Emergency notification: Warnings and alerts

Emergency communication is the provision of information to members of the public under imminent threat. This information can be disseminated to the public in two forms: alerts and warnings (Mileti and Sorensen 1990). The main purpose of an alert is to capture the attention of the public in preparation for a subsequent warning message. Warnings are then used to provide information about the emergency, such as emergency type, when it will manifest, and the forms of protective action that should be taken (e.g., evacuation or shelter-in-place)