CAP v1.2 comments...

["Schafer, John" <John.Schafer@dhs.gov>]

The Alert Message Structure in the CAP appears to have pre-defined enumerations for many of the data elements.  The concern is that these pre-defined enumerations do not necessarily align with the existing NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1 Appendix 1 Emergency Action Levels (EAL’s) and responses used in commercial nuclear emergency preparedness.  Under emergency situations where the enumerations do not align with the EAL’s, there exists potential for IPAWS to communicate messages inconsistent (or interpreted to be inconsistent) with those already established nuclear power plant emergency alert and notification procedures.  Any inconsistency could lead to miscommunication, conflicting announcement and notification messages, and incorrect public response.   

It is recommended that the CAP data elements incorporate flexibility so that the user may incorporate their own values or enumerations such that the emergency message can be tailored to be consistent with already existing announcement and message processes.