The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for supporting an IOPS and notifying the IOPS status. In one aspect of the present invention, a method for supporting an Isolated E-UTRAN Operations for Public Safety (IOPS) in a wireless access system, the method performed by a User Equipment (UE) in a RRC connection mode and comprises steps of receiving a radio resource control (RRC) connection release message including a release cause field and an IOPS extended wait time field for restricting an initial access procedure; and releasing the RRC connection mode when the release cause field indicating an IOPS situation has been occurred, wherein the IOPS extended wait time field is configured to an Extended Wait Time (EWT) field indicating a time duration restricting the initial access procedure or to a Further Announcement field indicating the initial access procedure is restricted until a further announcement is received.