These could include messages to: 

• Shelter in place 
• Be on the lookout
• Stay out of the area
• Evacuate and more 

The CWS is not used for: 

• Political or commercial messages
• Traffic status messages 

Subscribers to the CWS can opt to receive messages one or more ways or view the messages online. Options include: 

• Text message 
• Smartphone apps such as NextDoor 
• Phone call  
• Email
• Subscribe here today. 

If you are not subscribed, messages from the CWS are also available via:

• Web site
• Social media channels
• Broadcast media

CWS alerts use a combination of urgency, severity, and certainty to help the public make informed decisions. 

Urgency describes the time available to prepare.  Urgency could be: 

• Immediate: Responsive action should be taken immediately 
• Expected: Action within the next hour 
• Future: Action in the near future (typically 6-24 hours) 
• Past: No preparatory action needed 

Severity describes the intensity of the impact.  Severity could be: 

• Extreme: Extraordinary or large-scale threat to life and property 
• Severe: Significant threat to life and property 
• Moderate: Potential threat to life and property 
• Minor: Limited threat to life and property 

Certainty describes the alerting authority’s confidence that the event will occur or has occurred. Events could be: 

• Observed: Definitely occurred or occurring 
• Likely: Likely, although not certain (p>50%) 
• Possible: Possible, but not likely (p<50%) 
• Unlikely: Not expected to occur (p<5%) 

• Excessive Heat Warnings.  The National Weather Service issued a warning in late June 2021 of excessive heat for Bremerton and vicinity. This warning was expected, extreme and likely. 
• Active Shooter messages to stay out of an area.
• Wild Fire messages to evacuate or shelter in place, depending on whether the emergency was fire or smoke.
• HazMat messages to shelter in place.
• Missing Person message to be on the lookout.
• Floating Mine to shelter in place, evacuate now, or stay out of the area.

• Community Warning System (CWS) Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC) Working Group
• Common Alerting Protocol (source: FEMA)
• IPAWS (source: FEMA)
• CAP Definition (source: Oasis)
• Common Alerting Protocol (source: Wikipedia)