WEA/CMAS enabled mobile devices should have this label on the packaging-
ANSTED (WVVA) - Two individuals were taken into custody in Fayette County after placing a false 911 call. A call was received through the Fayette County 911 Center at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday stating a pairMore >> ANSTED (WVVA) - Two individuals were taken into custody in Fayette County after placing a false 911 call. A call was received through the Fayette County 911 Center at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday stating a pairMore >> BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) -- A former Massey Energy official who is cooperating in the investigation of the Upper Big Branch mine disaster is asking a judge for leniency when he's sentenced Aug. 1. DefenseMore >> BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) -- A former Massey Energy official who is cooperating in the investigation of the Upper Big Branch mine disaster is asking a judge for leniency when he's sentenced Aug. 1. DefenseMore >> PRINCETON (NEWS RELEASE) - In July 2008, The Del McCoury Band took the stage for the inaugural show of the community's first performing arts center of its kind. One hundred and seven regular season performancesMore >> PRINCETON (NEWS RELEASE) - In July 2008, The Del McCoury Band took the stage for the inaugural show of the community's first performing arts center of its kind. One hundred and seven regular season performancesMore >> ATHENS (WVVA) - Crews responded to I-77 northbound near mile marker 17 Tuesday morning after a vehicle crashed through a guard rail and over the embankment. Only one vehicle was involved. There's no wordMore >> ATHENS (WVVA) - A woman was transported to a nearby hospital after a vehicle went off Interstate 77 and over an embankment Tuesday. The crash occurred at approximately 10 a.m. around mile marker 17 --More >> Mercer County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating an armed robbery in Green Valley Tuesday. It happened at Pop's Sports Bar on Maple Acres Road around 3:15a.m. According to dispatchers, detectivesMore >> Mercer County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating an armed robbery in Glenwood Tuesday. The Mercer County Sheriff's Office says a male entered Pop's Sports Bar on Maple Acres Road around 3 a.m. by smashingMore >> BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) -- A Fayette County man faces charges of sexually assaulting a female patient in the psychiatric ward at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital. Beckley police tell media outlets thatMore >> BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) -- A Fayette County man faces charges of sexually assaulting a female patient in the psychiatric ward at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital. Beckley police tell media outlets thatMore >> Bluefield (WVVA) -- A very small, isolated thunderstorm brought intense rainfall to the Beckley area Monday night. This slow-moving storm dumped upwards of 2-3 inches in just an hour to MacArthur, Daniels,More >> Bluefield (WVVA) -- A very small, isolated thunderstorm brought intense rainfall to the Beckley area Monday night. This slow-moving storm dumped upwards of 2-3 inches in just an hour to MacArthur, Daniels,More >> Buchanan County authorities arrest a man after finding a meth lab in his home. A narcotics task force team arrested Eddie Dwayne Green, 38, of Puncheon Camp Road Saturday afternoon. The team was executingMore >> Buchanan County authorities arrest a man after finding a meth lab in his home. A narcotics task force team arrested Eddie Dwayne Green, 38, of Puncheon Camp Road Saturday afternoon. The team was executingMore >> The Town of Tazewell is getting nearly $60,000 in state grants to hire two school resource officers. The resource officers will be placed at Tazewell High School and Tazewell Middle School. The CriminalMore >> The Town of Tazewell is getting nearly $60,000 in state grants to hire two school resource officers. The resource officers will be placed at Tazewell High School and Tazewell Middle School. The CriminalMore >>
Beginning in June 2012 a new type of emergency alert system is scheduled to launch across the country. The federal government and wireless phone service providers have built a system - called Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) or Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) - that will send a text-like message to your phone. These messages will be sent directly to phones that are in an area impacted by a threat and to phones that enter into an impacted area.
Three different kinds of alerts will be sent through this system:
- Presidential Alerts - Alerts issued by the President of the United States or someone with similar authority;
- Imminent Threat Alerts - Alerts that include severe man-made or natural disasters, including tornados, hurricanes, tsunami or other even where there is an imminent threat to life or property; and
- AMBER Alerts - Alerts to help law enforcement search for and locate an abducted child.
The alerts will be up to 90 characters in length and will contain information about the type of alert, the timing and duration of the alert, brief instructions on what should be done or what action should be taken, and they will identify which agency sent the alert. They appear similar to a text message and will also cause the phone to make a sound and vibrate, however they are not an actual text message. Wireless customers will not receive any charges for these alerts.
If you are currently subscribed for our mobile text message alerts, click here to learn more about the differences between the two services.
Will my phone receive these alerts?
Only phones with specific hardware will be able to receive the CMAS. It is best to check with your wireless carrier to see if your particular phone is capable of receiving these messages. A partial list of enabled phones is available here.
Wireless Emergency Alerts frequently asked questions (FAQ) from the CTIA Wireless Association:
Details of CMAS from the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA):
