Emergency alerts are timely and reliable systems used by public safety officials to alert the public in the event of natural or man-made disasters. There are two main types of emergency alerts:
-
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs): These are short emergency messages that can be broadcast from cell towers to any WEA-enabled mobile device in a locally targeted area. WEAs can be sent by state and local public safety officials, the National Weather Service, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the President of the United States. They are designed to get your attention and alert you with a unique sound and vibration, both repeated twice. WEAs can be issued for three alert categories: imminent threat, AMBER, and presidential.
-
Emergency Alert System (EAS): This is a national public warning system that leverages the communications assets of radio and television stations, cable television systems, and satellite cable providers to allow the President of the United States the capability to address the American public during a national emergency. EAS messages are the emergency notifications you see and hear on television and radio. State and local authorities may also use the system to deliver important emergency information, such as weather and AMBER alerts, to the public. EAS messages are broadcast to all phones within a geographical area.
Both WEAs and EAS messages are important tools for public safety officials to quickly and effectively alert and warn the public about serious emergencies.
