those things happen:
- Alert origination tool: Check with your alerting vendor(s). Find out if they’re prepared. If not, get them to explain their plan for being able to feed alerts through the IPAWS system. We’ve seen demos of a couple of alerting tools that have been adapted to feed IPAWS. They were impressive.
- Training: Go to the EMI web site and take the IPAWS training. It’s a good course, answers a lot of IPAWS questions, and provides good alerting information that you’ll find useful regardless of your IPAWS status.
- Alerting authority: In order to be able to feed alerts through IPAWS, you’ll need IPAWS alerting authority. Essentially, there will be two levels of approval. A state entity will have to confirm that you are indeed an organization that should be issuing alerts. And, FEMA will need to approve you. FEMA will be relying heavily on the states, but will also need to confirm that you’ve completed the EMI training. (See 2.) The exact process may not be in place yet in your state, so you may want to check with your state emergency management agency to find out the status.
- Mobile carriers: Most major mobile carriers are working to be CMAS compliant, but we suspect capability will be launched at different times in different places. You may want to contact the carrier public safety sales teams in your area to find out the local status. If they don’t know, perhaps they can find out for you.
And, certainly if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Galain Solutions at rick.wimberly@galainsolutions.com or lorin.bristow@galainsolutions.com. We have a team of consultants who are well-versed on CMAS and IPAWS. And, if we don’t know the answer to a question, perhaps we can help you get it.
Even if you are not a candidate for a pilot, it would be wise a to start figuring out your plan for getting up to speed for CMAS. CMAS will offer an exciting opportunity to alert your local public via their mobile devices – without requiring them to sign up.
Yes, there’s work to be done…but, at least there's a lot more direction on how to make CMAS a reality for local use.
All the best,
Rick
http://www.galainsolutions.com/
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Now that the festivities of celebrating the arrival of a new year have passed, it’s time for our annual Top Ten Alert and Warning Predictions post. It’s the time of year we dust off our crystal ball and peer into the future looking for signs of things to come within the alerts and warnings industry. (For some reason we can’t see anything beyond December 21, 2012. Hopefully, that isn’t a bad sign. We’re fairly sure it’s nothing to worry about.)
So, without further delay, may we present to you our top ten predictions for 2012:
CMAS becomes a reality.
The Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS)—also known as Personal Localized Alerting Network (PLAN)—will become a reality in 2012. This technology will allow local alerting authorities to send cell broadcast text messages to citizens within a targeted geographic area (and it requires no sign-up by the citizens).
Telephony carriers are gearing up for an April deadline to have the inner workings in place. From our sources, it appears this deadline is holding. The City of New York has already conducted testing and will roll out its version right after the new year.
While we can’t promise clarity on the program’s proper name going forward (CMAS? PLAN?), we do feel this useful technology will finally come to fruition over the next few months.
More national tests on the horizon.
This fall, our nation saw its first-ever national test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The test was successful in identifying key gaps in functionality and process that would keep the “system” from being effective in an actual emergency.
As improvements are made and broadcaster equipment is upgraded in 2012, expect additional testing to occur in order to measure improvements, including at least one additional national test.
IPAWS signs up alert origination authorities.
While IPAWS’s first mission is to ensure the President can communicate with citizens in a crisis, its capabilities extend to local public safety officials. Local alerting authorities will be able to originate warning messages targeted to local citizens, and have these messages distributed through a variety of devices automatically (CMAS, local EAS, all-hazards radio, Internet, etc.).
In 2012, we’ll see the first round of local alerting authorities sign up and begin utilizing the system (FEMA has just released a new IPAWS training program to set the stage for this—find it here).
Emergency managers seek to connect with other related disciplines. Alerts and warnings provide common ground.
Emergency managers, business continuity specialists, first responders, physical security professionals, etc. all have similar interests. During a crisis, these interests may intersect—or perhaps collide—“on the ground,” making coordination important.
We’re seeing growing interest in cross-discipline collaboration in general, but it’s particularly acute with regards to alerts and warnings. For 2012, we expect to see continued growth of discussions related to the variety of methods and sources of information for warning and instructing citizens. Look for conferences and publications to highlight perspectives from disciplines outside our normal silos.
Competition rises, prices fall.
Since 2001, the alert and warning industry has been a wildly competitive marketplace. There’s no sign of this changing in the new year. As smaller municipalities desire the ability to notify citizens, and shared technology infrastructures allow for lower incremental costs, fierce competition will continue. Prices, in the smaller tiers of the market, will also continue to see downward pressure. (We recently saw where ten vendors bid on a smaller municipality in New York with prices ranging from $7500 to $15,000 per year).
From the emergency manager’s perspective, this is good news as more options should be available for a lower cost. From a vendor’s perspective, it means intelligent market segmentation is needed, along with tiered product offerings to capture the range of needs and price points in the marketplace.
Vendors in the market further consolidate through mergers and acquisitions.
While we’re on the subject of vendors, we expect to see additional consolidation of vendors through mergers and acquisitions this coming year. Emergency managers and other preparedness professionals want integrated solutions (more on this in a moment). This creates opportunity for vendors, each with their own slice of the incident management pie, to come together and create more unified offerings.
The consolidation/unification idea certainly isn’t new. Frankly, we’ve seen vendors try and fail at this already over the past few years. However, the time is ripe for a provider to figure out the formula for pulling together different product offerings and organizations, ultimately creating meaningful marketplace value.
Greater focus placed on people with disabilities and limited English proficiency.
Even as alert and warning technology becomes more pervasive, challenges still remain for broad and equitable communications in a crisis. Significant barriers still exist for rapidly and effectively warning people with disabilities, older adults, and individuals with limited English proficiency.
We expect this issue to receive greater attention in 2012, likely spawned by a combination of factors including greater advocacy group awareness, heightened sensitivity generated by IPAWS, and enhanced local efforts to address gaps in alerting.
Further movement toward a “system of systems” approach.
Despite advances in technology, most warning systems still exist in silos. Siren systems are separate from automated telephone systems, which are separate from EAS encoders, etc. While 2012 may not bring a quantum leap in integration of these disparate networks, we do expect to see more examples emerge of local agencies focusing resources around simplifying and connecting warning systems—creating a “system of systems” approach.
Citizens and professionals seek faster, more targeted warnings.
This past year brought massive devastation and loss of life from tornadoes, flooding and other weather-related events. Citizens see local agencies with automated alert and warning systems in place and wonder why these can’t be used to notify people in the path of a tornado. On one hand, the technology exists to make this feasible. On the other hand, weather-based notifications are not foolproof, and agencies that commit to providing them raise community expectations while increasing their risk exposure.
The debate won’t be resolved in 2012, but look to see heightened discussions surrounding these types of highly targeted, ultra-rapid notifications.
The end of the world will NOT occur on December 21, 2012…
But all the doomsday talk may generate a few press interviews for a few of you savvy emergency managers. We’re not suggesting you feed any hysteria. But it might be a good time to promote your efforts around alerts and warnings. Also, touting the need for personal preparedness in the face of non-Mayan-related critical events would be in order. Perhaps a well-placed, even tongue-in-cheek, promotion of your agency’s accomplishments and state of readiness will serve you well when 2013 really does roll around.
Here’s to a happy, healthy, and productive new year to all our readers. Be safe out there. And thanks for all you do to protect our safety and our freedom.
Best regards,
Lorin and Rick
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It wasn't all pretty, but 2011 was a year of progress toward stronger alerting for the nation. The federal government’s alerting initiatives moved forward, offering promise that in 2012 local public safety officials and the publics they serve will start seeing benefits. Interesting alerting legislation was considered in 2011 at both federal and state levels. More alerting programs for older adults were established. And, the alert and warning industry showed signs of progressiveness and health. Even the more negative alert and notification news of the year helped move the nation closer to more effective alerts for the public. 2011 wasn’t a perfect year, but a good one nonetheless.
Here are our Top Ten Alert and Notification Stories of 2011…
1. First national test of Emergency Alert System conducted.
The fact that, after over fifty years of existence, what’s now known as EAS was tested nationally for the first time was significant enough to lead our 2011 Top Ten. But, even more significant in our opinion, was the extent of the national dialogue the test created. EAS participants (broadcasters, cable operators, etc.) were all abuzz about the test. They generated lots of pre-test publicity, so much so there were no reports of public over-reaction to the test. (See post here.)
Yes, there were technical glitches during the test, but we believe the test was a success. (See post here.) Technical issues are often easier to fix than process and human behavior issues, and in this case, processes worked and human behavior couldn’t have been better. Pre-test collaboration, preparation, and outreach were very impressive and the public responded quite well indeed.
In addition to helping clean up EAS, we think the national buzz will help set the stage for interest in other national alert and warning buzz-worthy events that appear imminent in 2012.
2. Mobile Device Alerting Progresses
More signs emerged that a national system for issuing alerts through mobile devices is really happening. This helps tackle one of the most perplexing problems for local officials – getting the public to sign up for alerts. Under the new initiative, sign-ups by the public won’t be necessary.
Early-stage tests of The Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS), which some people call the Personal Localized Alert Network (PLAN), occurred in one of the most demanding alert environments in the country, New York City. The New York City tests in December seemed to go well. (See post here.)
Although some CMAS-related tests were conducted in 2010, the 2011 NYC test was the first one that used the message gateway FEMA is building for CMAS and other alerting systems through its IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System) program.
In 2012, we expect word to start spreading about how local officials can start using CMAS/PLAN and other IPAWS capabilities.
3. Vendors Jump on IPAWS Bandwagon
In order to give local public safety officials ability to use the new federal alerting system offered through IPAWS, commercial vendors must be involved. Their technology will be needed to give local alerting authorities tools for activating alerts through IPAWS. Commercial systems will also be needed to disseminate alerts to the public.
Vendor involvement in IPAWS grew significantly in 2011. Over fifty commercial vendors signed up to be part of the IPAWS program. (See post here.) That means they’re adapting their systems so they can send and receive IPAWS alerts. We’ve seen a couple of vendors demonstrate their IPAWS capabilities. The demos were impressive. Vendors will likely get aggressive showing off their IPAWS capabilities in 2012.
Meantime, the list was released in 2011 of the cell carriers who’ll participate in the CMAS/PLAN program. The line-up is strong. Most carriers are participating. Most of the nation will be covered. (See post here.)
4. New Terror-Alert System Unveiled
The color-coded national alert system was dumped, and a new system unveiled in 2011. (See post here.) The new system is much more simple. There are only two alert levels – “Imminent Threat” and “Elevated Threat”. Plus, the “National Terrorism Advisory System” (NTAS) is to be more specific – providing information on geographic areas and likely targets.
5. Virginia Tech Fined
A $55,000 fine was levied in 2011 against Virginia Tech University for waiting too long to warn students of danger the day of the 2007 shootings on the campus. Virginia Tech appealed saying its actions “were well within the standards and practices in effect at that time”. At the same time an appeal hearing was being held in December, another shooting occurred on campus leaving two dead including a campus police officer. Virginia Tech’s enhanced campus alerting systems were reported by most to have worked well during the December incident.
Virginia Tech now has a comprehensive alert system that uses phone alerts, desktop alerts, emails, web sites, electronic message boards, sirens and loudspeakers. The University’s adoption of a comprehensive, multi-modal alerting system using all types of devices is indicative of an aggressive move among higher education that matured quite nicely in 2011.
6. Congress Watches the Progress, Wants More
The topic of alerts and warnings was popular on Capitol Hill in 2011. Several Congressional hearings were held, and new alerting legislation was introduced. Among the topics from Capitol Hill:
- National EAS Test: Congress heard testimony on what worked with the national EAS test, and what didn’t. Technical glitches and remedy plans were explained. (See post here.)
- FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate testified to Congress that CMAS/PLAN is one of the “great strides” made since enactment of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act. (See post here.)
- National alerting legislation: Legislation was introduced in the House and is expected in the Senate that would strengthen the nation’s alerting system. The House bill establishes a clear framework and timetable for FEMA’s modernization of its public alerts and warning system through the IPAWS program. (See post here.)
- Public Safety Awareness of EAS: Congress was told by a broadcast leader that it’s “unacceptable that some local emergency managers remain unaware of the benefits of EAS, or how and when to trigger an EAS alert”. (See post here.)
- IPAWS/CMAS Training Status: The House subcommittee on emergency preparedness questioned FEMA officials on the status of training for IPAWS and CMAS/PLAN. (Training has since been unveiled.) (See posts here and here.)
7. A Hot Topic Among States, Too.
Federal legislators weren’t the only ones talking about alerts and warnings. Several states contemplated laws that would establish alerting procedures for older adults. One passed a law to alert the public when a suspect in a law enforcement officer assault is at large. And, another state considered limiting the use of alerting systems.
The State of New York created the “Gold Alert” program. Similar legislation was introduced in Tennessee. The National Silver Alert Program says over thirty states have laws in place for alerting the public when an older adult is missing. (See post here.)
Pennsylvania expanded its missing persons alert programs by creating the “Missing Endangered Person Advisory System”. It’s designed to help find missing people whose cases don’t meet stringent Amber Alert criteria. The Pennsylvania system’s criteria is quite broad - “to help find people in unexplained, involuntary or suspicious circumstances who may be in danger”.
California put into place a “Blue Alert” law in 2011. It alerts the public when a law enforcement officer has been seriously assaulted and the suspect is on the loose. (Three other states have similar laws.) (See post here.)
In North Carolina, the head of the state insurance department pledged to take the lead for a statewide warning system after storms killed 22 people in the state. (There’s still not one...in fact, no statewide alerting systems in many states.) (See post here.)
Meantime, Connecticut considered legislation that would restrict the use of alerting systems. The bill’s sponsor wanted to make it clear that authorities should not use their alerting systems for “non-emergencies”. The bill died in committee. (See posts here, here, and here.)
8. Study Shows Voice over Text Preference
Pew Research Center released a study in 2011 that showed that most American adults prefer voice calls over text messages on their mobile devices. Although 53% said they prefer voice, 31% said they prefer text and 14% said their preference depends upon the situation. (See post here.)
9. Grand Jury Finds Limits in Alert System
The Santa Barbara County (CA) Civil Grand Jury said it found “inherent” limits in the county’s automated telephone call-out system, but seemed equally concerned about internal communications regarding alerts. “Verification issues” slowed down communications during major wildfires, said the Grant Jury’s report in Spring of 2011. The Grand Jury also found shortcomings in public education. (See post here.)
10. Investment Firms Show Interest in Alert and Warning Market
Despite a slow economy, the alert and warning commercial markets generated quite a bit of interest from investors. A number of investment firms were actively seeking investments in the alert and warning space in 2011. The Riverside Company bought Emergency Communications Network/Code Red. One of Riverside’s executives said they expect “emergency notification to remain an important part of broader public safety programs” and would like to consider other similar acquisitions. (See post here.) Other similar announcements could come in 2012.
Finally, so there you go. Truth be known, we could have listed even more. It was an eventful year with 2012 promising to be even more eventful. We should all pay attention to the coming year’s good alerting news and bad news. We should take advantage of new opportunities, and learn from the problems. We should continue to want more and better, and insist on the same from the many others who have a vested interest. We shouldn’t let the challenging economic times stand in our way.
As for us, we thank-you for a very successful 2011 for Galain Solutions, Inc. We’ve been involved in some very interesting, sometimes challenging, alert and warning consulting engagements in 2011. Our following on our Emergency Management blog constantly gets larger. We appreciate those of you who follow us, pass us around, give us feedback (even if negative) and express your support. We are particularly appreciative of the wonderful Marty Pastula and the other fine people at award-winning Emergency Management magazine. It’s a true pleasure to be associated with such an outstanding publication that serves so many so well.
All the best, and Happy New Year! Let's all resolve to make alerts, warnings, and notifications even stronger in 2012.
Rick and Lorin
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New York City is welcoming feedback from the recent test of new capability to send alerts to mobile devices in targeted geographic areas. NYC is one of the first deployments of the Personal Localized Alert Network (PLAN) (aka CMAS-Commercial Mobile Alert System). It was tested this past week.
For more info on the test, including a number of links pertinent to the test, visit this site. They're encouraging feedback from not only people who received the test texts, but from those "watching from afar" - in other words, you.
The official name of the program is the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS), one of the initiatives of FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) which, by the way, has an informative video on its site about IPAWS. (CMAS is known as PLAN in NYC.)
Undoubtedly, much more info on CMAS/PLAN will come...particularly as local officials throughout the nation get the ability to use it. (Don't worry, its free for locals.)
All the best,
Rick
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