Rockland Post Desk
Rockland County’s Emergency Management Division recently completed a state-run IPAWS training session in Greene County, hosted by the New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. The effort continues a long tradition of improving how communities receive emergency information.
IPAWS — the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System — is the modern national platform that sends Wireless Emergency Alerts to cell phones and issues urgent messages through TV, radio, and other approved channels. The goal is to make sure residents get timely and accurate information during fast-moving situations.
County officials said ongoing training keeps Rockland prepared, but they also noted that public alerting has come a long way. In earlier decades, communities relied on outdoor sirens, firehouse horns, and door-to-door notifications. During the 1950s and 1960s, Cold War civil defense drills led to the first coordinated alert systems. In the 1970s, the Emergency Broadcast System was created to interrupt radio and TV programming. That later evolved into the Emergency Alert System in the 1990s, which added more reliable technology and national standards.
IPAWS, launched after 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, became the next step — integrating digital communication and wireless alerts so messages can reach people wherever they are.
Rockland officials said that by continuing to train on the latest tools, the county stays aligned with how emergency communication has evolved. They emphasized that preparedness is not a one-time effort but an ongoing responsibility to make sure the public can be reached quickly when it matters most.
Ancient and medieval origins
There is a long history of the use of early warning systems going all the way back to the Ancient tribes which used early warning methods by observing natural precursory signs, such as noticing ocean movements to predict tsunamis or watching the skies for weather changes. Indigenous groups in Africa, Australia, and South America used wind instruments and drums for communication and warnings, a practice that continues today. During the Middle Ages, church bells were used to alert communities to danger, such as approaching enemies or fires.
During the German Blitzkrieg, when the early warning systems blared, British citizens would run down into the underground subway system for safety until the attack was over.
When WWII came to the USA Early warning systems primarily relied on radar, but also used pre-radar technologies like sound mirrors and human spotters. Key systems included Britain’s Chain Home radar network for the Battle of Britain, and the US Army’s SCR-270 radar, which famously detected the Pearl Harbor attack. These systems, combined with extensive volunteer-based aircraft spotter networks and command centers, provided crucial, though sometimes imperfect, detection of incoming enemy aircraft.
By the 20th century, to the development of modern technology like radar and automated sirens. Today, these systems are more advanced, utilizing technology to provide multi-hazard warnings for natural disasters like earthquakes and famine, with international frameworks like the UN-SPIDER Knowledge Portal supporting their expansion.
During the Cold War, with the ever-present threat of nuclear war, students would have to hide under their desks during drills when the air raid alert siren went off. This was later changed to running into the halls and pressing themselves against the walls with their arms over their heads. We had no idea what this would do to protects us from a nuclear blast, but we did it.
As technology evolved, the EWS (Early Warning Systems) evolved and improved. None of these things are perfect, but they do save lives and sometimes property. With the advent of television and the subsequent birth of the television generation, government agencies developed the EAS (Emergency Alert System) a loud noise would be broadcast to get people’s attention and report any danger to the community to give people the opportunity to get to safety. The only drawback to these types of systems is that people need to be watching to see and hear the alerts.
That’s why systems like Sirens are things that can be heard even if you are sleeping. The first siren was invented in the late 18th century by John Robison, but they became widely used for public warnings during World War II for air raids and later during the Cold War for potential nuclear attacks and tornadoes in the US.
Other modern technological developments for early warning of danger included,
Radar, Telegraph and radio, television, Famine Early Warning Systems (FEWS), USGS ShakeAlert system, to warn of potential earthquakes and the Emergency Alert Systems (EAS)
Today and in the future systems like Multi-hazard approach: Current early warning systems are increasingly integrated to provide warnings for multiple types of hazards.
Technological integration: Modern systems leverage advancements in sensor technology, data processing, and communication to provide more timely and accurate warnings.
International framework: The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction promotes the availability and accessibility of multi-hazard early warning systems as a key priority.
“Early Warning for All” initiative: The UN launched the “Early Warning for All” initiative to expand the reach of these systems globally, particularly in vulnerable regions.