FEMA teams up with FCC and cellphone providers to provide emergency alert texts

The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission has teamed up with the wireless industry to offer a wireless emergency alert system. The system is expected to be available by the end of May.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), also known as Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) or Personal Localized Alerting Network (PLAN), is a national emergency alert system to send concise, text-like messages to users’ WEA-capable mobile devices. Wireless providers representing nearly 97 percent of subscribers are participating in distributing wireless emergency alerts.

Mobile users will not be charged for receiving these alerts and are automatically enrolled to receive them. The alerts fall under three categories: Presidential Alerts – alerts issued by the President or a designee; Imminent Threat Alerts – Alerts that include severe man-made or natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, etc., where an imminent threat to life or property exists; and AMBER Alerts – Alerts that meet the U.S. Department of Justice’s criteria to help law enforcement search for and locate an abducted child.

The messages will appear as texts but are transmitted through different technology to ensure they are delivered immediately and avoid potential delays on wireless networks.

Users can opt out of receiving Imminent Threat Alerts and AMBER alerts but not Presidential Alerts.

The messages are geographically based and use local towers to transmit to all WEA-capable devices using that tower. For example, if a person is from Kentucky and they are visiting Dubois County a weather alert for Dubois County would show up on their phone.

There are a number of WEA-capable devices available today, and many of the new phones that are sold from participating carriers will be able to transmit these alerts. If your device has the CTIA Wireless Emergency Alerts logo, then it is WEA-capable. To receive these alerts, you might need to only upgrade your device’s software, rather than purchase a new one.

To confirm Wireless Emergency Alerts are available in your area and your device is capable of receiving the alerts, please check with your carrier.