The next three elements described are those whose values must be provided by the user as free text, and contain the most significant part of the NWEM, the actual message. The values are typed in by the user, but must comply with specific requirements.
NWEM authoring software may differ as to whether these fields are required or not. General guidance is to always include all three.
User Composed Values
headline
The headline is a brief description of the message content.
The maximum length of a headline is 160 characters, including blank spaces.
- The headline should be as direct and actionable as possible, while remaining short.
- The headline is displayed in NWS text roducts, preceded and followed by ellipses (...). The headline is included in the audio message broadcast over NOAA Weather Radio.
- description
The description is the information about the hazardous situation.
- The combined length of description and instruction should not exceed 160 words, to fit within the two minute maximum audio length imposed by the Emergency Alert System.
- The description is displayed in NWS text products, and is included in the audio message broadcast over NOAA Weather Radio.
- instruction
The instruction is the information about the protective actions the public should take.
- The instruction is displayed in NWS text products, and is included in the audio message broadcast over NOAA Weather Radio.
Allowable Characters
- Your software may automatically validate the use of allowable characters, and/or it may convert or substitute allowable characters for invalid ones. Characters allowed by the NWS dissemination system at this time are:
- Uppercase letters
- Numerals
- Plus (+) sign
- Minus or dash (-) sign
- Period (.)
- Ellipsis (...)
- Forward slash (/)
- Asterisk (*) may be used for bullet points
Text to Voice
Text is converted to a voiced audio message for NOAA Weather Radio broadcast by computer.
Text is converted to a voiced audio message for NOAA Weather Radio broadcast by computer.
- Each local Weather Forecast Office (WFO) has an associated dictionary of commonly used local names, for the purpose of improving pronunciation, and a word substitution list for the purpose of expanding acronyms or abbreviations. It is highly recommended that you consult with your local WFO, to ensure that your COG name, and place names not commonly used in weather forecasts can be accommodated, and/or address any abbreviations you anticipate using on a regular basis.
- Normal telephone numbers in the format nnn-nnn-nnnn are handled correctly by the system. However, if 9-1-1 were entered using dashes, it would be rendered "nine TO one TO one." 911 would be rendered "nine hundred eleven." To avoid this difficulty, use spaces instead of dashes, i.e., 9_1_1, where underscores represent blank spaces.
- License plate numbers, which may be used in Child Abduction Emergencies or Law Enforcement Warnings, vary in format from state to state, and can present difficulties for text to voice conversion. For example, WES 460 would be rendered "wess four hundred sixty." Confer with your WFO for guidance on this topic.
Sample NWEM with User Composed Values
| WOUS43 KPAH 291706 | |
| TOEPAH | |
| KYC059-291806- | |
| BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED | |
| 911 TELEPHONE OUTAGE EMERGENCY | |
| KY DAVIESS COUNTY EMA OWENSBORO KY | |
| RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY | |
| 1106 AM CST WED OCT 29 2008 | |
| ...WIDESPREAD TELEPHONE OUTAGE IN THE AREA... | headline |
| THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE KY DAVIESS COUNTY EMA. | |
| THERE ARE CURRENTLY WIDESPREAD TELEPHONE OUTAGES IN THE AREA RESULTING FROM A CUT CABLE. | description |
| IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY AND CANNOT REACH 9 1 1 ... GO TO YOUR NEAREST FIRE STATION FOR HELP. | instruction |
| $$ | |
| DM4190111954887916544ATHERTONW |
Please see the following link if you would like more detailed information about NWS text product formats. Then check your knowledge via the self-assessment quiz on the next page.
