The following general information is for everyone and can be applied to many different disaster situations.
What you can do
Individuals and homeowners can plan to protect the health of themselves and their family members.
Know how to get emergency alerts and messages before you need them:
The Integrated Public Alert & Warning System is FEMAs national system for local alerting that provides authenticated emergency and life-saving information to the public through mobile phones using Wireless Emergency Alerts, to radio and television via the Emergency Alert System, and on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Weather Radio.
Brookings County utilizes this program to send out tornado and blizzard warnings that are issued for Brookings County. We are also prepared to respond to manmade disasters such as hazardous materials incidents where it is vital to notify the public of a possible health or physical hazard.
Emergency Alert System is a national public warning system that requires radio and TV broadcasters, cable TV, wireless cable systems, satellite and wireline operators to provide the president with the capability to address the American people within 10 minutes during a national emergency.
Broadcast, cable, and satellite operators are the stewards of this important public service in close partnership with state, local, tribal and territorial authorities.
FEMA, in partnership with the Federal Communications Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is responsible for implementing, maintaining, and operating the EAS at the federal level.
Emergency Alert System details
Messages can interrupt radio and television to broadcast emergency alert information.
Messages cover a large geographic footprint. Emergency message audio/text may be repeated twice, but EAS activation interrupts programming only once, and then regular programming continues.
Messages can support full message text for screen crawl/display, audio attachments in mp3 format, and additional languages.
It is important for authorities who send EAS messages to have a relationship with their broadcasters to understand what will be aired via radio, TV, and cable based on their policies. Policies vary from station to station.
Wireless Emergency Alerts are short emergency messages from authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial public alerting authorities that can be broadcast from cell towers to any WEA-enabled mobile device in a locally targeted area.
Wireless providers primarily use cell broadcast technology for WEA message delivery. WEA is a partnership among FEMA, the Federal Communications Commission and wireless providers to enhance public safety. WEAs can be sent to your mobile device when you may be in harms way, without the need to download an app or subscribe to a service.
WEAs are messages that warn the public of an impending natural or human-made disaster. The messages are short and can provide immediate, life-saving information.
Types of Wireless Emergency Alerts
National Alerts are a special class of alerts only sent during a national emergency.
Imminent Threat Alerts include natural or human-made disasters, extreme weather, active shooters, and other threatening emergencies that are current or emerging.
Public Safety Alerts contain information about a threat that may not be imminent or after an imminent threat has occurred. Public safety alerts are less severe than imminent threat alerts.
Americas Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) Alerts are urgent bulletins issued in child-abduction cases. Rapid and effective public alerts often play a crucial role in returning a missing child safely. An AMBER Alert instantly enables the entire community to assist in the search for and safe recovery of the child.
Wireless Emergency Alert tips
Follow the action advised by the alert. The message will show the type and time of the alert, any action you should take, and the agency issuing the alert. The message will be no more than 360 characters. You can get more details from your local authorities, local news or trusted social media sources.
WEAs have a unique tone and vibration, both repeated twice. WEA messages are free and will not count toward texting limits on your wireless plan.
Wireless providers are selling devices with WEA capability included. To find out if your phone can receive WEA alerts, contact your wireless provider. All the major providers participate in WEA on a voluntary basis.
If you are on a phone call when a WEA is sent in your area, the message will be delayed until you finish your call.
WEAs do not track your location. They are broadcast from area cell towers to mobile phones within the defined geographic location. Every WEA-capable phone within range receives the message.
WEAs are not affected by network congestion.
Receiving alerts away from home
Wireless Emergency Alerts are not subscription-based and there is no need to provide personal information to be able to receive a WEA. WEAs are based on location. You will receive a WEA message, even if you are:
In an area where you dont live
Outside the area where your phone is registered
If you travel into an area after a WEA was sent your WEA-capable device will receive the message, if the alert is still active.
NOAA Weather Radio is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts official weather service warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard information 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Working with the Federal Communication Commissions Emergency Alert System, NWR is an All Hazards radio network, making it your single source for comprehensive weather and emergency information. In conjunction with federal, state, and local emergency managers and other public officials, NWR also broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards including natural (such as earthquakes or avalanches), environmental (such as chemical releases or oil spills), and public safety (such as AMBER alerts or 911 telephone outages).
The tower that covers Brookings County is in Arlington and provides full coverage to our county.
Download and learn to use emergency apps (for your phone, tablet or computer) before you need them.
Next month is National Preparedness Month and we will start getting ready for fall shortly. Until then, keep an eye on the sky.
Bob the EM
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