REACT Act

The Resilient Emergency Alert Communications and Training Act (REACT Act) would require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to run a program that provides technical and financial assistance to state, local, and tribal authorities to test and train emergency alert and warning systems. The program covers periodic field training, end-to-end testing, and community-based exercises, and would supplement existing programs. Key activities include developing SOPs, creating message templates based on research, training on crafting and disseminating alerts across platforms, developing metrics to measure effectiveness, testing technology and infrastructure (including multimodal alert capabilities), supporting public education campaigns about how alerts work and how people should respond, and reviewing local policies and procedures. The bill sets a plan due within 1 year, annual reporting to Congress thereafter for up to 10 years, and authorizes $30 million per year for 2025–2035. It also clarifies that participation in the program is voluntary for states, localities, and tribes (not compelled to use any particular system). The act defines emergency alert and warning systems broadly to include IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System) and related public-warning mechanisms.