what is wireless emergency alerts app

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) is a public safety system that allows customers who own compatible mobile devices to receive geographically targeted, text-like messages that warn the public of an impending natural or human-made disaster. Authorized national, state or local government authorities send alerts regarding public safety emergencies – such as severe weather, missing children, or the need to evacuate – using WEA. The system is an essential part of Americas emergency preparedness and has been used more than 84,000 times to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children, and other critical situations. The alerts are sent directly to mobile devices by authorized government alerting authorities through mobile carriers. The alerts are short and can provide immediate, life-saving information. There are three types of warnings that will trigger a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA): Presidential Alerts, Imminent Threat Alerts, and Amber Alerts. The alerts are geographically targeted, so only those in the threat area will receive the alert. Wireless companies volunteer to participate in WEA, which is the result of a unique public/private partnership between the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the FCC, and the United States wireless industry in order to enhance public safety.