September is National Preparedness Month.
Fewer than half of
American families report having an emergency response plan. While we never
know when the next disaster will strike, it is incumbent upon each of
us to be prepared.
We can start today
to improve our readiness. The first steps include making and practicing a
family emergency response plan, creating an emergency supply kit, and signing
up for emergency alerts.
Wireless Emergency
Alerts
During an emergency,
alert and warning officials need to provide the public with life-saving
information quickly. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs), made available through
the Integrated
Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) infrastructure, are just one
of the ways public safety officials can quickly and effectively alert and warn
the public about serious emergencies.
What you need to know
about WEAs:
1. 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
2. WEAs can be
issued for three alert categories – imminent threat, AMBER, and presidential3. WEAs look like text messages, but are designed to get your attention and alert you with a unique sound and vibration, both repeated twice
4. WEAs are no more than 90 characters, and will include the type and time of the alert, any action you should take, as well as the agency issuing the alert
5. WEAs are not affected by network congestion and will not disrupt texts, calls, or data sessions that are in progress
6. Mobile users are not charged for receiving WEAs and there is no need to subscribe
7. To ensure your device is WEA-capable, check with your service provider
Emergency Alert System
The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), is a modernization and integration of the nation's existing and future alert and warning systems, technologies, and infrastructure.
The Emergency Alert
System (EAS) is a national public warning system that requires broadcasters,
satellite digital audio service and direct broadcast satellite providers, cable
television systems, and wireless cable systems to provide the President with a
communications capability to address the American people within 10 minutes
during a national emergency.
EAS may also be used by state and local authorities, in cooperation with the broadcast community, to deliver important emergency information, such as weather information, imminent threats, AMBER alerts, and local incident information targeted to specific areas.
The President has sole responsibility
for determining when the national-level EAS will be activated. FEMA is
responsible for national-level EAS tests and exercises.
EAS is also used when
all other means of alerting the public are unavailable, providing an added
layer of resiliency to the suite of available emergency communication tools.
NOAA Weather Radio
NOAA Weather
Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations
broadcasting continuous weather information from the nearest National Weather
Service office.
NWR broadcasts official
warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7
days a week.
It also broadcasts alerts of non-weather emergencies such as national security, natural, environmental, and public safety through the Emergency Alert System.
Source: ready.gov
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