ALERT / Background
The ALERT specification was developed to provide a way to transmit data critical for flood warning over radio frequencies. This ensured that data could be transmitted by a reliable medium even in the most severe weather situations, (in contrast to telephone, and more recently internet and mobile phone networks). The ALERT protocol was developed with the involvement of the National Weather Service and industry vendors that provide hardware and software solutions. Although the ALERT protocol was originally designed for flood warning data, it can also be used to transmit other critical data from remote locations, such as water quality, and water supply data.
See the following for specification details:
ALERT Users Group
The ALERT Users Group is a group of representing interested entities such as government agencies and vendors who maintain and advance ALERT technologies.
- ALERT Users Group website - see the Downloads menu to access some of the documents also listed below
Archive of Old Documentation and Correspondence
See the following documentation artifacts, which include early documents related to the ALERT protocol:
- NOAA Flood Warning System Manuals:
- NOAA's National Weather Service - Flood Warning Systems Manual - overview of flood warning systems, April 20, 2012
- National Weather Service Manual 10-942, Flood Warning Systems Manual - Flood Warning Systems Manual, February 10, 2010, see Appendix E for ALERT specification
- ALERT and IFLOWS System Descriptions and Specifications:
- Early Proposals for ALERT:
- A Proposed Precipitation Gage and Gage Network System - an early document setting the standards for ALERT
- Archive of old document scans from California Nevada RFC):
- ALERT Users Group Email describing the following resources, May 10, 2016 - filenames have been changed slightly to facilitate posting to web
- Event_Reporting_Network_Inventory_Tools_Installation:
- ALERT Contacts
- Battery Discharger Model 5032 Instruction Manuel
- Battery Maintenance Model 5031
- Battery Maintenance Models 5031-8, 5031-23
- Data Transmitter Model 5050 Instruction Manual
- Event Reporting Precipitation Gauge Installation
- Field Maintenance Suggestions
- Forest Hill Ranger District
- Gel Cell Battery Instruction Manual
- Gel Cell Battery Model 5031 Instruction Manual
- Gel Cell Battery Test
- Initial Set Up1
- Initial Set Up2
- Intermediate Rain Snow Station
- Lake Valley Res Drawing
- Lake Valley Res Map
- Memo NWS Battery Check
- Modem Board Defect
- Rental Nitrogen Cylinder
- Satellite Rain Gauge Building Materials
- Sierra Misco Contact
- Standpipe Gauges Parts List
- Transmitter Set Up
- Gauge_Design_Assoc._Materials:
- A Proposed Precipitation Gauge and Gauge Network System
- ALERT Data Formats
- ALERT Transmitter Characteristics
- CA Area Diagrams
- Est. Gauge Maint. Costs
- Explanation of the Enclosed Quad Maps
- Funding Flash Flood Alarm Systems
- Funnel Diagram
- Funnel1 Diagram
- Notes about ALERT Radio Messages
- Notes from Stubchaer_Santa Barbara, CA
- Notes on Automated Tipping Bucket System
- Sample Catalog Presentation
- Standpipe Top Section 1
- Standpipe Top Section 2
- Standpipe Top Section 3
- Standpipe Top Section Diagram
- Thiokol Demo Contacts