[EAS] Fwd: [ChicagolandSkywarn] WEA Enabled Phones to Receive Emergency Messages

[Mike McCarthy]

Hey folks...

This just came across by viewer.....and for all practical purposes has neutralized the skewed argument of FM in cell phones for EAS purposes.  It's the tip of the iceberg in terms of geo-alerting and micro-targeting areas of greatest risk, hazard, and/or danger.

And only a matter of time before state, county and local agencies join. How? By using zoning rules and quid-pro.  "well let you build the tower if you carry our emergency messages."

The bigger problem then will become measuring use. With the NWS issuing SVR and TOR warnings for truly marginal events, the issue of crying wolf will become front and center like never before. Joplin's casual response to the regularly issued TOR warnings for that area before the 2011 EF5 will become emblematic nationwide.  Then toss in AMBER and a myriad of other alerts, I would not be surprised to see weekly alerts of some sort in active urban areas resulting in a pervasive dismissive attitude.

MM

-------- Original Message --------

   From: nb9r at ameritech.net <nb9r at ameritech.net>

 

The wireless industry, The FCC, and FEMA will roll-out the WEA's (Wireless Emergency Alerts) system nationwide this year.

The NWS will start utilizing this by pushing extreme weather warnings over the system in June 2012.

Your phone is probably not WEA enabled ""by default, so go to your carrier's web site to see if your phone is WEA capable and how to enable the capability.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=lot&storyid=83072&source=0