Frequently Asked Questions

How is a WARN web site created?

WARN sites are created as follows:

A state administrator requests a WARN site and provides some basic information: the main contact person, any water districts, desired color scheme, etc.
USWarn creates a web site shell with this information.
Administrator(s) populate the web site with content via a WYSIWYG page editor.
Administrators invite prospective members to apply via the new web site, and can accept or deny those applications.

How long does it take to set up a WARN site?

New WARN sites are generally ready for use by state administrators in two to four weeks from the date we receive the required information from your state.

What web address can I use for the web site?

Your WARN site may use a domain that you already control. Your site is also available via xx.uswarn.org (where xx is your state's postal abbreviation).

Can my state have more than one administrator?

Yes, your WARN system may have as many administrators as desired. We suggest a minimum of two but not more than four administrators per state.

What costs are involved?

USWarn employs a two-stage fee schedule to accurately reflect costs:

Setup - Charged once upon creation of each state's WARN site. Depending on the complexity of your state's needs, this cost is approximately $3000.
Maintenance and Hosting - This yearly recurring fee covers the cost of updates, hosting, and constant monitoring of the web site. This cost is currently $8000 per year.

Is the source code publicly available?

To prevent problems with code forking and incompatible versions, the USWarn source code is not publicly available.

Who created USWarn?

USWarn was created by Focus Applications, the same team that implemented the FlaWARN site in April of 2005. We’ve been involved with several revisions since then, and have applied the best practices the USWarn system.