Emergency Alerts & Preparedness
What Are IPAWS Alerts?
IPAWS is FEMA's gateway for authorized public alerts that can feed Wireless Emergency Alerts, Emergency Alert System messages, and other channels.
Check the live HazardNow dashboard
Use this page to understand IPAWS alerts. Use the live dashboard to see current alerts, infrastructure stress, weather, wildfire, travel, public-health, supply-chain, and stability indicators in one place.
Quick answer / What to check next
Quick answer
IPAWS is FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, a national infrastructure that authorized public-safety officials can use to send emergency alerts through multiple channels.
What this signal means
Emergency alerts can provide urgent information about hazards, protective actions, evacuations, sheltering, or public safety threats.
What to check on HazardNow
Alert issuer, affected area, event type, effective time, expiration time, and recommended action language.
Verify with official source
FEMA IPAWS
Quick read
- Useful for
- Understanding how official emergency messages are distributed.
- Watch
- sender, event code, affected area, expiration, and whether the alert is a test.
- Confirm with
- FEMA IPAWS, local emergency management, and alert originators.
- Remember
- IPAWS distributes authorized alerts; it does not create local emergency decisions.
How IPAWS routes alerts
Authorized agencies compose alerts with event type, geography, urgency, severity, certainty, and instructions. IPAWS then routes compatible messages to participating alert channels.
Delivery can vary by device, carrier, broadcast station, language support, and whether the recipient is inside the targeted area.
Visual reference
IPAWS distribution
One authorized message can fan out to multiple public alert channels.
Official sources to verify
Use these links to verify current source text, update timing, and agency caveats.
Last reviewed: . This page explains general preparedness information and does not replace official instructions.
FAQ
Does HazardNow send IPAWS alerts?
No. HazardNow may display context from public alert feeds, but only authorized public-safety officials originate IPAWS alerts.
Should I follow an IPAWS alert over a HazardNow page?
Yes. Official alert instructions and local authorities take priority.
Related terms
Check the live HazardNow dashboard
Use this page to understand IPAWS alerts. Use the live dashboard to see current alerts, infrastructure stress, weather, wildfire, travel, public-health, supply-chain, and stability indicators in one place. Focus on emergency-alerts, situational-awareness, 5-minute-preparedness-check in the live view.