Emergency alerts on phones are messages sent to mobile devices such as cell phones and pagers to disseminate emergency alerts and warning messages. The Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system is a public safety system that allows customers who own compatible mobile devices to receive geographically targeted, text-like messages. The WEA system has been used more than 84,000 times to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children, and other critical situations. The alerts are accompanied by a unique vibration and a sound that, under federal law, can only be used for actual emergencies or authorized tests. The WEA system is a collaborative effort among FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) .
The types of alerts that can trigger a WEA include Presidential Alerts, Imminent Threat Alerts, AMBER Alerts, and Public Safety Messages. When an alert is issued by the appropriate authorities, cell towers in the affected areas will pick up this alert and transfer it to all phones connected to that cell tower. The alert message will appear on the phones home screen or through something similar to a text message, accompanied by a unique ringtone and vibration.
WEAs can be sent to mobile devices when the user may be in harms way, without the need to download an app or subscribe to a service. The messages are short and can provide immediate, life-saving information. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national public warning system that allows the president to address the nation within 10 minutes during a national emergency.
