The USGS ShakeAlert™ Earthquake Early Warning system is available on all mobile phones in Washington and may provide seconds of warning to protect yourself before earthquake shaking arrives.
Credit: WA. Military Dept, Emergency Mgt. Decision
FCC, Thurston County to Join 42 State and Local Government Agencies in Test of Wireless Emergency Alert System
From Thurston County via Thurston Talk:
Thurston County has been accepted as one of 42 state and local government agencies to work with the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, to assess the geographic accuracy of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) in areas across the country. The test in Thurston County [occurred] Monday, Sept. 12, 2022.
“Wireless Emergency Alerts are a life-saving tool, but emergency managers tell us that they need more information on the geographic accuracy of these alerts in order to use them with confidence,” said Jessica Rosenworcel, chair of the FCC. “Simply put, public safety officials want to know that the alerts will reliably reach public throughout—but not beyond—targeted areas during emergencies. These local tests, which are the latest in a recent series of FCC efforts to strengthen Wireless Emergency Alerts, will provide stakeholders with greater insight into alert performance so that this tool can be used to its fullest potential to help keep communities safe.”
The alerts are sent through FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) to participating wireless providers. The wireless providers then push the alerts to compatible mobile devices in the affected area. Wireless provider participation is voluntary but widespread.
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