Are you using IPAWS alerts? Do you even know what an IPAWS alert is? (Hint, it’s not an Apple product for dogs!) If you’re like me, you are likely familiar with them, but never knew what they are called.
Boil water notice
Recently, I was driving west on I-40, headed to a meeting in western North Carolina. As I passed the exit for Mocksville, my phone went off with an alert. I assumed it was an Amber Alert or a Silver Alert. However, much to my surprise, it was a boil water notice from the Town of Mocksville due to a water main break.
When I got to my lunch meeting with general managers from two different utilities, I mentioned the alert and neither one of them had heard of such an alert for boil water notices. This intrigued me even more. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to find out if this was something other utilities could do.
Newsletter subscriber to the rescue!
I seemed to remember that I have a newsletter subscriber from the Town of Mocksville. I looked it up and, sure enough, I do! I emailed her and she referred me to Cameron Webb, the Davie County Emergency Management Director. Before I could reach out to him, Cameron called me.
Cameron explained that the message I received was an Integrated Public Alert & Warning System alert (IPAWS for short – because everything in government has to have an acronym!). He went on to explain that the boundary of the alert can be defined in the IPAWS system and any cell phone entering that area for a 24-hour period will receive the alert.
In this case, they chose a perimeter five miles outside the town limits. Cameron explained that this would reach residents as well as anyone traveling through the area. By doing so, as an example, travelers stopping at a convenience store would understand why the fountain drink machine wasn’t working.
Any Alerting Authority can do it
Cameron also explained there is training and a process for any jurisdiction to become an Alerting Authority in order to send IPAWS alerts. In North Carolina, that includes most county emergency management offices. I would assume it’s a similar agency in other states.
It’s so much easier!
I know how hard it is for utilities to maintain current phone numbers for their customers in order to send texts or automated calls. An IPAWS alert that notifies every cell phone in the area is so much simpler! And it reaches more people, too, so it’s a win-win!
Complete the 2025 Utility Fee Survey
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to participate in the 2025 Utility Fee Survey by clicking here to complete the survey. I know you get many requests to complete surveys and I appreciate you taking the time to complete this one.
If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at gary@utilityinformationpipeline.com or call me at 919-673-4050.
Thank you in advance for your participation in the 2025 Utility Fee Survey.
Are your communication methods up-to-date?
Are you doing all you can to communicate with your customers? If you aren’t sure, please give me a call at 919-673-4050 or email me at gary@utilityinformationpipeline.com for more information about how a business review could help review those processes.
© 2025 Gary Sanders