Austin is stepping up its game when it comes to emergency preparedness. The City of Austin's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HSEM) just pulled off a successful test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) on Monday, the City of Austin announced. FEMA, alongside officials from several counties and Texas emergency agencies, observed the drill. The system, designed to get crucial alerts to the public without a subscription fee, can reach folks through cell phone towers, TV, and radio.
Now, to tap into the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), part of the IPAWS, Austinites need to tweak their phone settings—turn on those government alerts in the notification settings. But here's the catch—Texas is sort of a loner here, leading the pack with its opt-out stance. More people in Texas shun these alerts than in any other state. According to the City of Austin's release, Austin HSEM's chief administrative officer, Sara Henry, said, "This is a new capability the City has to alert not only our community members but visitors and travelers to our area during emergencies."
HSEM's demonstration highlighted how IPAWS could cover geotargeted areas by sending out wireless messages directly to cell phones. It's not just about cell phones, though. This system can also interrupt your regularly scheduled TV program or radio show with the Emergency Alerts System (EAS). All it takes is a serious emergency, and the system can beam out an alert to get the public to safety.
It's clear that Austin HSEM has been busy, spending months in the training and planning trenches to pull off this IPAWS test. Their preparations seem to have paid off, with Henry expressing satisfaction over the city's new emergency communication tactics. According to the City of Austin, Henry stated, "I’m thankful to our staff and partners for their training and months of planning that got us to this point," and wasn't shy in her praise for the team's effort.
