Outdoor Warning Systems Guide

A practical guide has been developed to aid public officials in determining the requirements for outdoor warning systems.

A practical guide has been developed to aid public officials in determining the requirements for outdoor warning systems.

This bulletin provides enhanced guidance to improve the usefulness of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Civil Preparedness Guide (CPG) 1-17 policy. FEMA's CPG 1-17 is a practical guide developed to aid public officials in determining the requirements for outdoor warning systems. Since the initial publication of FEMA CPG 1-17, Outdoor Warning Systems Guide, March 1980, there has been a significant evolution and expansion of technology that can be applied to public alert and mass notification in response to emergencies. This includes better ability to target warnings to affected populations, improved voice warning capabilities, highway electronic message signs, computerized control and system integration, cellular and radio communication methods and capabilities, improvements in telephone communications, as well as improved and faster digital communication methods.

The objective of the Warning Program is to establish, operate, and maintain an effective nationwide warning system to alert governments, industry, and the public to the threat of enemy attack and other extraordinary dangers.