The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) has been adopted as ITU-T Recommendation X.1303. It is a simple but general format for exchanging all-hazard emergency alerts and public warnings over all kinds of ICT networks, allowing a consistent warning message to be disseminated simultaneously over many different warning systems, thus increasing warning effectiveness while simplifying the warning task.
CAP enables authorities to deliver early warnings and alerts to all people and communities at risk, and up to global scale through the use of different technologies.
The use of CAP is critical in multi-hazards early warning systems. CAP will ensure that alerts disseminated via multiple channels are
consistent. The United Nations’
Early Warnings for All Initiative, which set a goal to protect every person on
earth by early warning systems, also includes CAP as a critical element. According to the EW4All Initative Action Plan, one of the outcome of pillar 3 on dissemiination and communications is that all countries have the capability for effective, authoritative emergency
alerting that leverages the Common Alerting Protocol, suitable for all
media and all hazards.
Technologies to be used: mobile and landline telephones, Internet (e-mail, Google, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, smartphone apps, online advertising, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, in-home smart speakers, etc.), sirens (in-building or outdoor), broadcast radio and television, cable television, emergency radio, amateur radio, satellite direct broadcast, and digital signage networks (highway signs, billboards, automobile and rail traffic control), among others.
