The National Weather Service kicks off its Wireless Emergency Alerts system
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Today the Nation Weather Service activated its new Wireless Emergency Alerts system. Considering it has been a pretty quite weather day in the U.S., no one got to experience it first hand.
The system is designed to warn people about life threatening weather such as approaching tornados, hurricanes, floods, dust storms, blizzards, and other weather related threats, even when they are away from TVs and radios by using their smartphones. The system locates compatible devices within the path of the storm and sends a less than 90 character message to those devices. The system is completely free, but users do have the option to opt out if they wish.
Currently the system is compatible with “newer” Android and Windows Phones on most wireless carriers including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile. While Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile offer the service nationwide, AT&T is currently limited to New York City, Washington, D.C., and Portland, Oregon.
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ALERT! |
Currently there are 28 emergency management agencies across 12 states that are authorized to send out alerts and 83 more are in the process of getting certified.
Interestingly, the system doesn’t rely on GPS or a user’s registered location. Instead the carrier sends the signal out from towers in the affected area and all users with compatible devices that are connected to those towers receive the alert.
If your curious as to if your device is eligible, Damon Penn, assistant administrator for nation continuity programs at FEMA, recommends contacting your carrier to find out if the service is available on your device and in your area.
source: Yahoo News
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5 Comments
1. Cobra posted on 29 Jun 2012, 00:46 2 0
Well the weather service may be sending it for free but if Verizon can at all swing it they're gonna charge you $9.99 for it . . . watch!
2. VZWuser76 posted on 29 Jun 2012, 01:23 3 0
No doubt in my mind that you're correct. I'm sure it will be a charge so they can make sure that it works flawlessly for your safety.
See what I did there, I made you think I'm concerned about your safety while simultaneously bending you over. I wonder if Verizon is hiring....
5. lnwalker posted on 21 Jul 2012, 21:14 0 0
How do we make this stop. It's invading my privacy. I don't want it on my phone.
