IPAWS Aware: Utilizing Modern GIS for Enhanced Situational Awareness

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) determined that Los Angeles County has the highest risk index in the nation. With over 10 million residents, 88 cities, and hundreds of special districts, few metropolitan areas rival its rich diversities and public safety complexities. With a persistent threat environment, jurisdictions must maintain situational awareness of emerging incidents including when local Alerting Authorities issue Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs). Of all the alerting capabilities within the Los Angeles County Operational Area (OA), WEAs quickly notify residents and visitors of lifesaving information. 27 of the 88 cities and the County are Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Alerting Authorities that can initiate WEAs. The IPAWS Aware application monitors the national IPAWS-OPEN Atom Feed every 15 seconds and provides near real-time situational awareness through email activation reports (